In advanced cosmetics, the plant origin of active ingredients is no longer enough. True innovation lies in how cells are cultivated, how they are activated, and how they are analyzed at a molecular level.
Plant biotechnology has evolved into a model where process control and scientific characterization make the difference. Today, it is not only about using plant cells but about understanding what they contain and how they influence skin cell activity.
Our represented company, ACTV Biotechnology, has developed ProliCell®, a technology designed to control and optimize cellular activity from its origin, combining plant cell culture and targeted activation within a reproducible, data-driven system that turns plant biotechnology into measurable efficacy.
How ProliCell® Technology Is Developed
ProliCell® is based on plant cells cultivated in laboratory conditions under strict control. This ensures consistent quality, independent of climate, seasonality, or agricultural variability.
During the process, compounds known as elicitors are applied to simulate, in a controlled way, the natural stress conditions plants experience in their environment.
This stimulus activates specific internal cellular mechanisms and promotes the production of bioactive molecules, particularly small RNAs, which represent the core differentiating element of the technology.
Small RNAs: the true differentiator of ProliCell®
What truly sets ProliCell® apart is the integration and characterization of small RNAs—tiny molecules found within extracellular vesicles derived from plant cells.
Small RNAs act as biological signals that help regulate how cells behave. In cosmetic applications, this modulation is associated with key processes such as regeneration, antioxidant protection, and the natural balance of the skin.
ProliCell® guarantees a minimum, measurable amount of small RNAs (more than 17 nanograms per gram of product) integrated into exosomes that function as natural systems for cellular transport and communication, ensuring these biological signals are delivered effectively.
These components are quantified and validated through specific analytical techniques that allow them to be measured and structurally confirmed, providing a level of molecular characterization that is uncommon in conventional plant-based ingredients.
Exosomes: How ProliCell® Works
Exosomes are biological nanovesicles that not only protect and transport active molecules, but also enable cellular communication, optimizing the delivery and effectiveness of biological signals.
ProliCell® technology combines two levels of action:
- Actives derived from plant cells cultivated in laboratory conditions.
- Exosomes containing characterized and quantified small RNAs.
This combination brings together the regenerative potential of plant cells with the modulation capacity associated with small RNAs.
ProliCell®: A More Sustainable Model
The plant cell culture model significantly reduces resource consumption compared to traditional plant extraction methods. Developed under controlled laboratory conditions, production does not depend on climate or seasonality, requires less agricultural land, and optimizes water and energy use—also reducing the carbon footprint associated with conventional cultivation.
This approach enables the incorporation of more sustainable ingredients into your formulations, produced under a standardized, reproducible model with lower impact on natural resources.
ProliCell® technology is currently applied in 12 cosmetic actives developed by ACTV Biotechnology. Discover these actives here.
At Emsa Tecnología Química, we collaborate with ACTV to bring plant biotechnology solutions to the market based on process control, real characterization, and molecular differentiation.
Shall we talk?
Carles Puig
PRODUCT MANAGER: COSMÉTICA
(+34) 638 348 843
