Developing Non-toxic and Biodegradable Peptide Based Sunscreen
Disciplines
Biochemistry | Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Sunscreen is an important product for preventing early signs of aging, damage to the skin, and reducing risk to disease like skin cancer. Two major types of sunscreens, such as organic and nanoparticle, are available in the market. Organic sunscreens absorb sun rays before they can reach the skin whereas nanoparticles scatter the sunlight. However, some of these compounds are known to be toxic and are not environmentally friendly. The goal of this study is to develop peptide-based sunscreens that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and protect against the UVA and UVB lights. Previously three aromatic amino acids-based peptide sunscreens were synthesized, and it was found that they are able to block UV lights from 190 nm to 280 nm. In the current study, four peptide-based sunscreens (BPA1-4) were developed using 4-Benzoyl-L-phenylalaine (BPA) combining with aromatic and non-aromatic amino acids. These sunscreens were synthesized by standard solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using rink amide resin and characterized by mass spectrometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. BPA1, a five amino acid-based sunscreen, containing two tryptophan, one tyrosine, and one non-aromatic amino acid showed two distinct UV light absorption bands at 310-240 nm and 240-190 nm. Other three sunscreens including BPA2, BPA3 and BPA4 where BPA was only incorporated with non-aromatic amino acids showed different UV absorption bands ranging from 310 nm to 190 nm. Among them, BPA4 showed promising results with the highest UV light absorption from 340 nm to 190 nm. These results showed that modified phenylalanine may have potential to be developed as efficient peptide-based sunscreen.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mohammad Halim
Developing Non-toxic and Biodegradable Peptide Based Sunscreen
Sunscreen is an important product for preventing early signs of aging, damage to the skin, and reducing risk to disease like skin cancer. Two major types of sunscreens, such as organic and nanoparticle, are available in the market. Organic sunscreens absorb sun rays before they can reach the skin whereas nanoparticles scatter the sunlight. However, some of these compounds are known to be toxic and are not environmentally friendly. The goal of this study is to develop peptide-based sunscreens that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and protect against the UVA and UVB lights. Previously three aromatic amino acids-based peptide sunscreens were synthesized, and it was found that they are able to block UV lights from 190 nm to 280 nm. In the current study, four peptide-based sunscreens (BPA1-4) were developed using 4-Benzoyl-L-phenylalaine (BPA) combining with aromatic and non-aromatic amino acids. These sunscreens were synthesized by standard solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) using rink amide resin and characterized by mass spectrometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. BPA1, a five amino acid-based sunscreen, containing two tryptophan, one tyrosine, and one non-aromatic amino acid showed two distinct UV light absorption bands at 310-240 nm and 240-190 nm. Other three sunscreens including BPA2, BPA3 and BPA4 where BPA was only incorporated with non-aromatic amino acids showed different UV absorption bands ranging from 310 nm to 190 nm. Among them, BPA4 showed promising results with the highest UV light absorption from 340 nm to 190 nm. These results showed that modified phenylalanine may have potential to be developed as efficient peptide-based sunscreen.