Our Technology: Amplifying Antioxidants, Absorption & Bioavailability
How RadiQuell™ Works
RadiQuell™ supports all four stages of the skin healing process by creating an optimal healing environment and supplementing the nutrients for body's natural tissue repair system.
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Equalized Moisture Barrier
RadiQuell™ makes the wound bed more hospitable for the body's repair process by forming a uniform film over the area that equalizes water content and provides a barrier.
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Rapid, Complete Absorption
Vitamin E TPGS forms a micelle that holds fat-soluble ingredients inside and transports them deep into the skin quickly and more completely, which normal Vitamin E cannot do.
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Antioxidants & Inflammation Support
Lavender oil provides inflammatory support, while Vitamins C and E "quell" free radicals, providing the immune system with a means of reducing oxidative stress.
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Indispensible Building Blocks
RadiQuell™ provides two crucial components for tissue repair: Vitamin C and zinc. Both of these are necessary for synthesizing collagen, the basic building block of tissue.
Safety
We value safe, preservative-free formulas with short ingredient lists of nutrients that the body knows what to do with.
The Difference
We deliver more with Vitamin E TPGS, a rare ingredient that very few topicals use.
Why It's Safe
1. Ingredients the body recognizes
We utilize ingredients that the body knows what to do with, such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, zinc, squalane, and lavender oil.
2. Safe if ingested
Our products contain ingredients that our target audience can safely metabolize if consumed -- allergies being the only caveat.
3. Preservative-free
We avoid harmful chemicals or preservatives of any kind.
4. Purposefully short ingredient list
Each component is selected to serve a purpose, not a trend.
5. Sourced under cGMP
We source all of our ingredients from North American vendors that operate under Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP), the highest quality standard.
How We Formulate
To help the body with its mending process, we must provide the nutrients it requires in forms that it can readily use. In a way, it's like providing the right bullets for battle and the best bricks for building.
We use ingredients that complement each other, that make a real difference, and most importantly, that the body understands. Every ingredient is of the highest quality and sourced from providers operating under Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) -- the apex standard. Further, the specific form of each ingredient is selected so that it will be properly used by the body for a particular purpose and not stored or expelled.
One could also say that we believe that less is more, and we strive to keep the ingredient list short and understandable. Each component has a purpose to make our product better, not just because it's popular or "nice to have."
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Formulated by W. Andrew Clark, PhD, RD
W. Andrew (Andy) Clark, PhD, RD is Professor Emeritus and former Associate Dean of Research for the College of Clinical and Rehabilitative Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University (ETSU).
He carries a PhD in Nutrition from North Carolina State University (1980) and later received his certification as a Registered Dietician in 2005.
He has held academic positions at South Dakota State University (1980-1983) and ETSU (2002-2023) and had an 18-year tenure at Eastman Chemical Company (1983-2001) with assignments in Research, Strategy, Technical Service, Sales and Marketing.
Dr. Clark is the co-inventor and patent holder of AquADEKs for cystic fibrosis, developed during his time with Yasoo Health, Inc (2001-2003).
He received his second patent for Lavengel® (now RadiQuell™ Canine) in 2021.
Antioxidants & Us
The relationship between antioxidants and free radicals is fundamental to who we are as a company. In fact, the “AOX” in our company name is shorthand for “antioxidant,” and “RadiQuell” was born from our efforts to counteract (quell) free radicals.
In many ways, cellular health -- really, health in general -- hinges upon the harm that free radicals do and how antioxidants keep them in check. This is not only true for us humans, but animals as well, and this is why they command our attention.
Free Radicals & Skin Health
Free radicals play a devastating role in compromised skin, as these unstable molecules damage cells and stall the healing process. Thus, controlling free radicals is a key part of healing wounds, reducing inflammation, and keeping our largest organ healthy.
The way to control free radical activity is with antioxidants. All of our products seek to maximize antioxidant efficacy, minimize free radical activity, and make sure the skin gets the nutrients it needs exactly where it needs them.
