Implementing Sustainable Cycles Through Innovative Medical Materials | Lifestar Amber

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Learning by doing to develop a mission that improves the quality of human life.

From the perspective of human evolution, the health and wellness industry will only continue to thrive within industrial development, allowing people to maintain a better quality of life even after illness. This is a direction that every biotech company strives to develop. Therefore,  Amber decided to establish “Lifestar,” aiming to develop in the biotech field.

Although Amber’s doctoral research focused on developing cancer drugs, Taiwan’s domestic market is too small, and the cost of developing new drugs in Taiwan is too high, with a significant risk of failure. Thus, the medical equipment sector in Taiwan presents a better entry point.

A Path to Entrepreneurship with Sustainable Thinking

      What niche can Lifestar leverage as an entry point?

Taiwan’s sustainable CSR and ESG efforts may have started later than those in Europe and the United States, but this is undoubtedly a future trend, especially when it comes to advancing corporate governance, environmental protection, and even cultural reform. Therefore, if we are to enter the medical equipment field, integrating “sustainability” will be the only viable path, starting right from the raw materials.

Seeking niche sustainable alternative materials from traditional industries

Collagen has become a highly saturated market not only in Taiwan but around the world. If you go to Cosmed or Watsons, you’ll see shelves filled with collagen-related products, leaving no advantage for latecomers in this market. So, what alternative raw material could replace collagen? Ultimately, Lifestar chose silk protein.

In the 1970s, raising silkworms was common in every household in Taiwan, with the largest export destinations being neighboring countries like Japan, where it was used to make the highest quality kimono sashes for the royal family and nobility. In clinical applications, silk protein has also been used to make surgical sutures, which are still in use today. These sutures are certified effective and do not cause allergic or irritating reactions.

Traceability certification for raw materials is an essential path to bringing traditional industries onto the global stage.

Lifestar hopes to revive the traditional sericulture industry because, although Europe and the United States may have the technology, they lack the raw materials. Meanwhile, other Asian countries do not have the same level of quality control in sericulture as Taiwan, which gives Taiwan a significant advantage!

Therefore, Lifestar has been visiting farmers, helping them work towards achieving international traceability certification for raw materials. They also collaborate with long-term contract farmers to purchase products and assist them in establishing production records, transforming traditional farming into tech-based agriculture with comprehensive scientific monitoring. This approach can truly enhance the economic value of traditional agriculture and lead Taiwan’s silk industry onto the global stage. Lifestar hopes that one day, the world will recognize the exceptional quality of Taiwan’s raw materials.

Establishing an Association to Integrate the Sericulture Ecosystem and Increase the Application Value of Silk Protein Together

Lifestar has established an association, bringing together professors across Taiwan who are engaged in the development of silk protein-related technologies. Lifestar provides them with raw materials, encouraging more professors to invest in research and development in this field. This further enables technology transfer, allowing more companies to participate in this industry.

Revolutionizing Through Education on Silk Protein Applications

    If we are to revitalize this traditional industry, we must raise awareness about silk protein and help people understand its potential applications. This is why Lifestar has built an ecosystem that integrates research, production, manufacturing, and marketing channels. Each participant leverages their strengths, focusing on what they do best. By collaborating with more brands, Lifestar hopes to make silk protein available to consumers faster, reducing the need for extensive consumer education.

Lifestar aims to create a positive cycle. Once the economic value at the back end is established, public opinion can help inspire the younger generation in sericulture to engage in this traditional industry, promoting greater awareness of silk protein.   

Developing a Silk Protein Platform for Broad Applications in Medical Product Development

The silkworm cocoon is composed of two structural layers: the outer layer, sericin, and the inner layer, which is 75% fibroin, known as “silk core protein” in mainland China. Lifestar’s patented technology removes the outer sericin layer and uses the core silk protein, or fibroin, primarily because medical devices require corresponding regulatory certifications.

Lifestar’s patented extraction method yields core silk protein with a significant competitive advantage—promoting wound healing. Therefore, Lifestar has focused on developing both non-invasive wound care products and invasive medical products, allowing its product to establish a foothold in the market.

Looking ahead, Lifestar aims to create a broad platform for medical devices made from silk protein. This means that various types of medical products could use this raw material for production and development on this platform. Lifestar envisions a comprehensive product line related to silk protein, ranging from diabetic wound dressings and hemostatic products to post-cesarean section films and even 3D-printed artificial skin.

In the post-pandemic era, teamwork is crucial. Building this ecosystem is a critical challenge, and developing an ecosystem aims to attract more high-quality talent.

A Small Pioneer in a Sustainable Environment

Taiwan is surrounded by the ocean on all sides, so it should have a better understanding of the resources in its surrounding waters and beneath the sea. The continental shelf is very suitable for underwater afforestation, allowing for an initial assessment of its overall economic benefits and how much CO₂ it can absorb.

Lifestar’s logo features a globe with a star in the center. The idea is that if we split the Earth in half and bring the land and ocean together under Lifestar, the land represents “mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming” to revitalize traditional industries, while the ocean represents “underwater afforestation.”