Ultra-long-chain nonionic surfactants, featuring hydrophobic tails with carbon numbers beyond C₁₈, have emerged as a significant frontier in viscoelastic surfactant research due to their capacity to form wormlike micelles at remarkably low concentrations without auxiliary hydrotropes. This review systematically delineates recent advances in the synthesis, solubility behavior, rheological properties, and application prospects of this class of amphiphiles. Two primary synthetic routes are highlighted: Esterification of fatty acids with polyoxyethylene monomethyl ether to produce polyether-type derivatives, and amidation with N-methyl-D-glucamine or N-ethyl-D-glucamine to afford glucosamide-based counterparts, both utilizing renewable plant-derived feedstocks such as erucic acid. Solubility modulation is achieved by tailoring hydrophilic headgroup size, hydrophobic tail length, and the number of unsaturated bonds, with quantitative structure-property correlations established to predict dissolution behavior across a wide temperature window. The glucosamide series further exhibits pronounced freezing-point depression, enabling subzero fluidity. Rheologically, these surfactants assemble into entangled wormlike micellar networks or hexagonal liquid crystalline phases, imparting significant shear-thinning characteristics and viscoelastic responses even at low concentrations and under freezing conditions. A representative glucosamide surfactant, UC₂₂GEt, demonstrates a zero-shear viscosity as high as 4.17 × 10⁵ mPa·s at 0 ℃ while retaining injectability at -14 ℃. Exploiting these unique features, the UC₂₂GEt system has been successfully applied as a cryoprotectant for frost-sensitive plants, forming a uniform and stable coating on hydrophobic petal surfaces and effectively mitigating freeze-induced damage through synergistic mechanisms of freezing-point suppression, enhanced wettability, and shear-responsive viscosity recovery. Future directions are envisioned toward molecular topology engineering, greener synthetic methodologies, and deeper mechanistic understanding of the thermodynamic driving forces and network dynamics governing wormlike micelle formation.

Lubricant additives are core functional agents for ensuring reliable machinery operation and energy efficiency. Their molecular structure design and synergism in formulations can directly dictate the tribological performance, energy effectiveness, and service durability of high-end equipment. In this review, the action mechanisms and functional positioning of surfactants in lubrication systems were systematically elucidated. The classification characteristics and application performances of detergents-dispersants, emulsifiers, extreme-pressure anti-wear additives, antioxidant and anti-corrosion agents, and auxiliary functional additives were reviewed. Those cutting-edge technological innovations were summarized, including nano-modified materials, functionalized ionic liquids, biodegradable systems, and green synthesis processes. In light of the development trends in new energy vehicles, high-end intelligent equipment, and green chemistry, in this review, the novel performance demands and the technical breakthrough paths for lubricant additives were clarified. The literature research indicated that the integrated application of functional molecular design, synergistic multi-component compounding, and green material technologies could effectively break through the performance bottlenecks and environmental limitations of traditional lubricant additives.

Building upon the construction of a traditional 3D skin model, commensal skin bacteria from normal human skin were cultured and encapsulated via ionic cross-linking between chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate, forming uniform microcapsules containing commensal bacteria （CS-bacteria-TPP microcapsules） that were subsequently applied to the surface of the 3D skin model. This established an ecological balance system in which the skin model coexists with microorganisms, thereby better mimicking the microenvironment of human skin. A dermal layer was constructed by isolating and culturing fibroblasts, while an epidermal layer was established using cultured keratinocytes, which were subsequently seeded onto the dermal layer to form a normal skin model. Target bacterial species, such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, lactic acid bacteria, or Micrococcus, spp., were cultured separately. Using the ionic cross-linking principle, positively charged amino groups of chitosan and negatively charged tripolyphosphate ions interacted, forming stable, bacteria-loaded microcapsules. Spreading these bacteria-coated microcapsules onto the surface of the 3D skin model yielded a 3D simulated human skin model incorporating a microcolony system. The physiological and morphological characteristics, as well as bacterial viability and growth within the microcapsules, were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, hematoxylin and eosin （H&E） staining, transepithelial electrical resistance （TEER） measurement, light microscopy, and agar plate counting, respectively. Characterization results confirm that the 3D skin model exhibits a high and stable transepithelial electrical resistance, indicating the successful establishment of an intact skin barrier alongside microcapsules featuring uniform morphology and robust mechanical strength. Applying these microcapsules to the model surface successfully recreates a microecological environment resembling normal human skin. Overall, these findings demonstrate that through the successful colonization of commensal skin bacteria on a 3D skin construct, a highly representative in vitro model simulating the human skin microenvironment was established.

