[비욘드포스트 김신 기자] A technology recognized in the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is gaining new momentum in the field of skin regeneration. The prize was awarded to Professors Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their pioneering development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous crystalline materials often described as “molecular sponges” for their ability to precisely bind metal ions and organic molecules at the atomic level.

MOFs are now applied across a range of industries, from carbon-capture and air purification to water harvesting and targeted drug delivery. UC Berkeley Professor Omar M. Yaghi, one of the award recipients, advanced the field by stabilizing MOF structures and enabling highly selective adsorption and controlled release of specific molecules — a breakthrough that has strengthened the material’s potential in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

MOF-Based Dual Regeneration System: INCUBE® 501 and 701

Following the Nobel announcement, the dermatology platform LHALA Doctor has attracted attention for integrating MOF-based materials into its skin-recovery technology. The system incorporates INCUBE® 501 and INCUBE® 701, two proprietary actives developed by LabIncube Co., a subsidiary of Sookmyung Women’s University Technology Holdings.

INCUBE® 501 uses highly precise MOF particles smaller than 10 μm to selectively adsorb inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). The material functions not only as a delivery system but also as an active agent that removes pro-inflammatory substances while promoting tissue repair, aiming to reduce post-procedure hypersensitivity and hyperpigmentation.

INCUBE® 701 consists of uniformly spherical PLLA (poly-L-lactic acid) particles measuring 30–80 μm, designed to stimulate collagen production and support skin-structure rebuilding. Together, the two materials form a dual-action regeneration mechanism that clears inflammation triggers while boosting the skin’s natural recovery processes.

LHALA Doctor Positions Itself as “Therapeutic Peeling”

Positioned as a next-generation regenerative peeling platform, LHALA Doctor applies a clinical concept described as “Peel(-) and Fill(+).” The formulation combines INCUBE® 501 and 701 with additional functional ingredients such as a quantum-dot complex for light-based synergy, calcium oxide for epidermal-barrier reinforcement, and a blend of LHA, H2sol™, and lipids for controlled exfoliation and pigmentation improvement.

The company behind LHALA Doctor, H2MEDI, states that the platform is intended to redefine conventional peeling by focusing on recovery, repair, and post-procedure stability — areas where demand continues to rise in the medical aesthetics industry.


MOF Technology Extends Beyond Chemistry

The incorporation of INCUBE® 501 and 701 into dermatological applications marks one of the clearest demonstrations to date that MOF materials can transition from environmental and chemical engineering into skin-regeneration science.

LabIncube, which developed the INCUBE® series based on MOF materials associated with this year’s Nobel Prize, reports growing global interest in MOF-based dermatology solutions due to their high molecular precision and potential for targeted therapeutic action.

As the medical aesthetics field increasingly adopts advanced material science, LHALA Doctor is emerging as an early example of how Nobel Prize–recognized technologies can translate into practical innovations aimed at clinical efficacy and patient safety.

김신 비욘드포스트 기자 news@beyondpost.co.kr