The work performed during the second year was mainly focused on: 1) scale-up and validation of the encapsulated absorber, 2) pilot validation of UV absorbers in final formulations, and 3) to continue the regulatory test for approval. First, encapsulation process developed during the last year was transferred to and validated by our manufacturing partner. Multi-kilogram scale pilot was demonstrated for the encapsulation technology and capsules were study for final applications. Second, “in vitro” and “in vivo” studies were performed with final formulations to demonstrate the efficacy of ROKA Smart UV® technology. In this sense, initial pilot of sunscreen formula was produced and validated. Finally, all regulatory tests related with the approval of our second candidate molecules were completed. In parallel, synthetic methods were optimised to: a) produce ROKA Smart UV® products from bio-based raw materials, and b) sustainability of the process. In this sense, several studies were conducted using lignin as a raw material. After several attempts, good results converting lignin into a Smart UV product were obtained. Following that, synthetic steps were optimised to decrease the energy and resource consumption. Thanks to all the work performed during this project, five new patent applications were filled. SMART UV projects helped ROKA FURADADA: a) to confirm the feasibility of the ROKA Smart UV® technology, producing at industrial scale free and encapsulated products, b) to prove de security of our UV absorbers for regulatory approval, and c) to develop sunscreen formulations with different textures and applications for “in vivo” demonstration. After launch our first product to the market (ROKA Smart UV® PvB 360), we increase the interest in our technology and several costumers are testing our product.
