The IHP component employs a mixed research methodology, incorporating consumer surveys, in-depth interviews with interdisciplinary experts, on-site corporate research, and visits to industry exhibitions to establish a multi-dimensional research framework. The surveys focus on assessing public awareness of antioxidant and anti-aging products, market acceptance, and consumer preferences, providing precise market demand insights for product development; while expert interviews covered fields such as biological sciences, cosmetics investment, and dermatology, delving into the application prospects of dual-enzyme technology, industry technical barriers, and key factors for commercialization. Importantly, our entire Human Practices process was designed not only to validate the technical and market feasibility of the project, but also to ensure that our work aligns with broader social values, addressing issues of safety, accessibility, and ethical responsibility.
This enabled the team to achieve breakthrough insights in both technical understanding and commercial implementation. By continuously reflecting on stakeholder feedback and integrating it into our design choices, we ensured that our project is not only innovative, but also socially beneficial and responsible. This series of studies not only enhanced the project's feasibility but also laid a solid theoretical and market foundation for subsequent product development.
Figure 1
Survey
Survey design
We distributed a survey questionnaire targeting different age groups to understand consumers' awareness of antioxidant anti-aging products and assess the feasibility of implementing the project. Beyond understanding market demand, the survey was also intended to evaluate whether our project design truly addresses public concerns in a safe, ethical, and socially beneficial way. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: user profile analysis, product usage behavior, market demand exploration, and information channel assessment.
Key findings of the survey
A total of 313 questionnaires were collected. Overall, nearly half of consumers have used antioxidant anti-aging products, and there is a high willingness to recommend them to others.
There is a significant difference in the level of understanding of anti-aging products between men and women. In this survey, a higher proportion of women have used such products, making them the primary target audience for anti-aging products. Among them, the 30-40 age group has the highest proportion at 31.53%, followed by the 18-30 age group at 28.34%. Young and middle-aged adults are the core users of such products.
Figure 2 Anti-aging product usage rate among men
Figure 3 Use of anti-aging products among women
Working professionals and students have a high level of acceptance of these products, while other age groups are less accepting.
Figure 4 Use of anti-aging products among women
Upgrade demand priorities are displayed, with scientific safety of formulas being the top priority for consumers, followed by significant improvement in anti-aging and antioxidant effects, and then reasonable pricing. This shows that social expectations emphasize not just product performance, but also responsibility for consumer health and transparency of ingredients—values we embedded into our project design.
Figure 5 Basic demands of the general public for antioxidant anti-aging products
Analysis of information acquisition channels shows that social media is the main source of information, with Xiaohongshu and Douyin being the key traffic entry points. Based on this, we have established dedicated science popularization accounts (Douyin: 67178530110; Xiaohongshu: 94118043116) for precise outreach.
Figure 6 Information acquisition channels
Figure 7 Age distribution chart
The core consumer group in the anti-aging market is working women aged 30-40, accounting for 83.76% of the total, but the younger demographic aged 18-30 is emerging as an important growth segment. Among the supplementary demands of these users, the three key terms—“safe and non-irritating ingredients,” “verifiable efficacy,” and “precision customization”—alongside the current dominance of international brands (Estée Lauder/L'Oréal/La Mer) highlight the importance of scientific research barriers.
Based on this survey, we have decided to focus on:
Product layer: Using safe formulations and significant efficacy as a foundation, optimize cost-effectiveness through scaled production.
Education layer: Focus on educational outreach on Xiaohongshu and Douyin.
Demographic layer: While consolidating the core base of middle-aged women, develop tailored solutions for younger demographics.
Our ultimate goal is to resolve the “perceived efficacy vs. reasonable pricing” paradox and address safety and customization demands, thereby achieving dual improvements in market penetration and customer loyalty.
In summary, the survey not only informed our business and technical decisions, but also demonstrated that our project responds to real social needs in a safe, ethical, and responsible manner—strengthening both its feasibility and societal value.
