Laure Gibot
Research scientist - CNRS
Laure Gibot has been a researcher at CNRS since 2016 and is a skin biologist specializing in cutaneous remodeling induced by external stimuli (electric fields, nanoparticles, oxidative stress). Her work explores how these stimuli modulate skin structure and function.
She graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie de Rennes and holds a PhD in Cell Biology from Université Laval (Quebec). She gained unique expertise in human skin substitutes at LOEX, followed by human ex vivo models at Genoskin – a key approach for developing alternative methods to animal testing in cosmetics.
Her postdoctoral research at IPBS (Toulouse) focused on the effects of electroporation on tissues, before she turned her attention to the use of nanovectors (developed by her chemistry colleagues at Sofmat) for targeted cutaneous applications: local antitumor therapies, accelerated wound healing, and tissue regeneration.
Presentation
Cutaneous bioelectricity: Endogenous mechanisms and therapeutic applications of electric fields
In physiological conditions, the epidermis actively maintains a trans-epidermal ionic gradient (notably Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻), generating a basal electrical potential. Upon injury, disruption of this ionic asymmetry induces localized ion movement, creating an endogenous electric field at the wound margins. This natural current, comparable to an “epidermal battery,” activates cellular functions, guides cell migration, and initiates wound healing.
These bioelectric mechanisms inspire therapeutic applications in skin: TENS (nerve stimulation), iontophoresis(targeted delivery of active ingredients), or electrostimulation of wound healing for tissue regeneration. Among these approaches, electroporation stands out for its anti-fibrotic potential, offering a strategy to reduce pathological scarring and improve the quality of skin repair.
This presentation will explore the bioelectric foundations of the skin and their translation into innovative dermatological strategies.
The Softmat Laboratory (Colloid, Polymer & Complex Assemblies Chemistry) is dedicated to research in soft matter chemistry. It focuses on organized systems composed of surfactants, polymers, biomolecules, or nanoparticles.
With expertise in organic and polymer synthesis as well as formulation chemistry, the laboratory designs new molecular architectures and smart polymers. Its skills in analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and photochemistry also enable precise evaluation of the structure–property relationships of these architectures.
The systems studied have a wide range of applications in life sciences, materials science, green chemistry, environmental sciences, and more.
Softmat is a Joint Research Unit (UMR 5623) of the CNRS and the University of Toulouse.