[Unpad Media Channel] A team of students from the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, has successfully developed an environmentally friendly, natural skin care innovation. They created a transdermal patch based on Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) technology, formulated from a combination of red algae (Haematococcus lacustris) extract and red fruit (Pandanus conoideus) oil, which functions as a natural anti-aging agent.
The research was initiated by Riefka Berliana Khoir, Reyza Destiar Rosidi, Cantik Batrisyia Ali, Andi Salwa Karima, and Ais Verani Wulandari, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. apt. Iyan Sopyan, M.Si. Research findings show that the combination of both ingredients can increase skin moisture and elasticity while reducing pigmentation caused by UV-A exposure.
“Many anti-aging products on the market contain strong chemical substances that can cause irritation with prolonged use. We wanted to provide a natural, effective, and safe alternative for the skin,” said Riefka, the research team leader.
Red algae is known to contain astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant with up to 100 times the potency of vitamin E. Meanwhile, red fruit oil from Papua is rich in carotenoids and tocopherols, both essential for maintaining healthy skin. The two ingredients are formulated using NLC technology, which allows active compounds to be more easily absorbed and work optimally in the skin layers. Experimental results showed that the developed NLC has a particle size of approximately 550 nanometers, high stability (zeta potential of -33.4 mV), and strong antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 24 ppm.
The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology and the Central Laboratory of Unpad from July 7th to October 22nd, 2025, with funding support from the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (Ditjen Diktiristek) through the Student Creativity Program in Health and Community Nutrition.
“This formulation opens great opportunities for developing natural, nanotechnology-based skin care products that are not only effective but also highlight the potential of Indonesia’s natural resources,” explained Ais.
Through this research, the team hopes that their innovation can continue to the commercialization stage. This effort not only offers an effective and safe skin care solution but also emphasizes the potential of Indonesian natural ingredients to support the growth of a science-based and sustainable cosmetic industry. This innovation also reflects Unpad students’ contribution to creating research that benefits both society and the environment. (Release by: Anti-Aging Patch Team)*