In order to comprehensively assess the feasibility of our product, we conducted research from three key dimensions: technical feasibility, commercial value, and clinical demand. We also interviewed experts in related fields for in-depth discussions.
Figure 8 Prof. WangXin
We first started from the technical side, focusing on verifying the feasibility of technical routes such as enzyme expression, modification, and purification. Through in-depth discussions with Dr. Wang Xin, an expert in microbial cell factory construction (Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, currently a professor at Henan University of Technology), we obtained the following key recommendations:
In terms of stability, liquid enzyme solutions are prone to inactivation at room temperature. It is recommended to use a freeze-dried powder formulation to extend shelf life, with the powder reconstituted with a buffer solution upon use. It is necessary to simulate actual storage conditions to test the activity decay curve, while avoiding direct mixing with surfactants or
acidic/alkaline components to prevent enzyme conformation damage.
In terms of safety, safety is the top priority in product development. It is recommended to conduct testing in phases:
The first phase involves in vitro experiments to observe cell growth inhibition. This can be followed by animal experiments, prioritizing cost-effective mouse models, with the final step being skin experiments, where guinea pigs, which are structurally closer to humans, are recommended as experimental tools.
The core advantages of this project are twofold: first, the innovative combination of SOD and CAT synergistic effects achieves dual functions of superoxide radical scavenging and hydrogen peroxide decomposition; second, we utilize synthetic biology technology to overcome the limitations of traditional antioxidants.
Summary
Dr. Wang Xin provided extensive guidance and expressed strong support for our SOD-CAT synergistic system, highlighting its robust scientific basis in scavenging superoxide radicals and decomposing hydrogen peroxide. He also recognized that our synthetic biology approach has the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional antioxidants, such as the rapid oxidation and inactivation of vitamin C and E. Based on his advice, we have incorporated these insights into our future planning:
In the short term, we need to achieve efficient expression and purification of the enzyme and conduct in vitro activity verification; in the medium term, we need to establish stability standards (including half-life and storage conditions) and confirm safety through cell experiments; in the long term, we need to develop a freeze-dried powder formulation and work with cosmetics companies to promote human trials and regulatory applications.
To further refine our project design, ensure its commercial viability, and strengthen its social responsibility and benefits, we interviewed Mr. J. Zhang, Vice President of Investment at Bank of Communications International (Hong Kong), specializes in high-tech industries, the beauty industry, and skincare product supply chains.
Figure 9 we are interviewing Mr. Zhang
Figure 10
Market Opportunities:
According to Mr. Zhang's market analysis, China's beauty industry reached a market size of 80 billion RMB in 2022 and is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 12% over the next five years. This rapidly growing market presents two key development opportunities: on one hand, core ingredient patents of international brands (such as L'Oréal's retinol and Johnson & Johnson's hyaluronic acid) are gradually expiring; On the other hand, domestic companies like Huaxi Biotech and Jiangxi Chuangjian have achieved significant technological breakthroughs based on mature ingredients. In this context, innovative formulas with clinically validated efficacy will gain a clear competitive advantage in the market. For emerging domestic brands, the following development strategies are recommended: fully leverage expired patent ingredients for secondary development, focus on differentiated innovation, build an independent intellectual property system, and enhance product market credibility through rigorous clinical efficacy validation.
Consumer Demand
Based on an analysis of current consumer perceptions and market trends, the anti-aging skincare market exhibits distinct characteristics: consumers generally lack sufficient understanding of product usage cycles and dosage standards. In contrast, beauty products hold a significant competitive advantage in the market due to their core strengths, including low usage risks, strong sustainability, and high price acceptability. Notably, this category exhibits a pronounced “lipstick effect”—during economic downturns, demand for affordable products priced between 200 and 300 yuan continues to grow, while the terminal price structure remains stable (international brands like Estée Lauder's eye cream maintain promotional prices around 300 yuan, while domestic brands anchor their main price range below 200 yuan). This consumer resilience can persist under controllable cost and expense conditions.
