- Opening the era of blue bio industry with the commercialization of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) production technology using marine life resources

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Kang Do-hyung) announced on Tuesday, July 1 that it has succeeded in industrializing the technology to produce non-animal PDRN* from the marine microalgae Chlorella and launched a new cosmetic product from Amore Pacific utilizing the ingredient.

* PDRN (Polydeoxyribonucleotide): DNA fragments that are mainly extracted from salmon testes and developed for cell regeneration, wound healing, exfoliation, wrinkle improvement, whitening, hair growth, and hair loss prevention

MOF has implemented the Marine Bio Raw Material and Formulation Technology Development (2023-2024) project since 2023 to develop standard raw material processing technology for marine bioresources with high potential for industrial use and to industrialize it.

In particular, PDRN material is a substance that promotes skin regeneration and wound healing and is used as an important material in various industries such as biopharmaceuticals, functional cosmetics, and medical devices. Since more than 90% of the material is imported, however, developing domestic production technology for the material has been recognized as a priority task for the sustainable revitalization of the bio industry.

This project was implemented as a public-private collaborative research project with the joint participation of Amore Pacific R&I Center and MORECHEM, succeeding in developing a process for extracting high-content, low-molecular-weight PDRN from chlorella. This substance, named Blue PDRN, was found to be effective in skin regeneration and wound healing by promoting the proliferation and movement of skin cells and increasing the expression of collagen synthesis and angiogenic factors.

Amore Pacific confirmed that the efficacy of Blue PDRN is similar to salmon-derived PDRN’s skin regeneration process and the regeneration effect on artificial skin. It has applied for a patent for the manufacturing technology. The developed technology acquired certification as a New Excellent Technology (NET) in the marine and fisheries sector in December last year and received a commendation from the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

The newly developed technology is significant because it expands the existing PDRN production method—which relies on animal-based raw materials such as salmon and trout—to a sustainable, mass-producible production method based on non-animal alternative raw materials. Moreover, the product is expected to be able to lead the relevant market in situations such as competition in the development of non-animal cosmetics raw materials in the expanding global vegan cosmetics market.

“This research is significant since it developed a sustainable technology to extract non-animal PDRN from microalgae and revealed its efficacy. We will continue to expand the scope of our research and increase related investments so that the blue bio industry can become a new growth engine by discovering and securing high value-added materials from the ocean,” Minister Kang Do-hyung said.