Not only that, our products augment antioxidant capabilities via formulations that enhance antioxidant absorption into the skin and total ingredient bioavailability.
Amplifying Absorption: Improving from the Outside-In
Compromised and damaged skin tends to have a hard time getting the antioxidants that it needs, resulting in prolonged inflammation, pain, and irritation.
So, one of our prime focuses is improving the rate and level of nutrient absorption into the skin. The more nutrients that you can quickly get through the skin barrier per dose of product, the better.
The way that we do this is by utilizing a very special form of Vitamin E called TPGS. Vitamin E TPGS is a rare (frankly expensive), plant-derived component that could be considered the ultimate team player in many product formulations. We are one of very few companies that utilize it topically.
Vitamin E TPGS physically encapsulates and transports its fellow ingredients through the skin barrier deep into the epidermal and dermal layers in a way that is not possible for normal Vitamin E, allowing for faster, more complete uptake of all ingredients.
Not only that, it aids in providing an even moisture barrier across the skin -- crucial to supporting disrupted skin cells -- as well as offering its own powers as a natural antioxidant.
Vitamin E TPGS
What is Vitamin E TPGS?
TPGS (D-alpha-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate) is a specialized form of naturally occurring Vitamin E that is derived from plants.
What makes Vitamin E TPGS particularly interesting is that it serves multiple functions within a formulation. Depending on the application, TPGS may act as:
- A solubilizer
- An emulsifier (a substance that helps to mix and stabilize two immiscible [non-mixable] liquids, such as oil and water)
- A formulation aid
- A delivery-support ingredient
- A source of Vitamin E activity
In RadiQuell®, TPGS helps ingredients absorb faster and more completely, while also aiding with skin hydration and free radical control like normal Vitamin E.
Because of its versatility, TPGS has been widely studied and incorporated into a wide range of pharmaceutical, nutritional, cosmetic, and research applications. It also creates opportunities to simplify formulations and explore new approaches to ingredient delivery.
This combination of functionality and versatility is one reason TPGS remains an area of ongoing interest for our research team.
Boosting Bioavailability
Bioavailability shares a strong correlation with "absorption." It is a big word that describes how "ready-to-use" a substance is once it makes it into the body and reaches the destination where that substance will be used (see the dropdown below for more).
As you might surmise, we seek to use ingredients that are more bioavailable so more nutrients get to the "site of physiological activity" -- that is, where they are used for aiding disrupted skin.
We combine these select ingredients with Vitamin E TPGS, and we are able to create products that the body can use more quickly and completely to support superior skin health.
Scroll down and use the buttons to see what RadiQuell™ can do.
Skin Is Always in the Game
The skin is the largest and one of the most vital organs in the body. That goes for mammals, reptiles, birds, and beyond.
Skin is the physical barrier that protects you from the environment, pathogens, injury, and the sun's UV radiation. It regulates your body temperature, allows for sensory perception, acts as a Vitamin D factory, and of course, it keeps your insides inside.
When any of the skin's layers: the epidermis, dermis, or hypodermis are compromised -- whether from a cut, burn, puncture, psoriasis, hot spot, or scratching at a rash -- the body senses a threat. From there, a truly amazing process begins.
How Does the Skin Heal?
In normal conditions, the skin heals through an expertly synchronized four-stage process:
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1. Hemostasis: Stop the Bleeding
Damaged blood vessels constrict to reduce blood flow, platelets clump together, proteins create a mesh to stabilize the clot, and a scab forms to seal the wound from bacteria.
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2. Inflammation: The Cleanup Crew
Redness, heat, and swelling come as white blood cells flood the area to destroy invading bacteria, clear out dead cells / debris, and call for growth factor to build new tissue.
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3. Proliferation: Start the Building
Fibroblast cells produce a temporary "scaffolding" of collagen, new blood vessels appear to supply oxygen + nutrients, and epidermal cells slowly close the wound.
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4. Remodeling: Finishing Touches
The collagen "scaffolding" is replaced with stronger, more orderly Type 1 collagen, excess capillaries fade, and scar tissue forms and lightens.
