Keybiological was founded in 2016, with the goal of creating ozonized products, such as face creams and capsules for intestinal ailments.

The use of ozone within the cosmetic and pharma sectors has Galician DNA. For seven years, Keybiological, an associate of Bioga, uses innovation as their flag and leaves their fingerprints on ozonized products: from pills used to treat intestinal ailments, all the way to incredibly light and efficient face creams. The creator of this project is the biologist Juan Fernández, who decided to become an entrepeneur together with his associate in 2016. “We had experience with ozonized products, always thinking on the base technology”, says the owner of the company.

“Ozone cleans the atmosphere, keeps bacteria under control and protects us from UV radiation so they don’t affect our skin”, explains Fernández, speaking of all the good this gas does in nature. The ozone, which is composed of three oxygen atoms, is fundamental for life on Earth. According to Keybiological‘s director, the process trough which one gas becomes another “is a very interesting chemical reaction”. “The fatty acids oxidize, just like it happens in our bodies. The thing is, we can replicate this process in the lab”, highlights the expert. However, the process they perform is not an exact replica of what happens in nature. Before the oxygen becomes ozone, they perform a previous step. This helps the ozone dissolve in the oil and its properties are transfered.

In other words, Keybiological turns oxygen into oznoe and then, they apply it to their oils. “In this process we cut the oil into very small pieces, named peroxides, and the ozone disappears. Only oxygen remains. There are two atoms that join and another one on top of that, that is called a free radical”, continues highlighting Fernández. Apparently, “this oxygen free radical is a hyper antioxidant, and has a cleaning effect on skin, with antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial properties”, adds Keybiological‘s director. He insists, aswell, that the resulting products of this ozonized technique “have multiple properties”. Among these is the scar healing, antiseptic and antioxidant properties.

Their main challenge

The main challenge Keybiological found, was regulating the temperature at which this procedure takes place. “When oxigenating, we reach temperatures of up to 100ºC. Meaning, the oil boils and produces a foul smell, akin to fried potatoes”, describes the Galician biologist. The company managed to revert this effect five years ago, proceeding with the same technique, but in cold temperatures. “We currently have a patent on course. With this procedure we boost the organoleptic properties”, indicates the director.  “Our ingredient is completely natural. We apply it in different products, using it as an ingredient for eye products, capsules… What the oil achieves is for the better healing of any tissue”, reiterates Fernández.

Among the already commercialized products, Keybiological highlights the  ecologic extra virgin olive oil as an ingredient in their cosmetic and pharma products. What’s more, they are about to launch their own microencapsulated product. As Fernánded describes, it is a powder, easily appliable on the skin, and completely odorless. “We have a contract with a Spanish distributor to sell cosmetic ingredients, but on top of that, we will shortly have our own product; our own brand. We anticipate it will be on market after this summer”, details the biologist.

Future steps

Facing the future, Keybiological wishes to continue growing their scope, in order to be able to sell their products worldwide. “An important part is the selling of this innovative product, but also aiding companies who might be able to create products with it”, he says. What’s more, as Fernández ennumerates, he has already conquered a good part of the potential buyers. Other than Spain, they are present in Portugal, United States, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Columbia and, on top of that, a very important part of it comes from El Salvador, where the product offered by Keybiological was received “very well”.

However it may be, these seven years have been a rollercoaster for the company. The way the director remembers it, the happiest moment was the retreival of an award for the most competitive innovative company in Galicia, and for the most innovative material. Also worth noting, was the time they were selected in an incubation project to createa  biocide for hand sanitation against COVID. However, shadows loomed over Keybiological, and in 2019 their entire facility burned down. “It was the worst situation the company had ever been in, and we were extremely close to closing down. But trough willpower and sheer energy, we moved forward and came out of it strengthended”, concludes Fernández.

Original article: Innovación con ADN gallego: así se usa el ozono para crear cosméticos más eficaces, Victoria García – GCiencia (22/09/2023).