Cosmetic growth factor ingredients
Plant-produced growth factors for skin and hair care
DERMOkine is a portfolio of endotoxin-free human growth factor replicas and biopeptides, produced in barley, for formulators who need consistent, animal-free actives.
Datasheets and brochure available on request.
The active ingredient. Not the marketing.
DERMOkine consists of plant-produced replicas of human signalling peptides — growth factors and biopeptides that regulate skin cell renewal and hair growth. Formulators use them as performance actives in premium serums, treatments, and haircare products. Available since 2008, produced in ORF's Icelandic barley greenhouse.
Animal-free and endotoxin-free by design. Consistent batch-to-batch quality under an ISO 9001 certified production system. Nine growth factors across two applications — skincare and haircare — from a single supplier.
The formulator's problem
Effective actives are hard to source consistently
Serum-derived and animal-extracted actives introduce contamination, supply uncertainty, and regulatory questions in sensitive cosmetic applications.
Inconsistent peptide concentration or bioactivity means your product's performance cannot be reliably reproduced from batch to batch.
Many peptide actives lack robust bioactivity data, making it difficult to substantiate claims or pass regulatory review.
How DERMOkine is made
Plant-produced. Endotoxin-free. Documented.
Bioengineered barley, no animal inputs
ORF expresses human growth factor replicas in the endosperm tissue of bioengineered barley (Hordeum vulgare) via the Orfeus molecular farming platform. No animal-derived inputs at any stage. Eliminates biorisk at the ingredient level so formulators can make animal-free claims with confidence.
Defined extract, consistent quality
Each DERMOkine batch is a defined barley seed extract manufactured under an ISO 9001 quality system. Endotoxin-free (below 0.01 EU/µg). Batch-to-batch reproducibility is built into the production process, giving you the same active concentration and bioactivity every time.
Cell-based bioactivity data, every batch
Bioactivity is confirmed by cell-based proliferation assays. Datasheets and a full product brochure are available on request for formulation, claims development, and regulatory dossiers. Third-party-verifiable efficacy documentation to support your claims and accelerate regulatory review.
The DERMOkine portfolio
Nine growth factors, two applications
Each factor is produced in barley, confirmed endotoxin-free, and available with bioactivity data and a full technical dossier.
FGFb
Fibroblast growth factor basic. Stimulates fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Skincare.
IGF-1
Insulin-like growth factor 1. Supports keratinocyte and fibroblast growth. Skincare and haircare.
KGF (FGF-7)
Keratinocyte growth factor. Promotes keratinocyte proliferation and wound healing. Skincare.
PDGFbb
Platelet-derived growth factor BB. Involved in tissue remodeling and skin repair. Skincare.
VEGF
Vascular endothelial growth factor. Supports microcirculation and scalp vascularity. Skincare and haircare.
GDNF
Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor. Role in hair follicle cycling. Haircare.
Noggin
BMP antagonist. Supports stem cell maintenance and hair follicle development. Haircare.
GM-CSF
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Promotes keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. Skincare.
IL-10
Interleukin-10. Anti-inflammatory; supports skin barrier function. Skincare.
Other product lines
Explore the full ORF portfolio
ISOkine
Animal-free human and mouse growth factors for stem cell and regenerative research.
Explore ISOkine
Full product portfolio
Browse all three product lines and find the right growth factors for your application.
View all productsProven in premium skincare
What formulators ask us
Common questions
Bioactivity is confirmed batch-by-batch using cell-based proliferation assays. DERMOkine factors are produced in their native eukaryotic conformation in the barley endosperm, giving them functional properties comparable to mammalian-expressed proteins. Datasheets with bioactivity data are available on request.
Get started
Consistent actives, available now
Talk to our team about your formulation needs or request a quote. ISO 9001 certified, worldwide distribution, brochure available.
ISO 9001 certified. Worldwide distribution.