Investors are focusing on the reliability of product efficacy data from formal human trials, while rigorously assessing the return on R&D investment and the reasonableness of compliance costs. The long-term stability of anti-aging demand among female consumers presents a structural opportunity for domestic brands: when products combine ingredient innovation with proven efficacy, consumers are more likely to include them in their purchase lists and replace high-priced imported products. Considering the overall market landscape and competitive dynamics, it is recommended to adopt a downward pricing strategy, focusing on the mass-market price range below 200 yuan. By avoiding direct competition with international brands and medical aesthetics products, this approach aligns closely with the new brand positioning, thereby establishing a differentiated competitive advantage in the anti-aging market.
Marketing Calculation
Marketing Matrix for Two Major Platforms: Douyin and Xiaohongshu:
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Figure 11
Based on Mr. Zhang’s advice, we developed a marketing plan in which our new brand would first build product awareness through vertical platforms such as Xiaohongshu, and then expand into broader sales channels like Douyin after reaching a certain level of popularity. In the early stages, 70%–80% of the marketing budget can be allocated to online traffic, with the proportion gradually reduced later as more resources are shifted toward brand building and user engagement.
Risk Control:
The core of the project lies in whether the core formula has exclusive patent protection. From a production perspective, as long as a suitable contract manufacturer is found and a stable partnership is established, product supply is generally not an issue. Regarding the departure of core R&D personnel critical to the project, risks can be mitigated through non-compete agreements (e.g., restricting post-employment work in the same industry for 5–10 years). However, this situation is widespread across the industry, and even large companies struggle to resolve it completely.
Summary:
Mr. Zhang provided strategic guidance for our product planning from the perspectives of industry trends and market opportunities. He pointed out that the antioxidant and anti-aging sector is currently in a rapid growth phase, and our product is well-positioned to capitalize on this industry trend. At this critical development stage, it is essential to focus on building the product's core competitive advantages. For more details, please go to our Entrepreneurship section.
Through an interview with Mr. Zhang, he acknowledged the feasibility of our research topic and provided relevant suggestions. We also wanted to understand the application of such products in medical aesthetics and their feasibility. We invited Dr. Wang Dongfeng for an interview, who holds a Ph.D. from Wuhan University and currently serves as a physician at Wuhan University Affiliated Hospital.
Figure 12
Current Status and Evaluation of Clinical Topical Antioxidant Therapies in Postoperative Repair
Based on clinical experience, superoxide dismutase (SOD) formulations have demonstrated significant efficacy in burn treatment. Burn wounds treated with SOD gel heal 2-3 times faster than with conventional therapies, reducing the healing period from several weeks to approximately one week. Additionally, the infection rate of the wound decreases by 30%, and scar formation is significantly reduced after treatment, with this effect being particularly pronounced in cases of second- to third-degree burns.
However, the application of SOD preparations has certain limitations: first, the drug is expensive and not covered by medical insurance; second, in the context of routine surgical incisions, where the infection rate is low and healing is rapid, clinicians have not yet established the habit of routinely using antioxidants in treatment. These factors limit the widespread application of SOD preparations in trauma repair.
Current Status and Potential of SOD and CAT in Postoperative Repair and Antioxidation
Currently, the application of antioxidant enzyme preparations in clinical practice shows significant speciality differences. In the cardiovascular field (including myocardial protection after stent surgery for myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cerebral haemorrhage, as well as extracorporeal circulation surgery), SOD and other antioxidant enzyme preparations are routinely used. However, in the management of surgical incisions in general surgery, the topical application of antioxidant enzymes has not yet become a widespread clinical practice.
