Design and Synthesis of Peptides Based Sunscreen
Disciplines
Environmental Chemistry | Organic Chemistry
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Sunscreen is a very essential products as it helps to protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun, which can cause skin damage, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer. An effective sunscreen should block the UV-B (280-320 nm) and UV-A light (320-400 nm) as UV-C lights are filtered through the ozone layer. Currently nanoparticles which scatter the UV lights and dye-based organic compounds which absorb the UV lights used as sunscreens. However, these inorganic nanoparticles and organic compounds pose potential toxicity and health risks. Recent research showed that some sunscreen ingredients degrade and cause skin diseases, impose neurotoxicity, and interfere with body’s hormone. The goal of this research is to design and develop peptide-based sunscreen. Unlike current sunscreens, peptide-based alternatives would be biodegradable and non-toxic, posing significantly less of a threat to the human body and the environment. Therefore, a peptide which can block over the UV light from 190 nm to 400 nm would be an ideal sunscreen candidate. Three aromatic amino acids such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine were prioritized in such synthesis because they have the highest absorbance at 280-320 nm. There peptides were designed and synthesized combining high number of aromatics, and some other amino acids in between them. Peptides were characterized by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to confirm their mass and purity. In addition, UV-vis spectroscopy experiments were conducted to obtain the absorption spectra of these peptides. Sunscreen X demonstrates significant UV light absorption from 320 nm to 190 nm while two other sunscreens Y and Z showed absorption at 190-230 nm and 250-310 nm. Future studies will be focused to design peptides that can block the UV light over 320 nm.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Chemistry and Biochemistry
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Mohammad A. Halim
Design and Synthesis of Peptides Based Sunscreen
Sunscreen is a very essential products as it helps to protect our skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation from the sun, which can cause skin damage, premature aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer. An effective sunscreen should block the UV-B (280-320 nm) and UV-A light (320-400 nm) as UV-C lights are filtered through the ozone layer. Currently nanoparticles which scatter the UV lights and dye-based organic compounds which absorb the UV lights used as sunscreens. However, these inorganic nanoparticles and organic compounds pose potential toxicity and health risks. Recent research showed that some sunscreen ingredients degrade and cause skin diseases, impose neurotoxicity, and interfere with body’s hormone. The goal of this research is to design and develop peptide-based sunscreen. Unlike current sunscreens, peptide-based alternatives would be biodegradable and non-toxic, posing significantly less of a threat to the human body and the environment. Therefore, a peptide which can block over the UV light from 190 nm to 400 nm would be an ideal sunscreen candidate. Three aromatic amino acids such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine were prioritized in such synthesis because they have the highest absorbance at 280-320 nm. There peptides were designed and synthesized combining high number of aromatics, and some other amino acids in between them. Peptides were characterized by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to confirm their mass and purity. In addition, UV-vis spectroscopy experiments were conducted to obtain the absorption spectra of these peptides. Sunscreen X demonstrates significant UV light absorption from 320 nm to 190 nm while two other sunscreens Y and Z showed absorption at 190-230 nm and 250-310 nm. Future studies will be focused to design peptides that can block the UV light over 320 nm.