BASF and Bota Biosciences Launch AI-Developed Recombinant Collagen Ingredient for Premium Skincare

01 July 2026 | Wednesday | News


New SkinNexus™ Collag3n combines Physical AI, synthetic biology and precision fermentation to deliver a 100% human-identical Collagen III active for the global personal care market.

Bota Biosciences and BASF jointly announced the market launch of BASF's SkinNexus™ Collag3n. This 100% human-identical recombinant Collagen III fragment was developed in collaboration between the two companies and is being commercialized by BASF for the personal care market. The ingredient made its global debut at in-cosmetics Global in April 2026.

SkinNexus™ Collag3n merges Bota's world-leading Physical AI-driven biofoundry capabilities with BASF's premier technology for cosmetic actives. Drawing on their combined expertise in AI, synthetic biology, skin science, and biomanufacturing, Bota and BASF screened over 2,000 collagen fragments. Candidate evaluation ran in parallel with industrial feasibility validation. This approach closes the loop between discovery and production and illustrates the power that strong partnerships can unleash.

SkinNexus™ Collag3n is a recombinant, vegan Collagen III fragment produced by yeast fermentation with a 100% human-identical sequence. In 3D dermis models, the ingredient was shown to support a healthy environment for full-spectrum collagen homeostasis (+48% Collagen I, +82% Collagen III, +71% Collagen V). Clinical trials on women aged 53–70 showed improvements in sagging and  wrinkle appearance after four weeks, outperforming a collagen benchmark used at ten times the concentration.

"SkinNexus™ Collag3n reflects our commitment to high-performance, science-based innovation. Bota Biosciences was the partner of choice to combine strong efficacy with industrial scalability," said Lucilene Veira Nunes, Global Business Management BASF Beauty Care Solutions.

Dr. Cheryl Cui, Founder and CEO of Bota Biosciences, said: "This collaboration is proof that Physical AI for Biomanufacturing can turn cutting-edge science into commercial, sustainable, and high-performance ingredients. Together with BASF, we are setting new standards for bio-identical actives in personal care."

This launch marks an important milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Bota Biosciences and BASF in the field of bio-based innovations for the global market.

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