With advances in microscopy and the exponential growth of computing power, cellular imaging has entered the Big Data era. The generation, processing, analysis, visualization, and interpretation of high-content, multidimensional imaging data now represent a major bottleneck for the cosmetics sector. To address this challenge, our team has developed innovative technological solutions combining advanced in vitro models with custom software.
Our first research axis focuses on a miniaturized platform, MITOMATIQUE, enabling rapid, robust, and quantitative assessment of mitochondrial health. This approach generates “computational mitograms” from living cells cultured in 2D and imaged by confocal microscopy. Beyond the objective evaluation of bioactive ingredients, MITOMATIQUE allows the characterization of combinatorial effects of the cutaneous exposome through phenotypic profiling of cells exposed to realistic cocktails of environmental toxicants (e.g. atmospheric pollutants, plastic residues, phytosanitary compounds).
Our second research axis led to the development of NOXISCORE, an automated, animal-free assay designed to assess the potential toxicity of formulation mixtures under realistic conditions of use and stress. Based on human skin biopsies coupled with digital histometry, this technology produces “computational nucleograms” that quantify the toxicological impact of combined dermato-cosmetic products, such as sunscreens and insect repellents.