Nanozyme-Based UV-Blocking Sunscreen

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight is a complete carcinogen because it damages DNA, suppresses anti-tumor immunity, and promotes cancer metastasis. A simple and effective way to avoid harmful effects is to use sunscreen that protects against UV rays. However, currently used materials such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide undergo photodegradation and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may cause oxidative stress to tissues or damage DNA. Therefore, nanozymes have received a lot of attention as alternatives to natural enzymes.

The strong antioxidant activity exhibited by nanozymes, in combination with UV filters, may reduce the production of the harmful ROS prevalent in sunscreens. Creative Enzymes, as a leading global company, is committed to helping our clients achieve effective and successful research. We have developed a variety of enzymes and schemes for treating wastewater, including dye, refractory organic, emulsion wastewater.

UV-Blocking Sunscreen Based on ZnO / CeO_x Nanozymes

• Long-term UV radiation is known to cause oxidative damage and even induce skin cancer in some cases. The use of sunscreen can be effective in mitigating the damage caused to the skin by ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, sunscreen is very important in environments with strong UV rays.

Fig. 1 ZnO / CeO_x nanozymes provide broad UV spectrum protection and scavenge generated ROS under UV irradiation. (Ju E, et al., 2017)

• Creative Enzymes develops ZnO / CeO_x nanozymes that can provide broad UV spectral protection and remove generated ROS upon UV irradiation. Due to the synergistic effect of the hollow structure and the antioxidant enzyme mimetic activity of CeO_x, the nanozyme can efficiently remove the produced ROS. As a result, both primary direct UV damage and secondary ROS toxicity are eliminated by the nanozyme.

UV-Blocking Sunscreen Based on PEG / CeO₂ Nanozymes

• UV radiation triggers an acute cascade of photochemical reactions, which eventually produces reactive oxygen species such as superoxide. This causes a variety of skin changes such as sunburn, erythema, plant cancer, and photoaging.
• We synthesize ceria oxide nanozymes labeled with polyethylene glycol. After pretreatment with nano-zymes, a significant reduction in ROS was observed in UV-irradiated cells, along with a reduction in protein modifications such as carbonyl and nitrosylation effects. As a result, erythema was clinically significantly reduced. This novel class of antioxidants offers promising medicinal and cosmetic applications.

UV-Blocking Sunscreen Based on Au / Pt Nanozymes

• In recent years, the increase of air pollution and the decrease of the ozone layer cause intense ultraviolet radiation, which produces excessive ROS and leads to cell damage.
• We establish Au / Pt nanozymes with oxidation resistance, to prevent damage of human skin cells caused by UV oxidative. Keratinocytes, the outermost cells of the skin, are most affected by UV irradiation, and the enzyme also has antioxidant capacity on human keratinocytes. In addition, the nano-zymes are protected against UV-induced ROS stress.

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