Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the last decade safety concerns have arisen about the use of metal-based nanoparticles in the cosmetics field. Metal-based nanoparticles have been linked to both environmental and animal toxicity in a variety of studies. Perhaps...

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Main Authors: Zhang Zhili, Zhang Mingjun, Lenaghan Scott C, Xia Lijin, Li Quanshui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2010-06-01
Series:Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Online Access:http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/8/1/12
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author Zhang Zhili
Zhang Mingjun
Lenaghan Scott C
Xia Lijin
Li Quanshui
author_facet Zhang Zhili
Zhang Mingjun
Lenaghan Scott C
Xia Lijin
Li Quanshui
author_sort Zhang Zhili
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the last decade safety concerns have arisen about the use of metal-based nanoparticles in the cosmetics field. Metal-based nanoparticles have been linked to both environmental and animal toxicity in a variety of studies. Perhaps the greatest concern involves the large amounts of TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles that are used in commercial sunscreens. As an alternative to using these potentially hazardous metal-based nanoparticles, we have isolated organic nanoparticles from English ivy (<it>Hedera helix</it>). In this study, ivy nanoparticles were evaluated for their potential use in sunscreens based on four criteria: 1) ability to absorb and scatter ultraviolet light, 2) toxicity to mammalian cells, 3) biodegradability, and 4) potential for diffusion through skin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Purified ivy nanoparticles were first tested for their UV protective effects using a standard spectrophotometric assay. Next the cell toxicity of the ivy nanoparticles was compared to TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles using HeLa cells. The biodegradability of these nanoparticles was also determined through several digestion techniques. Finally, a mathematical model was developed to determine the potential for ivy nanoparticles to penetrate through human skin. The results indicated that the ivy nanoparticles were more efficient in blocking UV light, less toxic to mammalian cells, easily biodegradable, and had a limited potential to penetrate through human skin. When compared to TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles, the ivy nanoparticles showed decreased cell toxicity, and were easily degradable, indicating that they provided a safer alternative to these nanoparticles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With the data collected from this study, we have demonstrated the great potential of ivy nanoparticles as a sunscreen protective agent, and their increased safety over commonly used metal oxide nanoparticles.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-ae016caa41b341f5a2c5fe2755877fdf2022-12-22T04:10:25ZengBMCJournal of Nanobiotechnology1477-31552010-06-01811210.1186/1477-3155-8-12Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protectionZhang ZhiliZhang MingjunLenaghan Scott CXia LijinLi Quanshui<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Over the last decade safety concerns have arisen about the use of metal-based nanoparticles in the cosmetics field. Metal-based nanoparticles have been linked to both environmental and animal toxicity in a variety of studies. Perhaps the greatest concern involves the large amounts of TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles that are used in commercial sunscreens. As an alternative to using these potentially hazardous metal-based nanoparticles, we have isolated organic nanoparticles from English ivy (<it>Hedera helix</it>). In this study, ivy nanoparticles were evaluated for their potential use in sunscreens based on four criteria: 1) ability to absorb and scatter ultraviolet light, 2) toxicity to mammalian cells, 3) biodegradability, and 4) potential for diffusion through skin.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Purified ivy nanoparticles were first tested for their UV protective effects using a standard spectrophotometric assay. Next the cell toxicity of the ivy nanoparticles was compared to TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles using HeLa cells. The biodegradability of these nanoparticles was also determined through several digestion techniques. Finally, a mathematical model was developed to determine the potential for ivy nanoparticles to penetrate through human skin. The results indicated that the ivy nanoparticles were more efficient in blocking UV light, less toxic to mammalian cells, easily biodegradable, and had a limited potential to penetrate through human skin. When compared to TiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles, the ivy nanoparticles showed decreased cell toxicity, and were easily degradable, indicating that they provided a safer alternative to these nanoparticles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With the data collected from this study, we have demonstrated the great potential of ivy nanoparticles as a sunscreen protective agent, and their increased safety over commonly used metal oxide nanoparticles.</p>http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/8/1/12
spellingShingle Zhang Zhili
Zhang Mingjun
Lenaghan Scott C
Xia Lijin
Li Quanshui
Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
title Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
title_full Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
title_fullStr Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
title_full_unstemmed Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
title_short Naturally occurring nanoparticles from English ivy: an alternative to metal-based nanoparticles for UV protection
title_sort naturally occurring nanoparticles from english ivy an alternative to metal based nanoparticles for uv protection
url http://www.jnanobiotechnology.com/content/8/1/12
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AT lenaghanscottc naturallyoccurringnanoparticlesfromenglishivyanalternativetometalbasednanoparticlesforuvprotection
AT xialijin naturallyoccurringnanoparticlesfromenglishivyanalternativetometalbasednanoparticlesforuvprotection
AT liquanshui naturallyoccurringnanoparticlesfromenglishivyanalternativetometalbasednanoparticlesforuvprotection