Biopolymers from Algae May Provide Broad Spectrum Photoprotection

Susana C. M. Fernandes, PhD
Researcher (Individual Marie Curie Fellowship – IEF) and
Professor Vincent Bulone
Division of Glycoscience, School of Biotechnology
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden and
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite campus, Urrbrae, South Australia Australia

MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: We have exploited unique properties of natural compounds to develop novel materials that are capable of absorbing both UV-A and UV-B radiations. The active UV-absorbing molecules are known as mycosporines and mycosporines like-amino acids and they occur in different organisms such as algae, photosynthetic bacteria (cyanobacteria) and some fish species that thrive in, e.g., the tropical waters of the Great Barrier Reef. These compounds were combined with a carbohydrate polymer found in the shells of crustaceans, the exoskeleton of insects and the cell walls of fungi. Chitosan provided a matrix on which mycosporines were attached using a simple chemical method already used for other purposes in, e.g., the pharmaceutical industry. Chitosan can typically be extracted from food waste such as the shells of shrimps. The immobilization of mycosporines on chitosan allowed the development of unique materials that have many potential applications relevant to a wide range of sectors, including cosmetics, sunscreen creams, wound dressings, plasticizers in paints and varnishes, coatings of outdoor furniture and other materials such as fabrics for shades, textiles, car dashboards, etc. In addition to being highly efficient for protection against UV-A and UV-B, the materials were shown to be photostable, thermoresistant and biocompatible. Compared to existing sunblock formulations, the materials have no detrimental effects on health and the environment. They are also fully recyclable.

MedicalResearch: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: The materials we have generated can be applicable to different biomedical areas. They are compatible with cell proliferation and adhesion with no cytotoxic or allergenic effect. They are therefore ideal for human use and can be exploited for tissue regeneration in humans. Biomedical applications comprise the engineering of artificial skin, contact lenses, artificial cornea, and so on. They can be further modified by other bioactive compounds to generate multifunctional materials in different forms, that is, films, sprays, solutions, hydrogels and 3D scaffolds. The materials we have generated are highly relevant to patients with photopathologies (e.g., albinos) in which the lack of skin pigmentation makes the organism more susceptible to sunburn and skin cancers.

MedicalResearch: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Development toward commercialization requires the actual assessment of more developed materials for their specific targeted applications. For instance, in the next phase, we will prepare physical creams, hydrogels and other forms of the materials, and evaluate the potential for commercialization by further assessing their advantages over existing materials through experiments specifically relevant to the desired applications.

The concept will be extended to the modification of other biopolymers and to the generation of multifunctional materials, thereby increasing the range of products and potential areas of application.

Citation:

Exploiting Mycosporines as Natural Molecular Sunscreens for the Fabrication of UV-Absorbing Green Materials
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7 (30), pp 16558–16564

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b04064
Susana C. M. Fernandes, Ana Alonso-Varona , Teodoro Palomares , Verónica Zubillaga , Jalel Labidi , and Vincent Bulone

[email protected]

Susana C. M. Fernandes, PhD and Professor Vincent Bulone (2015). Biopolymers from Algae May Provide Broad Spectrum Photoprotection

Last Updated on August 15, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD