[Herald Business = Reporter Kwangwoo Kim] On the 26th, KOLMAR Korea announced that it will collaborate with biomimetic startup MIMETICS to develop cosmetics that enhance the absorption of functional active ingredients.
On the 19th, KOLMAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MIMETICS for “Technology to Enhance Active Ingredient Absorption Using Biomimetic Suction Technology.” The signing ceremony was attended by Sang-geun Han, Vice Director of KOLMAR’s R&D Center; Hyung-ki Park, CEO of MIMETICS; and Chang-hyun Bang, Professor at Sungkyunkwan University and CTO of MIMETICS.
MIMETICS is a biomimetic research company that develops products by emulating the functions of various organisms, including octopuses, frogs, and snails. Founded as a university spin-off from Sungkyunkwan University, the company gained attention for developing a negative-pressure transdermal delivery patch inspired by the highly adhesive structure of octopus suckers.
The patch is non-invasive, delivering active ingredients without creating wounds in the skin. This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional microneedle patches, which can cause pain during application. The research has been featured in internationally renowned journals, including Nature and ACS Nano.
Through this partnership, the two companies will jointly develop a new delivery system for drugs and cosmetic ingredients by combining MIMETICS’ octopus sucker-inspired patch with KOLMAR’s nanocarrier technology and polymer network control technology. The patch creates micro-channels in the skin’s stratum corneum, allowing substances to pass through, while KOLMAR’s nanocarrier technology maximizes the penetration of active ingredients.
KOLMAR’s technology was presented at the World Biomaterials Congress (WBC) in May and was recognized for significantly improving the skin absorption of cosmetic active ingredients. The polymer network control technology allows for stable integration of cosmetic actives into specific polymers that enhance adhesion to the skin. The nanocarrier technology encapsulates active ingredients in nanoscale protective layers, preventing degradation and enabling deep skin penetration—a proprietary technique of KOLMAR.
A KOLMAR spokesperson stated, “The combination of MIMETICS’ world-class biomimetic technology with KOLMAR’s formulation expertise is expected to bring a new wave of innovation to the K-beauty industry. We will continue strategic collaboration to strengthen our competitiveness in the global market.”
Kim Kwangwoo |