Dive Deeper Into Skin Healing
Hemostasis & Clotting
When the skin is compromised, the normal protective barrier is broken, exposing tissue to bacteria, fungi, fluid loss, and environmental contaminants.
Not only that, but the remarkable "logistics" structure seen in the circulatory system is damaged. Disrupted skin harms the local capillaries, removing the vital pipelines that deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove carbon dioxide and waste products.
Once the skin is breached, the body immediately gets to work to seal off the area to prevent further fluid loss or microbial proliferation. "Hemostasis" means "stopping blood flow," and here's a brief overview:
- Damaged blood vessels narrow to reduce blood flow.
- Blood platelets clump together to form a temporary seal.
- Proteins create a mesh "net" over the platelets to stabilize the clot.
- The clot then dries on the surface to form a protective scab and seal the wound from external bacteria.
How RadiQuell™ Helps
Damaged skin repairs best when it is kept moist and covered. However, it is very important that the blood successfully clots first.
Once a stable clot is formed, RadiQuell's unique water-soluble form of Vitamin E, called TPGS, creates a uniform film that equalizes water content over the area and provides a barrier. Squalane, another ingredient, also aids with moisture retention.
This makes the wound bed more hospitable for the body's repair process.
Inflammation, Cleanup, & Oxidization
After successful clotting, the immune system transitions to cleaning the wound and preventing infection.
This step largely influences how quickly the skin will mend because pathogens must be eliminated, waste removed, and free radicals contained before tissue regeneration can begin in earnest.
The body's inflammatory response dilates nearby blood vessels and floods the area with white blood cells, bringing visible redness, swelling, and heat.
Neutrophils and macrophages engulf microbes and debris and produce peroxides to help kill pathogens. Peroxides are reactive species (free radicals) that are useful for reducing bacteria, but they can create collateral tissue damage if an infection is poorly contained.
How RadiQuell™ Helps
It's important to note that inflammation (and its discomfort) is necessary for tissue healing.
However, prolonged inflammation can be harmful for the body, as remaining pathogens create oxidative stress and lengthen the timeline and effectiveness of the skin's healing ability.
On top of the even moisture barrier, RadiQuell's Vitamin E TPGS transports its fellow ingredients into the skin at a rate and level that cannot be achieved by normal means.
It does this by forming a micelle (think of a magic ball) that holds fat-soluble ingredients inside and slips into the skin with the ingredients intact.
The ingredients are then released to provide support for the "clean-up crew":
- Lavender oil, with its two key compounds linalool and linalyl acetate provides inflammatory support
- Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that "quell" free radicals, providing the immune system with a means of reducing oxidative stress and "rebalancing" the oxygen levels in the wound area.
- Zinc is critical for building collagen (more on that in the next dropdown)
Proliferation & Revascularization
Once the wound area is sufficiently "cleared," signals are sent that it is time to begin building new tissue.
Immune cells will secrete a growth hormone called basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) that calls for fibroblasts to begin a process called granulation. This is when they divide and produce a temporary matrix of collagen to fill the wound.
In addition to bFGF, another signal hormone called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is secreted that commands the body to begin rebuilding blood vessels -- the vital "logistics" structure of the skin. These blood vessels are key to restoring oxygen and nutrients as well as removing carbon dioxide and waste.
These new vessels speed up the process of debridement, or the removal of dead tissue from the area.
How RadiQuell™ Helps
Two absolutely crucial components for tissue repair are Vitamin C and zinc, as both of these are necessary for synthesizing collagen, the basic building block of tissue. Plainly said, without Vitamin C or zinc, no new tissue can be made.
RadiQuell's Vitamin E TPGS transports both of these nutrients deep into the skin at a high rate and efficiency.
On top of its antioxidant capabilities, Vitamin C facilitates the activity of enzymes involved in collagen synthesis. It and zinc serve as cofactors for various enzymes essential for making collagen.
Remodeling & Scarring
Remodeling is the finalization and maximization of the structural strength of new tissue.
