Project: Modern cosmeceutical - traditional plant extract versus nanoparticles product as a potential antiaging factor

Modulation Of carbon Nanoparticles for pAncReatic Cancer tHerapy (MONARCH).

This project looks at combining traditional plant extracts with advanced carbon nano‑onion nanocarriers to create more stable, deeply penetrating anti‑aging treatments for next‑generation cosmeceuticals.

Challenge Space

Health Resistance

Prinicipal Investigator(s) and team names

Professor Silvia Giordani (PI), Assoc. Prof. Anna Wajs-Bonikowska (PI, from Lodz University of Technology, TUL), Asst. Prof. Bruno Bernardes de Jesus (PI, from University of Aveiro)

Collaborating Institutions

Funding support

ECIU (European Consortium of Innovative Universities) Research Seed Programme

Project start date

1 June, 2026

End date

30 May, 2027

Problem

Natural plant extracts are widely used for their anti-aging, but their real effectiveness is severely limited by molecular instability and poor skin penetration.

Background

Driven by the rapid expansion of the cosmetics sector and strong consumer demand for scientifically validated anti-aging products, there is a pressing need to bridge traditional bioactive ingredients with advanced nanocarrier delivery systems capable of penetrating deeper skin layers.

Solution

This project addresses this critical gap by establishing a multidisciplinary collaboration across three ECIU universities.

The Giordani group at DCU is highly sophisticated in functionalizing carbon nano-onion as a advanced nanocarrier platforms for targeted delivery; The Wajs-Bonikowska Group at TUL specialized in the extraction, isolation and characterization of plant-derived bioactives and cosmetic emulsions; and the Bernardes de Jesus Group at UA is recognized for their expertise in evaluating anti-aging potential of nano-formulated treatments.

By combining these complementary disciplines, this project integrates traditional natural plant extracts with engineered carbon nano-onion delivery systems to improve formulation stability, bioavailability and deep-skin penetration.