With the development of the economy and the upgrading of medical needs, patients have placed higher demands on the quality of postoperative rehabilitation, creating new clinical value opportunities for the application of antioxidant enzymes. This is manifested explicitly in four aspects: effectively reducing local inflammatory reactions and pain levels at the incision site, controlling the incidence of incision infections to an extremely low level, significantly improving scar formation after healing, and maximizing the preservation of local tissue function.
Positioning Strategy for Antioxidant and Anti-Aging Products
Dr. Wang suggested that if patients are to use such products on their own, it would be more appropriate to position the product for medical aesthetic purposes. As a prescription drug, it must be dispensed by medical institutions, and its usage scenarios are limited. The product has a clear effect on scar repair after wound healing, but allowing patients to use it on their own during the unhealed stage of the wound carries a risk of infection.
Clinical observations show that if surgical incisions remain infection-free after 7 days, the subsequent risk of infection significantly decreases. Therefore, if patients are allowed to use the product on their own within 7 days post-surgery or at discharge, safety must still be carefully assessed. In contrast, positioning the product as a medical aesthetics product can leverage its scar repair advantages while avoiding the strict regulatory requirements for drug use, resulting in higher market acceptance. This product positioning shift aligns with clinical realities and offers greater commercial viability.
Summary:
These clinical needs highlight the unique advantages of antioxidant enzyme preparations in postoperative wound management, indicating that our research and development products have broad application prospects in the field of general surgery. The current demand for improving medical quality aligns well with the therapeutic characteristics of antioxidant enzymes, providing an important opportunity to expand their clinical applications.
Introduction to the SYoung Group:
SYoung Group(Shuiyang Co., Ltd, Stock Code: 300740) is a leading cosmetics company in China that continues to innovate in the field of anti-aging. Its independently developed antioxidant ingredients are highly compatible with our SOD-CAT composite enzyme technology direction.
We aim to draw on Shuiyang Cosmetics Co., Ltd.'s experience in the cosmetics industry to provide guidance for our own product development and commercialization.
Mr. Yongxian Bi, R&D Director, participated in our interview and provided us with unique and highly valuable suggestions.
Figure 13
Figure 14
Findings
China's stringent regulatory restrictions on enzyme-based ingredients pose significant challenges to our R&D direction based on the SOD-CAT dual-enzyme system. However, the data also indicates that traditional SOD ingredients indeed suffer from notable defects such as poor skin permeability and insufficient stability. Notably, the anti-sebum oxidation sector is showing a trend toward younger consumers, with nearly 60% of consumers aged 18–25. Brands must achieve breakthroughs in technology, marketing, and pricing, and product launches must also consider safety and other factors.
Summary
Based on current R&D progress and market research results, we have formulated the following strategic optimization plan: We will continue to focus on the SOD-CAT dual-enzyme system as our core R&D direction, while also developing synthetic antioxidants such as PQQ as technical reserve solutions to establish a multi-tiered technical strategy. Targeting the needs of the 18-25 age group, we will prioritize the development of anti-sebum oxidation product series, with particular emphasis on enhancing product stability and mildness. Additionally, to address potential risks, we have initiated a risk response contingency plan: on one hand, we are concurrently conducting preliminary research on alternative components such as PQQ, and on the other hand, we are preparing dual product solutions to flexibly respond to policy changes. Furthermore, we will continue to strengthen the accumulation of efficacy data and safety verification work to fully prepare for product launch. It is important to note that while we have established alternative solutions, the dual enzyme system remains our core R&D direction, and solutions such as PQQ are solely technical reserves and risk mitigation measures.
Figure 15
To gain a deeper understanding of the current state of enzyme preparation industrialization, our team participated in the “2025 15th Shanghai International Bio-fermentation Products and Technology Equipment Exhibition.” The purpose of our participation was to engage in technical exchanges with established enzyme preparation manufacturers, learn from their product development experiences, and optimize our SOD-CAT composite enzyme preparation solution. However, on-site research revealed that over 80% of the exhibitors were fermentation equipment manufacturers, such as fermentation tanks and separation and purification equipment, while professional enzyme preparation production companies accounted for less than 15%, and there were no providers of application solutions tailored to the cosmetics industry. Although we engaged in technical discussions with five equipment manufacturers, we were unable to connect with the mature enzyme preparation application companies we targeted, failing to achieve our expected technical exchange objectives.