To enhance the application of quinoa protein in delivery systems, a complex constructed with quinoa protein and low-acyl gellan gum was employed to stabilize high internal phase Pickering emulsions （HIPPEs）. The potential of such HIPPEs for delivering hydrophobic active ingredients was evaluated. The results showed that as pH was increased from 6.0 to 8.0, the turbidity of the complex decreased from 0.51 to 0.39, the ζ-potential decreased from -35.13 mV to -40.17 mV, and the contact angle increased from 78.30° to 83.70°. It was shown that the properties of complex-stabilized HIPPEs were significantly improved compared with those stabilized by quinoa protein alone, showing smaller droplet sizes （10.50-6.04 μm）, higher negative ζ-potential （from -33.63 mV to -41.27 mV）, enhanced emulsifying activity index （EAI, 26.06-34.77 m²/g） and emulsifying stability index （ESI, 63.32-75.88 min）, and better storage stability. Therefore, by using this quinoa protein/low-acyl gellan gum complex as emulsion stabilizer, it was proved that the emulsion stability could be significantly enhanced and the pH could considerably influence the emulsion stability, with stability being enhanced as the pH increased within the range of 6-8. This work might provide theoretical basis for the development of novel emulsion stabilizers and quinoa protein-based delivery systems for hydrophobic active substances.

To solve the problem of water pollution caused by a persistent organic pollutant, rhodamine B （RhB） dye, in this work, the semiconductor material nitrogen-rich carbon nitride （C₃N₅） and the conductive polymer polyaniline （PANI） were combined to construct the PANI/C₃N₅ heterojunction. The phase composition, specific surface area and pores of the heterojunction were characterized, as well as its visible light spectral response and photogenerated carrier recombination and lifetime. The degradation of RhB by PANI/C₃N₅ heterojunction under simulated visible light excitation was investigated. The results showed that the type-II heterojunction construction and π-π^* stacking-promoted electron delocalization between PANI and C₃N₅ could improve the separation efficiency and lifetime of photogenerated carriers, expand the visible light absorption range, and enhance the photocatalytic activity. The PANI/C₃N₅ heterojunction showed significantly higher ability in photocatalytic degradation of RhB than both C₃N₅ and PANI. Under the conditions of PANI/C₃N₅ heterojunction dosage of 30 mg, initial pH of 7, and simulated visible light irradiation for 60 min, the degradation percentage of RhB for a RhB solution with initial mass concentration of 100 mg/L could reach 98.42% and the apparent rate constant was 0.063 61 min^-1. After five photocatalytic cycles, the degradation percentage of RhB decreased to 98.22%, indicative of good durability and stability. Superoxide radicals played a key role in the photocatalytic process.

This study systematically explores the molecular design advantages of succinic acid （SA） in hair conditioner systems and its pH-responsive characteristics, aiming to overcome the bottlenecks of traditional formulations, such as high lipid dependence and loose structure. Notably, the glutaric acid （GA） system, as another dicarboxylic acid, also demonstrates superior network properties, which collectively confirms the pivotal role of the dicarboxylic acid molecular architecture. Experimental results show that SA, through its dicarboxylic acid groups interacting with stearamidopropyl dimethylamine （SPA）, forms a pseudo-Gemini surfactant structure, thereby constructing a long-range ordered dense lamellar network. Under the condition of only 5% fatty alcohol, the static viscosity of this system （η₀=18 810 mPa·s） is significantly improved by 4.5 times compared to the lactic acid （LA） system. Additionally, the introduction of SA synergistically improves the wet combability （improvement rate of 67.51%）, antistatic properties （relative static voltage of 4.23%）, and anti-breakage performance （reducing hair breakage by 63% after 5 000 combing strokes）. Further investigation reveals that increasing the system pH from 4.5 to 6.5 promotes charge neutralization, optimizing the compactness of the lamellar network. This leads to a significant increase in zero-shear viscosity （η₀=35 940 mPa·s） and superior antistatic performance （relative static voltage of 1.48%）. Crucially, the consistent shear-thinning slope across the tested pH range ensures that dynamic spreadability remains uncompromised. This work elucidates a “static compactness-dynamic response” balance mechanism in conditioner systems and proposes a synergistic strategy combining molecular design with environmental parameter control to achieve simultaneous formulation simplification and performance enhancement. These findings provide a solid theoretical foundation and an innovative technical framework for developing high-performance hair conditioner products.

