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Skin Pigmentation‐Inspired Polydopamine Sunscreens
Author(s) -
Wang Changping,
Wang Dong,
Dai Tianjiao,
Xu Peng,
Wu Peilun,
Zou Yuan,
Yang Peng,
Hu Jingjing,
Li Yiwen,
Cheng Yiyun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201802127
Subject(s) - bioadhesive , photoprotection , materials science , nanotechnology , nanomaterials , smart polymer , melanin , polymer , computer science , drug delivery , chemistry , biochemistry , photosynthesis , composite material
Commercial sunscreens usually rely on multiple component formulas against solar irradiation, including UV filters, antioxidants, and nanomaterial matrices. While many efforts are devoted, concern has arisen that the effectiveness and safety issues of most sunscreens are largely limited by their complex formulations, photostability, and toxicity. Inspired by skin pigmentation as primary photoprotective mechanism in human body, novel sunscreen products based on polydopamine (PDA) gels, with a bioinspired protection concept and improved photoprotective capacities, were rationally designed and facilely prepared. The diverse formula of those sunscreen gels can be achieved by the use of PDA nanoparticle, a kind of naturally melanin mimics, to complex/conjugate with different polymers. The resulting PDA sunscreens are bioadhesive, water resistant, and nonskin penetration, yet can be directly removed by towel wiping. They also perform many promising features including superior UV shielding properties, high in vitro and in vivo UV protection efficiencies, nonphototoxicity, and nonirritating nature. These PDA materials in an initial proof‐of‐concept study were described and it is proposed that this class of bioinspired gels will be useful for incident UV protection where simple, safe, and efficient sunscreens are still highly desirable.