Abstract: A photobioreactor for culturing light-sensitive microbes is provided, the reactor comprising a body comprising at least one floor panel and at least one wall extending upwardly around the periphery of the floor panel to define a body, wherein the at least one floor panel comprises at least one graded segment so as to define a trough along the bottom of the body towards which debris within the body flows, at least one illumination panel within the body so that there is free flow of liquid along the sides and floor panel of the body, at least one gas inlet within the trough in the floor panel, for providing an upward stream of gas into the body so as to generate air lift of the light sensitive microbes within the body. Also provided is a method for growing light-sensitive microbes.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of extracts from algae for cosmetic and/or medical treatment of skin, including improving and enhancing the skin-barrier, anti-aging treatment and photo-protective treatment. The invention is based on the finding that extracts from algae obtainable from saline hot water sources exhibit a multi-faceted biological effect useful in the cosmetic and/or therapeutic treatment of skin for the above purposes. Specifically, it has been shown that such algae extracts induce markers (involucrin, filaggrin and transglutaminase-1) for skin barrier formation in keratinocytes, induce collagen expression in dermal fibroblasts and inhibit UVA-induced up-regulation of photo-aging markers (matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and cytokine IL-6).

Abstract: The invention provides the use of extracts from algae for cosmetic and/or medical treatment of skin, including improving and enhancing the skin-barrier, anti-aging treatment and photo-protective treatment. The invention is based on the finding that extracts from algae obtainable from saline hot water sources exhibit a multi-faceted biological effect useful in the cosmetic and/or therapeutic treatment of skin for the above purposes. Specifically, it has been shown that such algae extracts induce markers (involucrin, filaggrin and transglutaminase-1) for skin barrier formation in keratinocytes, induce collagen expression in dermal fibroblasts and inhibit UVA-induced up-regulation of photo-aging markers (matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and cytokine IL-6).

Abstract: The invention provides the use of silica for cosmetic and/or medical treatment of skin, including improving and enhancing the skin-barrier, anti-aging treatment and photo-protective treatment. The invention is based on the finding that silica exhibits a multi-faceted biological effect useful in the cosmetic and/or therapeutic treatment of skin for the above purposes. Specifically, it has been shown that silica induces markers (involucrin, filaggrin and transglutaminase-1) for skin barrier formation in keratinocytes, induces collagen expression in dermal fibroblasts and inhibits UVA-induced up-regulation of photo-aging markers (matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1 and cytokine IL-6).