Manganese Oxide Nanoclusters for Skin Photoprotection.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Current ultraviolet (UV) filters in sunscreens face challenges including skin penetration, instability under light, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• Environmental concerns also limit the use of existing UV filtering agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel, eco-friendly manganese dioxide nanoclusters as effective UV filters.
• To evaluate their UV-shielding capabilities, ROS scavenging activity, and performance in sunscreen formulations.

Main Methods:

• A facile two-step synthesis was employed to create manganese dioxide nanoclusters supported on colloid silica under ambient conditions.
• UV-shielding profiles, ROS scavenging abilities, and photoprotection efficacy were assessed using in vitro and in vivo methods.

Main Results:

• The synthesized nanoclusters exhibited a superior UV-shielding profile compared to commercial titanium dioxide nanoparticles.
• The manganese dioxide nanoclusters demonstrated significant capability in scavenging various ROS.
• The nanoclusters were readily incorporated into sunscreen formulations, showing excellent photoprotection performance.

Conclusions:

• Manganese dioxide nanoclusters represent a promising eco-friendly alternative for UV filtration in sunscreens.
• These nanoclusters offer enhanced UV protection and ROS neutralization, addressing limitations of current UV filters.