RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
THE FUTURE OF SPF
Bird feathers inspire the next wave of sunscreen .
BY BY KIM McDONALD
THE DAYS OF SLATHERING OUR SKIN with white pasty creams for sun protection may be numbered . Rather than a barrier between our skin and the damaging rays of ultraviolet radiation , UC San Diego chemists and materials scientists are pursuing an exciting alternative — one that enhances our skin ’ s natural protective abilities .
Inspiration for the discovery came from an unusual source — the melanin nanoparticles that give the plumage of some birds a colorful and iridescent sheen . While studying melanin in bird feathers , researchers wondered if they could make nanoparticles that mimic melanosomes , the organelle in skin cells that stores and transports melanin and makes our skin less susceptible to ultraviolet ( UV ) radiation .
“ We hypothesized that these nanoparticles would be taken up by keratinocytes , the predominant cells found in the outer layer of skin ,” explains Nathan Gianneschi , professor of chemistry , biochemistry , materials science and engineering .
The theory was proven right — in an experiment using human keratinocytes in tissue culture , researchers found the synthetic nanoparticles were not only taken up and distributed like natural melanosomes , they also protected the skin cells from UV damage .
Their achievement is promising not only for an innovative approach to sunscreen , but also for protecting those who lack natural sun protection . “ Defects in melanin production cause skin diseases such as vitiligo and albinism , both of which lack effective treatments ,” says Gianneschi .
Vitiligo develops when the immune system wrongly attempts to eliminate normal melanin-forming cells from the skin . Albinism results when genetic defects interfere with melanin production . Both skin diseases result in visible loss of pigment on the skin surface , and significantly increase susceptibility to skin cancer .
Yet for all of us at risk under the sun , the development has even wider potential . UC San Diego ’ s Office of Innovation and Commercialization has filed a patent application on the discovery and fully intends to make the innovations available for the benefit of all .
“ There is potential that the nanoparticles could be formulated into a cream , yet that needs to be further studied in detail ,” Gianneschi says . “ While our study showed that our materials are taken up by human skin cells , the challenge now is to translate that to fully intact tissues , to see if a topical formulation is possible .”
Such a cream , he added , would function as a truly “ natural tan ,” mimicking and enhancing the process our own skin cells use to protect themselves from the sun .
“ If this works , the product would be longer lasting than a standard sunscreen . And it would provide protection from within the skin tissue , rather than a coating on the outside .”
14 TRITON | FALL 2017