A research scientist’s quest in the world of biophysics

Understanding the skin digital twin

It was around 2013 that regulatory authorities worldwide imposed strict restrictions on testing cosmetics and their ingredients on animals.

This development led to the ideation and conceptualization of a digital twin of the human skin, a unique invention by TCS Research. 

“The digital twin of human skin is developed based on a concept called ‘multiscale modeling’ which mimics the skin’s physiochemical nature,” explains 32-year-old Rakesh Gupta—a budding scientist at TCS Research. 

Rakesh’s team has been credited for developing microscopic models of the human skin’s layers which enable in-silico testing of various drug and cosmetic formulations. The invention has also been found useful in the designing and testing of nanomaterials for other healthcare applications. 

In recognition of this work, Rakesh was conferred the INAE Young Engineer Award in December 2019, and TCS Young Scientist Award in August 2020. 

Molecular behavior is fascinating

Rakesh joined TCS Research in 2013, where he worked in the biological and physical sciences research space.

Prior to joining TCS Research, his academic interests were toward computational modeling and simulation, with a focus on molecular dynamic simulations of charge interfaces, among others.

“I had to learn new domains, tools, and techniques, while on the job. The imposition of regulations on the use of animals in cosmetic testing and the scope of scientific research in the skin biophysics space is what drew my attention to the subject,” Rakesh says.  

“I was always fascinated with the molecular world and curious about how tiny arrangements of molecules lead to astonishing macroscopic behavior,” he added. It was this fascination with molecular behavior that led him to pursue a Master’s in chemical engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, after gaining a Bachelor’s in chemical engineering from National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India.

Rakesh began exploring the world of ions and molecules to understand their behavior in nano pores and to design better super capacitors. “I always wanted to know how research would be different in industry as compared to academia. And what inspired me to join TCS Research was the work by some of its senior scientists, which I was following very closely while at IISc,” he says, explaining why he chose to work as a scientist at TCS Research.

A microscopic model 

Rakesh and team embarked on a bold journey to create a digital twin of the human skin to reduce, and ultimately (if possible) try and eliminate animal testing for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. 

Despite setbacks, the team worked hard on their research for over a year and a half. Non-availability of prior experimental data in the public domain related to testing on real human skin was among their biggest challenges. 

“It was frustrating when things were not going in the right direction, but we had this hope and belief that if we were to succeed, it would be of immense contribution not only to the scientific community and TCS Research, but also to millions of people,” Rakesh says.  

The team validated models through minimal data obtained from scientific literature after extensive research. 

They also collaborated with international laboratories such as Harvard University and Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

Rakesh’s first paper and patent on the digital twin of human skin was published and filed in 2015-16. It featured a microscopic transport model of the skin’s top layer. In 2017, the design was further detailed, and a full multiscale model was presented both in terms of the paper and the patent. 

Rakesh states that the finding is a milestone for the team and that they are proud of the recognition and appreciation it has received.