During this phase, the temporary collagen matrix delivered by the fibroblasts is replaced with stronger, more orderly "blocks" of Type 1 collagen.
Excess capillaries begin to dissolve, causing the scar to transition from red to pink to a more natural skin tone while also flattening out.
Even with its best efforts, scar tissue will appear structurally different from the surrounding skin and carries about 80% of the original skin's strength.
How RadiQuell™ Helps
Research indicates that a wound that is kept moist throughout the healing process tends to improve the appearance of and reduce the size of the final scar.
Because RadiQuell™ provides ample, even moisture to the area, this provides the ideal environment for repair.
In addition, the generous supply of bioavailable (ready-to-use) Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and zinc provide the best building materials for the body to use to form new tissue faster.
An impressive example of how RadiQuell™ Canine aided with this final stage can be seen in a testimonial from a customer named Eric whose senior Pit Bull had spleen removal surgery and was left with a massive incision line on its abdomen. Click or tap that highlighted text to see for yourself!
Free Radicals 101
Free radicals are unstable, highly reactive oxygen or nitrogen molecules with at least one unpaired electron. They are a byproduct of oxidation (oxygen being metabolized) in the body. They can also be produced externally by smoking, pollution, and other chemical processes.
Having an unpaired electron creates an imbalance that requires free radicals to claim electrons to satisfy the instability. Here they earn the name "radical," as they will then steal electrons from other molecules to stabilize themselves. This electron "looting" damages cellular structure, RNA, and DNA.
The Effects of Excess Free Radicals
While a proper amount of free radicals are necessary for proper bodily function, too many of them creates oxidative stress, making it hard for the body to repair itself or function. Over time, an excess of free radicals can lead to irreversible effects and diseases such as:
- Arthritis
- Brain cell damage (contributing to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's)
- Coronary heart disease
- Liver disease
- Accelerated aging
- Eye lens deterioration
- Several types of cancers
In skin care and wound healing, relieving oxidative stress (i.e., taming free radicals) is crucial to reducing inflammation and tissue damage while moving the repair process along.
Antioxidants 101
Antioxidants are substances that protect the cells from damage caused by free radicals.
They neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to them, thereby stabilizing them and rendering them unable to cause further harm. Who would have thought that sharing could be such a powerful force!
Types of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are classified into two main categories: nutrient and non-nutrient.
Nutrient antioxidants include vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, and Omega-3.
Non-nutrient antioxidants are phytochemicals found in plants, such as flavonoids, carotenoids (beta carotene), lycopene, and anthocyanin.
Bioavailability 101
Bioavailability describes the degree to which a substance is absorbed or becomes available at the site of physiological activity (where it is used). It can also refer to the amount of a substance that reaches the end-use area.
Low bioavailability means that the body has to work harder to break down an ingredient into the components that it can use. Highly bioavailable ingredients, on the other hand, can be put to use faster for whatever the body needs.
Here's a bioavailability illustration:
You need bricks to build a retaining wall in your backyard, so you order a pallet from a local supplier. They quickly and conveniently deliver a pallet of individual bricks right where you need them in your yard, so you can get to work building right away. Nice! This is an example of high bioavailability.
On the other hand, imagine your supplier had delivered more slowly, AND the pallet was delivered to your front door with large chunks of bricks with mortar between them. Instead of individual un-mortared pieces, the bricks look as if they had just been taken from a broken-down wall, slapped it on a pallet, and delivered to your front door.
For the sake of the illustration, you unfortunately can't return the brick chunks (or throw them at the delivery truck), so you have to break them down as best as you can, carry them to your backyard, and start building with them. Obviously, this takes much more time and effort. There is your example of low bioavailability.
In all forms, we create RadiQuell™ to be highly bioavailable so your immune cells in charge of repairing and maintaining the skin can get the "supplies" they need to work more quickly.
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Photo credits
All of the images on this page are purchased stock images or public domain images. The icons and Vitamin E TPGS gif were made in-house.