Nowadays, shampoos and conditioners are used as routine hair care products in daily life. Frequent exposure to surfactants or their residues more or less causes damage to scalp skin. Herein, an in vitro model was constructed to simulate skin irritation induced by shampoo and hair conditioner, followed by the screening of multiple commercially available plant extracts. Scutellaria alpine, Epilobium angustifolium and Lavandula angustifolia were identified as strong cell protectors and formulated into a scalp soothing complex （SSC）. The SSC was further studied in both a keratinocyte model and a 3D reconstructed human epidermal model, for its effect in counteracting surfactant-induced damage. After a comprehensive evaluation including inflammatory markers, epidermal tissue morphology, and barrier proteins, SSC demonstrates that it is a strong, holistic solution to combat surfactant irritation. Specifically, SSC reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, as well as the inflammatory mediator PGE2, upregulates endogenous NRF2 expression to enhance free radical scavenging; promotes the synthesis of key barrier proteins FLG and LOR; and downregulates TRPV1 expression. The current research suggests that SSC modulates barrier function, inflammatory responses, and neuro-sensory signaling through a multi-target regulatory mechanism, thereby exhibiting significant soothing efficacy and strong potential for scalp care applications.

The structural evolution and performance behavior of a hair conditioner model formulation, emulsified at two different temperatures （65 and 80 ℃） and monitored during subsequent room-temperature storage, were systematically investigated via techniques including cryo-SEM, DSC, rheology, and combing tests. The results demonstrate that the emulsion processed at 65 ℃ forms a highly ordered lamellar sheet structure, which exhibits significantly superior bulk viscoelasticity and wet-hair combing performance compared to the mixed vesicle-lamellar sheet structure formed at 80 ℃. Following 15 days of room temperature storage, samples prepared at 80 ℃ undergo spontaneous reorganization of the vesicular structures, characterized by fusion, an increase in size, and a tendency to flatten and form continuous lamellar sheets. These findings indicate that the emulsification temperature is a critical factor governing the phase structure and performance of the system. Specifically, the 65 ℃ process facilitates the formation of a structurally stable lamellar sheet structure with excellent properties. Room-temperature storage drives the transition from a metastable vesicular state towards the stable lamellar sheet state, thereby elucidating the kinetic mechanism behind the observed enhancement in sensory performance upon storage. This study provides new insights into the development and production of high-performance hair conditioners.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-wrinkle and firming efficacy of Saururus chinensis extract （SC） using molecular docking, cell-based assays, and a single-blind, half-face controlled human trial. The results show that sauchinone, a characteristic bioactive component of SC, exhibits strong binding affinity for EDNRA, with a binding energy of -6.619 kcal/mol. In EDNRA-overexpressing HaCaT cells, SC significantly reduces the elevation of intracellular Ca²⁺ level after EDNRA activation and decreases the expression level of MMP-9. In the half-face controlled clinical trial, SC significantly increases the ultrasound high-intensity echogenicity of the skin at 7, 14, and 28 days compared with the vehicle control. By Day 28, SC treatment significantly reduced crow’s feet depth, skin retraction time, skin redness a^* value, and skin roughness （R_a and R_z values）. Therefore, SC has anti-wrinkle and firming efficacy by modulating MMP-9 expression through the ET-1/EDNRA signaling pathway.

In this study, we investigated the effects of different extracts of Panax notoginseng （PNT） on cell protection, barrier repair, and the alleviation of inflammatory response and neurological response, and evaluated the soothing efficacy of these extracts. The results show that different extracts of PNT significantly inhibit the red blood cell hemolysis rate and hyaluronidase activity, reduce the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in stimulated cells, and inhibit intracellular Ca²⁺ influx. Furthermore, total saponins of PNT and total polysaccharides of PNT significantly increase the survival rate of KC cells after UVB irradiation, promote KC migration following SLS-induced injury, upregulate the expression of key barrier repair proteins （ZO-1 and claudin-1）, and significantly inhibit the capsaicin-induced expression of TRPV1 and TRPM2 proteins. In conclusion, various PNT extracts exhibit strong soothing properties, with PNT saponins demonstrating superior soothing efficacy compared to PNT flavonoids and PNT polysaccharides.

