BETA-PROPIOLACTONE

📋 Quick facts

Description: BETA-PROPIOLACTONE — BETA-PROPIOLACTONE. Formula: C3H4O2. MW: 72.06. IUPAC: oxetan-2-one.

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: beta-Propiolactone, Β-Propiolactone

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Beta-propiolactone is a chemical used to inactivate (deactivate) viruses and modify proteins in medical preparations
• It has been used in pharmaceutical manufacturing since at least the 1970s
• Research shows it can be used safely in medical products without leaving harmful residues
• Sources focus on its use in vaccines and blood-derived medications, not skincare

⚗️ Chemical Overview

beta-Propiolactone can cause cancer according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts. Beta-propiolactone appears as a colorless liquid with a slightly sweetish, pungent odor. Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis; disinfectant, sterilant for blood plasma, tissue grafts, vaccines, enzymes and surgical instruments. (EPA, 1998) Beta-propiolactone is a propan-3-olide. It is functionally related to a 3-hydroxypropionic acid. It derives from a hydride of an oxetane.

Source(s): ChEBI, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), CAMEO Chemicals, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Beta-propiolactone is a chemical compound that researchers have used in pharmaceutical manufacturing for decades, primarily to inactivate viruses and chemically modify proteins in medical preparations. The available research does not address skincare applications at all. In medical contexts, beta-propiolactone has been studied for two main purposes: #1: Virus inactivation — it can deactivate viruses like vaccinia virus in vaccine preparations (Z Immunitatsforsch Exp Klin Immunol, 1975) and hepatitis B virus in blood products (Thromb Haemost, 1981). #2: Protein modification — it chemically alters immunoglobulin (antibody) proteins in blood preparations to prevent unwanted clumping and adverse reactions (Arzneimittelforschung, 1981). When used this way, safety testing found no evidence of unmodified, mutagenic beta-propiolactone remaining in the final product, and no harmful new antigens were created (Arzneimittelforschung, 1981).

Additionally, long-term studies in animal models found no signs of intolerance when treated preparations were used repeatedly (Thromb Haemost, 1981). Importantly, all three sources examine beta-propiolactone in pharmaceutical and vaccine contexts, not in skincare products. There is no research presented here evaluating its safety, efficacy, or appropriate use on skin.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Pincus JH et al. (1981). On the mutagenicity and immunogenicity of a beta-propiolactone-treated therapeutic IgG-preparation. Arzneimittelforschung.
• Stephan W et al. (1981). Long-term tolerance and recovery of beta-propiolactone/ultraviolet (beta PL/UV) treated PPSB in chimpanzees. Thromb Haemost.
• Lybing S et al. (1975). The effect of ethyl alcohol and beta-propiolactone inactivated vaccinia virus on the development of skin immunity and the production of hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies in guinea pigs, rabbits and monkeys. Z Immunitatsforsch Exp Klin Immunol.
• GLENDENNING OM et al. (1956). The carcinogenicity of beta-propiolactone for mouseskin. Br J Cancer.

🧴 Products Containing BETA-PROPIOLACTONE