Figure 16
Through this exhibition, we gained a clearer understanding of the current industry ecosystem: the upstream equipment supply system is already well-established, but professional service providers at the downstream application end remain a scarce resource. The entire enzyme preparation industry exhibits a distinct “dumbbell-shaped” structural characteristic. This finding prompts us to adjust our subsequent research strategy, shifting the focus to specialized biotechnology exhibitions and visits to leading cosmetic raw material suppliers.
Conclusion:
When designing this project, we considered a combination of values. Through in-depth exchanges with synthetic biology experts, cosmetic investment analysts, and aesthetic clinicians, we confirmed the technical feasibility of the SOD-CAT dual enzyme system and also verified its application potential in the field of cosmetics and aesthetics. Based on these professional opinions, we decided to adopt a B2B business model and position our products as smear-based skincare products, mainly aimed at young consumers aged 18-25. In the research and development process, we pay special attention to the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our products, striving to meet market demand while also meeting environmental and ethical requirements. Consumers in this age group are generally more receptive to new things and have high requirements for product ingredients and efficacy, so our product designs will fully combine these characteristics to provide them with safe and effective antioxidant solutions.
Through our comprehensive Human Practices activities, we systematically evaluated the technical feasibility, commercial value, clinical relevance, and social impact of our SOD-CAT dual-enzyme project. We conducted consumer surveys to understand public awareness, preferences, and safety expectations; interviewed interdisciplinary experts—including Dr. Wang Xin, Mr. Zhang, and Dr. Wang Dongfeng—to gain guidance on enzyme stability, clinical applications, market positioning, and commercialization strategies; and carried out on-site industry research and exhibition visits to map the current ecosystem of enzyme production and cosmetics applications.
These efforts provided several key insights: first, our SOD-CAT synergistic system has strong scientific validity and the potential to overcome limitations of traditional antioxidants; second, consumer expectations emphasize not only product efficacy but also safety, transparency, and affordability; third, the industry landscape shows both opportunities and structural gaps, guiding our strategic focus toward young consumers and multi-tiered technical solutions.
Based on feedback from stakeholders, we implemented a series of improvements, including optimized enzyme formulations, phased safety testing, targeted marketing strategies, and contingency plans for alternative technical solutions. Moving forward, our implementation plan integrates these insights into product development, educational outreach, and commercialization, ensuring that our project is scientifically sound, socially responsible, and aligned with public and market needs.
Through extensive Human Practices research—including consumer surveys, expert interviews, clinical consultations, and industry engagement—our project objectives and positioning have become increasingly clear. Based on these insights, our implementation strategy is as follows:
Our project is designed primarily as a B2B bioactive ingredient for cosmetic companies, providing a scientifically validated SOD-CAT cascade antioxidant system for anti-aging skincare products. The proposed end users are individuals seeking effective anti-aging solutions, with a primary focus on working women aged 30–40, while younger consumers aged 18–30 represent a key growth segment. Cosmetic brands incorporate our enzyme preparation into topical products, enabling end users to benefit from enhanced antioxidant and anti-aging effects safely and effectively.
To ensure practical implementation, we plan a multi-tiered strategy: first, establish reliable production of stable enzyme formulations, including freeze-dried powders suitable for cosmetic applications; second, collaborate with skincare companies to integrate our ingredients into their products and conduct phased safety and efficacy testing; third, leverage consumer insights from surveys and social media channels (Douyin, Xiaohongshu) to guide product positioning and educational outreach. By aligning technical feasibility, market demand, and social responsibility, our implementation ensures that both scientific innovation and tangible benefits to end users in the real world.