The Lower Paleozoic carbonate gas reservoirs in the Ordos Basin are widely distributed and possess significant resource potential. However, these reservoirs commonly exhibit ultra-tight pore throat systems, strong heterogeneity, and pronounced water-wet characteristics. During the long-term production, wellbores and near-wellbore zones are prone to blockage and liquid accumulation, manifesting as production decline and frequent shutdowns, which severely constrain later development efficiency. Therefore, the mechanism identification for blockage and optimization of de-blockage processes are therefore critical steps for maintaining deliverability in tight carbonate gas wells. Based on field diagnoses in blocks such as Jingbian and Surig, this study systematically summarizes the composition characteristics of blockage materials and their coupled evolution mechanisms through integrated core and cuttings analysis, physical property and wettability tests. Existing research generally agrees that blockage often exhibits composite characteristics, with inorganic scaling as the dominant factor, while organic deposition plays a secondary role. Water blocking frequently occurs in tight strongly water-wet pore-throat systems and often enhances and stabilizes blockage. Focusing on the composite blockage remediation, this article reviews the chemical de-blockage technologies such as staged slow-rate acid systems, acid-base composite systems, and foam-assisted rehydration, combined with physical de-blockage methods like coiled tubing jetting. Novel techniques such as nano-wettability regulation and CO₂ foam rehydration demonstrate good adaptability in deep water blocking and micropore coalescence sections. Finally, the future research directions for de-blockage technology are proposed to enhance the engineering guidance value for mature gas field remediation.

Nucleic acids and their derivatives have become high-value emerging ingredients in cosmetics, medical aesthetics, and functional foods due to their multifaceted biological activities in promoting tissue repair, providing antioxidant effects, and regulating gene expression. This review systematically categorizes nucleosides, nucleotides, DNA, RNA, polydeoxyribonucleotide （PDRN）, and polynucleotide （PN）, as well as structurally distinct nucleic acid materials including framework nucleic acids （FNAs）, aptamers, and nucleic acid hydrogels. Key sources and preparation methods are summarized: PDRN is primarily extracted from fish or plant tissues, with plant sources requiring additional cell wall degradation; RNA is obtained through yeast fermentation and salt precipitation; β-nicotinamide mononucleotide （NMN） and oligonucleotides rely on enzymatic catalysis or chemical synthesis. In terms of mechanisms of action, PDRN regulates inflammatory responses and collagen synthesis by specifically activating adenosine A₂A receptors; framework nucleic acids promote cell migration and wound healing by activating the AKT signaling pathway; and yeast RNA exhibits immunomodulatory and tissue regenerative functions. In terms of application, PDRN is used in medicine to promote wound healing and cartilage repair; PN injections demonstrate superior skin rejuvenation effects compared to those of hyaluronic acid in medical aesthetics; and PDRN-fortified beverages in functional foods show potential for enhancing metabolism and protecting gastric mucosa. Although challenges persist in areas such as ingredient stability, skin permeability, large-scale production costs, and regulatory evaluation, ongoing breakthroughs in nanotechnology, synthesis processes, and delivery systems, coupled with deepening industry-academia-research collaborations, hold promise for overcoming existing technical barriers. Nucleic acid ingredients are poised to demonstrate broader application prospects and commercial value in the beauty and health sectors, driving innovation toward precision, intelligence, and efficiency in product formulations.

The research and development（R&D）of cosmetics is undergoing a significant shift from traditional ingredient layering toward efficacy-oriented approaches. However, the low skin bioavailability of active ingredients remains a key limiting factor for product effectiveness. This article proposes viewing cosmetic R&D as a skin nutrition system engineering centered on precise targeted delivery, aiming to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge from skin physiology, nutrition, materials science, and pharmacology to systematically address the delivery challenges of active ingredients from formulations to targeted skin cells. First, this review describes the rationale and skin requirements for external active ingredient supplementation under conditions of aging and environmental stress. Second, it analyzes how the structure and function of the skin barrier govern delivery efficiency, along with the corresponding physicochemical mechanisms. Furthermore, it systematically elaborates on advanced delivery technologies, such as liposomes, polymeric nanocarriers, and exosomes, in overcoming barrier limitations to achieve controlled release and targeted delivery. Finally, the potential application of this system engineering strategy in cosmetics for precise skin nutrition supplementation is demonstrated through a composite nutritional intervention strategy for periorbital anti-aging, as well as a synergistic regulatory strategy for sebum secretion and barrier function in the facial T-zone. In conclusion, a system engineering-oriented R&D strategy provides a theoretical framework for developing biologically meaningful, efficacy-driven cosmetics, driving the advancement of cosmetic science towards greater precision and efficiency.

