Although it sounds like an episode of Futurama or Black Mirror, an antimicrobial lipstick that “protects against viruses, bacteria and fungi” is possible in real life (and present), according to researchers from the Bioengineering and Biomaterials Laboratory of the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV). And it is that they have developed a product that, whoever uses it, “prevent yourself from becoming infected and spreading infections to othersin the same way that you can share it with family or friends in complete safety”, according to his own words.
Is about a deep red lipstick (very consistent with the powerful lips that will be worn this year) that acts quickly in the complete deactivation of viruses. And it is that you need only a minute of contact to achieve it. Regarding drug resistant bacteria; tuberculosis mycobacteria and fungi, tests showed that they were inactivated within five hours of contact with lipstick.
With these data alone, it sounds like a futuristic fantasy, very convenient to apply to store testers, borrow makeup among friends or go on a quieter Tinder date. However, its formulation also promises since it has been made with cranberry extract in a cream base for lipstick that contains shea butter, vitamin E, provitamin B5, babassu and avocado oil.
Nothing Gamal
The research is led by the head of the UCV Bioengineering and Biomaterials Laboratory, Ángel Serrano, who is endorsed by other similar milestones such as having developed the first filters capable of inactivating SARS-CoV-2 and other enveloped viruses such as influenza in less than a minute.
The financing has been provided by the State Research Agency of the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Fundación Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir and, finally, the study has been published in the international scientific journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, edited by himto American Chemical Society.
Now we just have to know when will it come into our lives And, to ask, if this type of technology can also evolve to achieve, for example, eyeliners that protect against conjunctivitis.
Cover photo | Andyone
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