KOSÉ Develops Capsule to Deliver Cosmetic Ingredients to Mitochondria
KOSÉ Corporation, in collaboration with Professor Yuma Yamada of Hokkaido University, has developed a capsule technology to deliver cosmetic ingredients directly to mitochondria in the dermis. This groundbreaking research aims to address skin aging caused by declining mitochondrial function, paving the way for advanced anti-aging care.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 05:53 (19h 21m after Collected)
KOSÉ Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Shinji Tanaka) has, in collaboration with Professor Yuma Yamada of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, developed a capsule that delivers cosmetic ingredients to mitochondria in the dermis. Mitochondria are the energy production factories within cells, and their function declines with age, contributing to skin aging. Delivering useful ingredients to mitochondria has the potential to help maintain and improve energy production function, and this technology is expected to lead to unprecedented anti-aging care. A part of the research results was presented at the 146th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (March 26-29, 2026, Osaka).
Figure 1: Functional mechanism of the developed capsule and its transferability to mitochondria
Research Background
Wrinkles and sagging that occur with aging are common skin concerns for many people. A major factor contributing to this is the decline in the energy-producing function of mitochondria within dermal fibroblasts in the skin. When mitochondrial function declines, the production of collagen and other substances that maintain skin firmness stagnates, ultimately leading to wrinkles and sagging. For a long time, an efficient approach has been sought to precisely deliver useful ingredients to the vicinity of mitochondria to address these challenges. Therefore, in this research, we challenged ourselves to develop a mitochondrial-targeting encapsulation technology to open up new possibilities for anti-aging care.
Development of a capsule that reaches mitochondria in dermal fibroblasts
As a technology for delivering ingredients to the vicinity of mitochondria, we focused on the nanocapsule "MITO-PorterTM" (※) developed by Professor Yuma Yamada's group at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University. This capsule has been confirmed to have excellent properties for penetrating the mitochondrial membrane. Applying this technology, KOSÉ developed a "cosmetic mitochondrial delivery capsule" as one of its capsule technologies.
In the development process, various studies were conducted, including combinations of capsule components, control of capsule size, and optimization of manufacturing conditions. By repeatedly examining factors such as permeability into the dermis from the skin surface, uptake into dermal fibroblasts, and transferability to mitochondria, we achieved a capsule that most efficiently reaches mitochondria.
(※) Trademark application filed (Application No. 2026-32100), Patent Registration No. 5067733
Permeability of the developed capsule into the dermis
To confirm the permeability of the capsule into the dermis, an analysis of permeability behavior was conducted using human skin. When the developed product encapsulating a fluorescent dye was applied to the skin surface, more fluorescent dye was detected in the dermis compared to similar capsules (comparative product) that did not use this technology (Figure 2). This result suggests that this technology has the potential to deliver ingredients encapsulated in the capsule deep into the dermis, which is located deep within the skin.
Figure 2: Dermal permeability of the developed capsule
Uptake of developed capsule by cells and transferability to mitochondria
Next, we evaluated the uptake of the capsule by dermal fibroblasts and its transferability to mitochondria. As a result of adding the developed product encapsulating a fluorescent dye to cells, it was confirmed that more capsules were taken up into the fibroblasts compared to the comparative product (Figure 3). Furthermore, detailed observation with a confocal laser microscope confirmed that the fluorescent dye contained in the capsule accumulated near the mitochondria (Figure 1).
These results suggest that the newly developed capsule has the functions of dermal permeability when applied to the skin surface, promotion of uptake into dermal fibroblasts, and enhanced delivery to the vicinity of mitochondria for the encapsulated ingredients.
Figure 3: Uptake of the developed product by dermal fibroblasts
Future Prospects
This technology, which directly targets mitochondria as the cell's energy source, is expected to become a fundamental technology supporting next-generation anti-aging care. Moving forward, we will continue to examine the ingredients to be encapsulated in the capsule and verify various functional improvements to mitochondria, thereby challenging ourselves to realize innovative anti-aging care that goes beyond existing frameworks.
Figure 1: Functional mechanism of the developed capsule and its transferability to mitochondria
Research Background
Wrinkles and sagging that occur with aging are common skin concerns for many people. A major factor contributing to this is the decline in the energy-producing function of mitochondria within dermal fibroblasts in the skin. When mitochondrial function declines, the production of collagen and other substances that maintain skin firmness stagnates, ultimately leading to wrinkles and sagging. For a long time, an efficient approach has been sought to precisely deliver useful ingredients to the vicinity of mitochondria to address these challenges. Therefore, in this research, we challenged ourselves to develop a mitochondrial-targeting encapsulation technology to open up new possibilities for anti-aging care.
Development of a capsule that reaches mitochondria in dermal fibroblasts
As a technology for delivering ingredients to the vicinity of mitochondria, we focused on the nanocapsule "MITO-PorterTM" (※) developed by Professor Yuma Yamada's group at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University. This capsule has been confirmed to have excellent properties for penetrating the mitochondrial membrane. Applying this technology, KOSÉ developed a "cosmetic mitochondrial delivery capsule" as one of its capsule technologies.
In the development process, various studies were conducted, including combinations of capsule components, control of capsule size, and optimization of manufacturing conditions. By repeatedly examining factors such as permeability into the dermis from the skin surface, uptake into dermal fibroblasts, and transferability to mitochondria, we achieved a capsule that most efficiently reaches mitochondria.
(※) Trademark application filed (Application No. 2026-32100), Patent Registration No. 5067733
Permeability of the developed capsule into the dermis
To confirm the permeability of the capsule into the dermis, an analysis of permeability behavior was conducted using human skin. When the developed product encapsulating a fluorescent dye was applied to the skin surface, more fluorescent dye was detected in the dermis compared to similar capsules (comparative product) that did not use this technology (Figure 2). This result suggests that this technology has the potential to deliver ingredients encapsulated in the capsule deep into the dermis, which is located deep within the skin.
Figure 2: Dermal permeability of the developed capsule
Uptake of developed capsule by cells and transferability to mitochondria
Next, we evaluated the uptake of the capsule by dermal fibroblasts and its transferability to mitochondria. As a result of adding the developed product encapsulating a fluorescent dye to cells, it was confirmed that more capsules were taken up into the fibroblasts compared to the comparative product (Figure 3). Furthermore, detailed observation with a confocal laser microscope confirmed that the fluorescent dye contained in the capsule accumulated near the mitochondria (Figure 1).
These results suggest that the newly developed capsule has the functions of dermal permeability when applied to the skin surface, promotion of uptake into dermal fibroblasts, and enhanced delivery to the vicinity of mitochondria for the encapsulated ingredients.
Figure 3: Uptake of the developed product by dermal fibroblasts
Future Prospects
This technology, which directly targets mitochondria as the cell's energy source, is expected to become a fundamental technology supporting next-generation anti-aging care. Moving forward, we will continue to examine the ingredients to be encapsulated in the capsule and verify various functional improvements to mitochondria, thereby challenging ourselves to realize innovative anti-aging care that goes beyond existing frameworks.