About OPTISOL™ UV Absorber
- Increases UVA protection
- Photo-stable, giving long lasting protection from UVA and UVB
- Minimises free radicals
Oxonica, a leading innovator in the new area of applied nano-materials has recently announced the world-wide availability of its new revolutionary photostable OPTISOL™ UV absorber with enhanced UVA protection that has applications in skin-care products and other materials. OPTISOL™ has been demonstrated in sunscreen formulations to provide and maintain 5-Star performance measured in accordance with the Boots Star Rating System.
Dangers of UVA
With increasing incidence of skin disorders associated with exposure to UV light, there is growing public and media focus on the provision of optimal protection. While there have recently been concerns over whether the labelling of some sunscreens truly reflects their performance, it is generally agreed that, during solar exposure, the correct use of a high-performance sunscreen providing stable UVB and UVA protection should be a cornerstone of sun protection.
Industry experts are currently focused on sunscreen performance within the UVA spectrum. Whilst sunburn is mainly caused by UVB rays, scientists now appreciate that UVA rays may be just as, if not more, important in causing some skin disorders, including premature skin ageing and cell damage.
How OPTISOL™ works
The OPTISOL™ technology, developed in collaboration with scientists at the University of Oxford, works by absorbing UVA radiation without the concurrent formation of free radicals, highly reactive chemical species which are implicated in skin ageing and cell damage. Furthermore, while providing balanced UVA and UVB protection, OPTISOL™ also provides additional benefits in absorbing free radicals that may be generated by other components of the sunscreen formulation and also enhances formulation stability.
The absorption profile for OPTISOL™ demonstrates a consistently high level of absorption, right across the UVB and UVA spectrum.
OPTISOL™ is microfine titanium dioxide incorporating a small amount (0.67%) of manganese in the crystal lattice. This allows absorbed UV energy to be dissipated, virtually eliminating the generation of free radicals. Manganese at the surface of the particle can scavenge free radicals that have been generated by other sunscreen components.
Broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB is of great importance and can be quantified by the Boot Star Rating Performance System. OPTISOL™ achieves the highest five star (ultra) rating, and its unique technology acts to stabilise the formulation, including protection of organic UVA and UVB absorbers, which allows a high level of protection to be maintained during solar exposure.
Although most sunscreen ingredients will maintain a level of UVB absorption over exposure time, (preventing users from experiencing sunburn), UVA protection can be reduced quite quickly as organic components can photodegrade. OPTISOL™ significantly reduces this effect.
OPTISOL™ provides additional enhancements for personal care formulations over conventional materials. The inclusion of a small amount of manganese acts to reduce free radical generation from the titanium dioxide particles. The manganese ions provide a route by which the charge created by the UV radiation can dissipate without migrating to the particle surface and generating free radicals. Free radical production is reduced by over 90% with OPTISOL™, even in comparison with coated titanium dioxide.
A further enhancement is provided by the manganese oxide which is found at the surface. These act to scavenge free radicals which might be present in the formulation. This unusual effect is normally only observed in specific antioxidants such as vitamins but it is now available as an integral part of the UV absorbing component.
A reduction in free radical load has benefits for both the skin, and for the sunscreen formulation. Free radicals are implicated in photoaging of the skin, photocarcinogenesis, and organic component degradation.
External Testing
Extensive testing has been carried out on Optisol(tm) at independent laboratories. This has demonstrated that Optisol(tm) does not penetrate the skin and is safe for use in personal care applications. Should you require any further information about the testing carried out on this product please email us on info@oxonica.com
Future applications for OPTISOL™
OPTISOL™ is currently under evaluation by a number of leading global sunscreens formulators. The first products containing OPTISOL™ were on the shelves in 2005 and further products are currently in development. Furthermore, Oxonica is currently evaluating additional applications for its photo-stable UV screening technologies with the current focus being upon plastics and coatings applications.
In summary, the synergy of OPTISOL™ UV absorber with both organic and inorganic UV absorbers provides the opportunity to produce formulations delivering the highest levels of both UVB and UVA performance, consistently delivered over a number of hours. OPTISOL™ provides additional benefits by absorbing the free radicals which may be generated by other components present in a sunscreen formulation, thus further enhancing the formulation stability. The product is particularly effective in improving UVA protection in a variety of formulations.
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