Dry sensitive skin is a common and complex skin condition, characterized by features of both dry and sensitive skin. With increasing environmental stressors and improper skincare practices, related issues have drawn growing attention, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This review systematically summarizes the clinical manifestations and potential pathogenic mechanisms of dry sensitive skin, including primary triggers, impaired barrier function, inflammatory and immune responses, and neurovascular hyperreactivity. Based on these mechanistic insights, we propose targeted management strategies, focusing on primary trigger control, skin barrier restoration, inflammation alleviation, and neurosensory soothing and modulation. Future research directions are also addressed, encompassing fine-scale mechanistic studies, individualized care strategies, and the development of novel active ingredients. These mechanism-oriented approaches provide a theoretical basis for the scientific management of dry sensitive skin and offer guidance for functional cosmetic development and clinical practice.

A method for analysis of oil-in-water （W/O） sunscreen formulations containing nano zinc oxide （ZnONPs） was established. The mixture of sodium dodecyl sulfate （SDS） and polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol copolymer （PEG-PPG-25/30） was used for extraction, and then the extracted sample was analyzed by ultrasound-assisted single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （SP-ICP-MS）. This method enabled the determination of particle size distribution and particle number concentration of ZnONPs. The surfactant-polymer mixture could effectively break the stable structure of W/O emulsions through synergistic effects of electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance, thus significantly enhancing the extraction efficiency and dispersion stability of ZnONPs. Key parameters such as pH value, ultrasonic treatment time, and dilution factor were optimized, and the optimized analytical conditions were as follows: pH of 7.0, ultrasonic processing for 30 min, and a range of particle testing concentration from 1.6×10⁸ to 1.2×10⁹ particles/L. Results of methodological validation indicated that the measured values for ZnONP standard materials were highly consistent with reference values; specifically, the detection limit for particle size was 7 nm while the detection limit for particle number concentration was 2.34×10³ particles/L. The spiked recovery was found to be 109.7%±3.5%, further confirming the excellent accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility in measurement. This work provided a reliable pre-treatment strategy to address challenges associated with extracting and accurately quantifying nanoparticles in complex matrices. The established method was straightforward in operation and rapid in analysis, making it suitable for high-precision and high-sensitivity detection of ZnONPs in W/O sunscreen products.

To investigate the elemental contents in shampoo, an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of 52 elements in shampoo was established using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. Through the optimization of microwave digestion and ICP-MS operational parameters, 6 mL of nitric acid and 2 mL of hydrogen peroxide were adopted to digest the samples; the No gas analysis mode and He mode were selected as instrumental analysis modes; and Ge and Re were used as online internal standards. The concentrations of 52 elements （namely Li, Be, B, Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Ru, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, and U） in 57 shampoo samples were determined and quantified by ICP-MS under the opimal experimental conditions. The results indicate that under the optimized conditions, the linearity of all 52 elements is good in the range of 1-100 μg/L （1~1 000 μg/L for Se, Zn, Fe, and Al; 0.1~4 μg/L for Hg）, with the correlation coefficients exceeding 0.999 0. The limits of detection of the method are no higher than 75 μg/kg. The spiked recoveries at low, medium and high concentrations （n=6） range from 81.3% to 114.1%, with relative standard deviations of no more than 6%. This method is simple, accurate, sensitive and reproducible, making it suitable for the rapid, high-throughput determination of 52 elements in shampoo. The determination results show that the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, and As in all samples conform to the standard. The contents of prohibited cosmetic ingredients, including Ni, Cr, Sb, Te, Be, Tl and 16 rare earth elements, are low. In contrast, the concentrations of Se, Zn, Fe, and Al are higher in certain types or brands of shampoo samples than in others.