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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

UV-Vis Spectroscopic Characterization of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media
Published on: October 25, 2021
Ultraviolet transmission microscopy for the imaging of topical sunscreen emulsions
Jonathan M Crowther1, Rolf Schütz2, Jürgen H Vollhardt2
1JMC Scientific Consulting Ltd, Egham, UK.
Objective:
Microscopy is widely used during the development and testing of topical formulations; however, it often lacks the ability to be chemically specific with regard to what is being imaged. This article describes how moving outside of the visible light region and into different parts of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum enables differently UV absorbing components in topical emulsions to be directly visualized using optical transmission microscopy.
Methods:
Optical transmission microscopy of different sunscreen emulsions was carried out using a custom-built microscope, imaging in the UVB (313 nm), UVA (365 nm) and visible light (546 nm) and with different magnifications.
Results:
By using light of different wavelengths, direct visualization of different UV absorbing ingredients within the product emulsion using optical transmission microscopy has been performed and the locations of the UV absorbing actives in the formulations imaged.
Conclusions:
Microscopy has long been a valuable tool for the skin researcher, providing structural information about the products and how they perform. By moving outside of the spectral region of visible light and into the UV, it has been possible for the first time to directly image different SPF ingredients within topical formulations using optical microscopy.
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