Effects of emulsifying agents on the safety of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens

The use of titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in sunscreen formulations has increased considerably, and might pose a serious health hazard worldwide. A thorough investigation into the toxicity induced by such components is highly necessary. In this study, the effects of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dispersion science and technology 2018-11, Vol.39 (11), p.1544-1549
Main Authors: Seo, Ga-Young, Lee, Ji Hyun, Kim, Jin Hyeok, Shim, Jung Been, Hong, Hyun Joon, Kim, Eunsung, Kwon, Oh Wook, Lee, Jongsung, Kim, Youn-Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biocompatibility
Cytotoxicity
Emulsifiers
Emulsifying agents
Formulations
Lecithin
Nanoparticles
safety testing
Sun screens
sunscreen
Surgical implants
Titanium dioxide
Titanium oxides
Toxicity
Transmission electron microscopy
Zinc oxide
Zinc oxides
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Summary:The use of titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in sunscreen formulations has increased considerably, and might pose a serious health hazard worldwide. A thorough investigation into the toxicity induced by such components is highly necessary. In this study, the effects of TiO 2 and ZnO NPs on HaCaT cells were tested in the presence and absence of emulsifiers (cyclopentasiloxane, jojoba ester, and lecithin). Cell viability results revealed that the toxicity of NPs was highly dose dependent and influenced by the emulsifier type. The emulsifiers themselves are minimally toxic. However, when used in combination with TiO 2 and ZnO, they were highly toxic to HaCaT cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cells showed least permeability to NPs dispersed in lecithin compared to other emulsifiers. In conclusion, the toxicity of NPs may be highly dependent on the emulsifier type and be varied. In particular, lecithin can be used as a potential alternative emulsifier in sunscreens.
ISSN:0193-2691
1532-2351
DOI:10.1080/01932691.2017.1421084