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Layered double hydroxides intercalated with anionic surfactants/benzophenone as potential materials for sunscreens
Ana Cristina Trindade Cursino1, Fábio da Silva Lisboa, Alexandre dos Santos Pyrrho
1CEPESQ-Research Centre of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. anacursino@ufpr.br
New sunscreen materials based on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) effectively adsorb UV radiation. These benzophenone-adsorbing compounds show good stability and are safe for skin, offering a promising new generation of sunscreens.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are versatile materials with tunable properties.
- Benzophenone derivatives are widely used as UV filters in sunscreens.
- Developing stable and effective UV-blocking agents with minimal skin irritation is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize benzophenone-adsolubilized layered double hydroxides (ZnxAl/SUR).
- To evaluate the UV adsorption and stability of the synthesized materials.
- To assess the potential of these materials for sunscreen applications.
Main Methods:
- Co-precipitation synthesis of ZnxAl/SUR intercalated with dodecylsulfate or dodecylbenzenesulfonate.
- Characterization using Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric/Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA).
- Adsolubilization of benzophenone using various methods, including microwave irradiation, followed by spectroscopic analysis (PXRD, FTIR, DRUV-Vis).
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of ZnxAl/SUR compounds.
- Microwave irradiation yielded the highest adsolubilized benzophenone content (9.09 wt%).
- The resulting materials exhibited broad UV adsorption (UVC to UVA) and good photostability.
- In vivo tests on rabbits showed no skin irritation.
Conclusions:
- Benzophenone-adsorbed ZnxAl/SUR compounds are effective UV absorbers.
- Microwave-assisted synthesis is an efficient method for preparing these sunscreen agents.
- The synthesized materials demonstrate excellent UV protection, stability, and safety, making them suitable for next-generation sunscreens.
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