Scientists at MIT, Massachusetts General Hospital, Living Proof, and Olivo Labs have invented a new polymer called XPL which can temporarily tighten the skin and mend wrinkles from skin. The cross linked polymer can temporarily tighten skin in a moment which implies that the polymer can be used for treatment of various skin diseases like eczema, skin loosening and application in cosmetic industry for instant facelift. The material is invisible, elastic breathable has been proved to be wash proof to a great extent. The polymer works as a combination of two materials, one is an invisible cream and the second one is a catalyst. The catalyst initiates the chemical reaction on the skin and the XPL forms a second layer just like a second skin with grear mechanical strength.
The material when applied underneath the eyes of an elederly woman showed miraculous result. XPL was applied under one eye and nothing was applied under the second eye. When the pouch under eye was pulled, the one with the polymer get back into its shape within no time. He skin under the other eye with nothing applied remain wrinkled for several seconds. So the material can be used as skin tightener.
“It’s an invisible layer that can provide a barrier, provide cosmetic improvement, and potentially deliver a drug locally to the area that’s being treated. Those three things together could really make it ideal for use in humans,” says Daniel Anderson, associate professor in Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, and a member of MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES).
The material is capable of protecting the skin against extreme temperature and mild injury. In future more properties will be incorporated to provide protection from toxins, microorganisms, radiation, and injury. The material can restore the properties of healthy skin, for both medical and cosmetic applications.
