Preparation and application of light-colored lignin nanoparticles for broad-spectrum sunscreens

Sang Cheon Lee, Eunjin Yoo, Sang Hyun Lee, Keehoon Won

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recently, natural sun blockers have been drawing considerable attention because synthetic UV filters could have adverse effects not only on humans but also on the environment. Even though lignin, the second most abundant renewable resource on earth, is a natural UV-absorbing polymer, its unfavorable dark color hampers its applications in sunscreens. In this work, we obtained light-colored lignin (CEL) from rice husks through cellulolytic enzyme treatment and subsequent solvent extraction under mild conditions and compared CEL to technical lignin from rice husks using the International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* (CIELAB) color space. Spherical nanoparticles of CEL (CEL-NP) were also prepared using a solvent shifting method and evaluated for broad-spectrum sunscreens. A moisturizing cream blended with CEL-NP exhibited higher sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA PF (protection factor) values than that with CEL. In addition, CEL-NP had synergistic effects when blended with an organic UV-filter sunscreen: CEL-NP enhanced the SPF and UVA PF values of the sunscreen greatly. However, there was no synergistic effect between CEL-NP and inorganic sunscreens. We expect nanoparticles of light-colored lignin to find high-value-added applications as a natural UV-blocking additive in sunscreens and cosmetics.

Original languageEnglish
Article number699
JournalPolymers
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Cellulolytic enzyme
  • Color
  • Lignin
  • Nanoparticles
  • Sunscreens

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Preparation and application of light-colored lignin nanoparticles for broad-spectrum sunscreens'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this