众所周知,长时间暴露在阳光下的紫外线辐射会危害人类健康,对皮肤特别有害,导致晒伤,照片老化和皮肤癌。含有紫外线过滤剂的防晒霜配方提供了对太阳紫外线的屏障,并有助于减轻有害影响,但是,对它们对人类和环境健康的安全的关注仍然是一个备受争议的话题。EC法规根据其化学性质对紫外线过滤剂进行分类,颗粒大小,和作用机制。此外,它规定了它们在化妆品产品中的使用,在浓度(有机紫外线过滤剂)和颗粒大小和表面改性方面有特定的限制,以减少它们的光活性(矿物紫外线过滤剂)。这些规定促使研究人员确定有希望用于防晒霜的新材料。在这项工作中,由在两种不同的有机模板上生长的钛掺杂羟基磷灰石(TiHA)组成的仿生杂化材料,来自动物(明胶-来自猪皮)和植物(藻酸盐-来自藻类)来源。这些新材料被开发和表征,以获得可持续的紫外线过滤剂,作为人类和生态系统健康的更安全的替代品。这种“生物矿化”过程产生的TiHA纳米颗粒表现出高紫外线反射率,低光活性,良好的生物相容性和防止皮肤渗透的聚集体形态。这些材料对于局部应用和海洋环境是安全的;此外,它们可以保护有机防晒成分免受光降解,并产生持久的保护。
It is well known that the prolonged exposure to UV radiation from sunlight can compromise human health and is particularly damaging to the skin, leading to sunburn, photo-aging and skin cancer. Sunscreen formulations containing UV-filters present a barrier against solar UV and help to mitigate the harmful effects however, concern about their safety for both human and environmental health is still a much-debated topic. EC regulations classify UV-filters depending on their chemical nature, particle size, and mechanism of action. Furthermore, it regulates their use in cosmetic products with specific limitations in terms of concentration (organic UV filters) and particle size and surface modification to reduce their photo-activity (mineral UV filters). The regulations have prompted researchers to identify new materials that show promise for use in sunscreens. In this work, biomimetic hybrid materials composed of titanium-doped hydroxyapatite (TiHA) grown on two different organic templates, derived from animal (gelatin - from pig skin) and vegetable (alginate - from algae) sources. These novel materials were developed and characterized to obtain sustainable UV-filters as a safer alternative for both human and ecosystem health. This \'biomineralization\' process yielded TiHA nanoparticles that demonstrated high UV reflectance, low photoactivity, good biocompatibility and an aggregate morphology which prevents dermal penetration. The materials are safe for topical application and for the marine environment; moreover, they can protect organic sunscreen components from photodegradation and yield long-lasting protection.