Photostable Broadband Multifunctional UV Active Ingredient

What is it about?

Ideal multifunctional ultraviolet radiation (UVR) absorbents with excellent photostability, high molar absorptivity, broadband UVR screening, and desired skin sensorial properties remain a significant challenge for the sunscreen industry. The potential of the nanocomplex (NCx) formed by microwave synthesis of ZnO quantum dots (QDs) in the presence of Avobenzone (Av) for achieving these goals is reported. The NCx exhibits unique synergy between ZnO QD and Av components, which enhances the photostability and molar absorptivity, extends UVA filtering range and provides a visible emission that matches the typical human in vivo skin emission colour. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations of ZnO-Av hybrid structures and comparison of their spectroscopic features with experiments suggest the formation of highly photostable surface enolate species. The combination of experiments and computations used in this study can advance the science and technology of photoprotection.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The study shows the process for stabilizing Avobenzone (Av) on the surface of D-QDs, as evidenced by the formation of a hybrid enolate based nanocomplex (NCx). These NCx are shown to protect the radiative surface defects of D-QDs and suppress the undesired photochemical enol‐to‐keto transformation in Av, thereby solving the stability problem raised by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ZnO and Av based sunscreen formulations.

Perspectives