Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
UV-shielding property, photocatalytic activity and photocytotoxicity of ceria colloid solutions
Introduction
Nanocrystalline semiconductor materials are widely used in sunscreen cosmetics. Nowadays, most of inorganic UV-blocking filters are based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO). However, a number of reports exist indicating the possibility of brain cells [1], blood lymphocytes [2] and lymphoblastic cells [3] damage by titania nanoparticles. Moreover, nanoparticles of zinc and titanium oxides possess enormous photocatalytic activity [4], [5], thus inducing the increase in their toxicity upon irradiation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) forming during photocatalytic processes decompose not only components of cosmetics but even skin cells [6], [7]. It was demonstrated that under UV-irradiation TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles being the part of sunscreen cosmetics generate hydroxyl radicals [8], [9], [10], [3] damaging DNA of skin cells [11]. Photocytotoxicity of titania against fibroblasts has been also confirmed [12].
Cerium dioxide (CeO2) is one of the today’s most promising nanobiomaterials [13], [14], [15], [16]. Ceria becomes strongly non-stoichiometric in nanocrystalline state and due to this reason is able to participate in various redox processes [17], [18], in particular, to inactivate some of the most toxic ROS, such as superoxide radical [13], hydrogen peroxide [14] and nitroxyl radical [19]. Due to the high concentration of oxygen defects in ceria lattice the recombination of free charge carriers (electrons and holes) forming upon UV-irradiation of ceria proceeds very rapidly. It should be also noted that UV-extinction coefficient of ceria is rather high; therefore this compound is considered as a promising UV-filter in sunscreen cosmetics [20], [21], [22]. Moreover, vacancy engineered ceria nanostructures can protect from radiation-induced cellular damage [23], radiation-induced pneumonitis [24] and can prevent retinal degeneration by photons of light [25].
Thus the aim of this work consists of thorough investigation of the possibility of nanocrystalline ceria use in sunscreen cosmetics, including study of its sunshielding properties, photocatalytic activity and cytotoxicity upon UV-irradiation.
Section snippets
Experimental
Colloid solutions of ceria nanoparticles (0.1 M) stabilized by sodium citrate were synthesized according to [26], [27]. Nanoparticles obtained were of ultra small size (⩽2 nm), stable in water, various buffer solutions, and biological fluids in a wide range of pH values (from 4 to 12). Our previous studies indicate also that such nanoparticles can participate in redox processes in aqueous media [27].
Ceria nanopowders of different particle size used hereafter for comparative studies of
UV-shielding property
UV-shielding properties of ceria nanoparticles were studied in comparison with the corresponding properties of TiO2- and ZnO-containing systems by measuring the light absorption in the middle (UVB) and near (UVA) ultraviolet regions.
To estimate the efficiency of skin protection in UVB region we used the value of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) defined by Sayre et al. [32] as:
Here, EA(λ) – erythemal action spectrum [33]; SS(λ) – standard solar spectrum
Conclusions
In the present study we have demonstrated that UV-shielding properties (namely, the sun protection factor, the critical absorption wavelength and the UVA/UVB-ratio) of ceria nanoparticles are comparable to those of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Nanoceria possesses substantially lower photocatalytic activity in comparison with TiO2 and ZnO, which additionally decreases upon decrease in ceria particle size. Colloid ceria solutions are non-toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) and
Acknowledgments
We thank S.I. Woychuk and Z.M. Olevinskaya for technical assistance. This work was supported partly by Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project 08-03-00471) and Russian Education Agency (Project GK P-2440).
References (50)
- et al.
Cyto- and genotoxicity of ultrafine TiO2 particles in cultured human lymphoblastoid cells
Mutat. Res.
(2007) Heterogeneous photocatalysis: fundamentals and applications to the removal of various types of aqueous pollutants
Catal. Today
(1999)- et al.
Inorganic and organic UV filters: Their role and efficacy in sunscreens and suncare products
Inorg. Chim. Acta
(2007) - et al.
Reactive oxygen species produced upon photoexcitation of sunscreens containing titanium dioxide (an EPR study)
J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biology
(2005) - et al.
Chemical oxidation and DNA damage catalysed by inorganic sunscreen ingredients
FEBS Lett.
(1997) - et al.
Quantitative determination of OH radical generation and its cytotoxicity induced by TiO2-UVA treatment
Toxicol. In Vitro
(2002) - et al.
Oxidative damage to nucleic acids photosensitized by titanium dioxide
Free Radical Biol. Med.
(1997) - et al.
Electron paramagnetic study on radical scavenging properties of ceria nanoparticles
Chem. Phys. Lett.
(2007) - et al.
Cerium oxide for sunscreen cosmetics
J. Solid State Chem.
(2003) - et al.
UV-shielding properties of zinc oxide-doped ceria fine powders derived via soft solution chemical routes
Mat. Chem. Phys.
(2002)
Application of nanostructured Ca doped CeO2 for ultraviolet filtration
Mat. Res. Bull.
Protection from radiation-induced pneumonitis using cerium oxide nanoparticles
Nanomedicine
Interferon α/β promotes cell survival by activating nuclear factor κB through phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Akt
J. Biol. Chem.
Nanosize titanium dioxide stimulates reactive oxygen species in brain microglia and damages neurons in vitro
Environ. Health Perspect.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles trigger p53-mediated damage response in peripheral blood lymphocytes
Environ. Mol. Mutagen.
Photocatalysis on TiO2 surfaces: principles, mechanisms, and selected results
Chem. Rev.
Correlating nanoscale titania structure with toxicity: A cytotoxicity and inflammatory response study with human dermal fibroblasts and human lung epithelial cells
Toxicol. Sci.
DNA damage photoinduced by cosmetic pigments and sunscreen agents under solar exposure and artificial UV illumination
J. Oleo. Sci.
Superoxide dismutase mimetic properties exhibited by vacancy engineered ceria nanoparticles
Chem. Commun.
Nanoceria exhibit redox state-dependent catalase mimetic activity
Chem. Commun.
Structure-sensitive properties and biomedical applications of nanodispersed cerium dioxide
Russ. Chem. Rev.
Anti-inflammatory properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles
Small
PEGylated nanoceria as radical scavenger with tunable redox chemistry
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
Inactivation of the nitroxyl radical by ceria nanoparticles
Dokl. Chem.
Vacancy engineered ceria nanostructures for protection from radiation-induced cellular damage
Nano Lett.
Cited by (151)
Proficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic and anti-biofilm activity of biosynthesized CeO<inf>2</inf>-graphene oxide nanocomposites
2023, Materials Chemistry and PhysicsCe<sup>3+</sup> concentration control on the surface of ceria nanoparticles and the stability of surface Ce<sup>3+</sup> in aqueous, silica, and PVA media
2022, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering AspectsBiomedical applications of metal oxide-carbon composites
2022, Metal Oxide-Carbon Hybrid Materials: Synthesis, Properties and ApplicationsSurface charge control of hierarchical ceria/silica hybrid shells for enhanced dispersion stability
2022, Applied Surface ScienceAttenuation of UV absorption by poly(lactic acid)-iron oxide nanocomposite particles and their potential application in sunscreens
2021, Chemical Engineering Journal