The E&M "Luca AI Cell, MOU with Kolmar Korea for Developing LNP-Based Functional Cosmetics"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] The E&M announced on the 11th that its subsidiary Luca AI Cell has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kolmar Korea for product development using LNP (Lipid Nanoparticle) technology.

Luca AI Cell (hereafter Luca) will receive cosmetic raw materials from Kolmar Korea through the MOU and process them using next-generation drug delivery system technology. Luca plans to develop an ‘Encapsulated LNP’ exclusively for dermacosmetics (functional cosmetics) and Kolmar Korea will finalize the product.

This MOU is the second ‘LNP-related’ MOU following recent joint research cooperation with the US-based ABITEC Corporation. The company explained that despite being a startup established less than a year ago, the reason it was able to sign joint research MOUs with leading domestic and international companies was due to the AI solution developed by Dr. Namjun Cho, a professor of Materials Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Chief Technology Officer, as well as the core technology of artificial cell membranes called Nano-Assembly (Core Lipid Composition Technology).

A company official explained, “Using AI technology applied with a Biophysical Model, we select the optimal lipid among various lipids. Then, by utilizing Luca’s patented AI simulation model, we derive the optimal LNP mixing ratio and conditions, and create artificial cell membranes (Lipid Bilayer) through Nano-Assembly mixing.”

He added, “Compared to previous LNP development methods that required long time and had low success rates due to numerous trial and error processes, this method has the advantage of saving time and costs. It can be easily applied to drug delivery for cosmetics and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.”

Luca’s artificial cell membrane technology is achieving results in various business areas with different functions such as drug delivery systems (DDS), antifouling coating, and lubrication applications, as presented in the media conference last June. Notable examples include the Blocking Agent solution and rapid diagnostic kits utilizing artificial cell membrane coating technology. The Blocking Agent solution, an essential material in cutting-edge bio, chemical, and materials engineering research, significantly reduces coating time compared to conventional BSA (bovine serum albumin) while maintaining the same level of signal strength through artificial cell membrane coating technology. A company official said, “Due to this strength, we have recently received love calls from global pharmaceutical companies,” and forecasted growth into a major revenue business in the future.