THE CHALLENGE

Our skin is the soft outer covering of our bodies, the largest organ of the integumentary system - so to say, it is the largest amongst the group of organs designated at protecting our body from various manners of damage. It serves as a cushion, protector of deeper tissues, water loss (dehydration), temperature regulation and excretes waste. Like the roof of a home, it is the shelter of our bodies. So while the skin protects us on the inside, what protects is on the outside? One of the most passive, yet life-threatening effects we experience on a daily basis, is the exposure to ionizing radiation from the sun, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays. If our skin is damaged, it loses its ability to perform its functions effectively, and becomes susceptible to infection and disease such as cancer. 

The challenge lies in achieving proper skin protection in cosmetic and skincare products, in an effective and reasonably safe manner for humans, without posing a threat to the balance of marine life and the environment at large. 

NANOARC Biomimetics offers solutions to address this.

WHAT INSPIRED OUR IMPROVEMENT ?

In nature, some organisms are more resistant to harsh environments than others. Some even survive within the heat of volcanoes or the harsh radiation of space. Upon studying their body structure, it becomes clear that their resistance to harsh environments is not necessarily due to a difference in chemical  composition but rather, stems from a modification in atomic arrangement (i.e. atomic architecture) within their protective skin. The same is seen in how nature modifies the atomic arrangement of carbon atoms, to produce either diamond or graphite. Even the skin on the human body has different levels of resistance to chemicals, the scalp being very different from the face despite both being on the head. Crustaceans and other marine species survive the harsh and corrosive environment of the ocean, with nothing more than an ultra-thin protective outer layer. In essence, protection is not about quantity, it is about the quality of the material shielding the underlying organs and skin from harm or damage.

OUR SOLUTION

We offer atomically-architectured materials,  so manufacturers benefit from the high performance in quantum-confined material systems at low doses, where such functionality would otherwise not be achievable in regular materials.

Essentially, we’ve modified the crystal structure of known biocompatible materials, to make their properties much more elevated than the standard or commonly known ones.  As such, with our atomically-architectured materials  it is possible to use well below the classical 20 - 25% dosage in related products. 

WHY SO LITTLE? 

The UV absorption capacity and other functions of ultra-high specific surface area (nano)materials significantly increases, as the (nano)particle dimensions get smaller. This makes it possible achieve performance goals, with less (nano)material, per unit area/volume.

THE ESSENTIALS

As the climate on average gets hotter in many parts of the world, with it comes an increase in the risk of skin cancer and a reduced resistance of materials, to UV radiation.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is unique among sunscreen ingredients because it is a broad-spectrum UV blocker. It offers protection from UVA, UVB, and even UVC. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is another mineral active ingredient used in sunscreens. While it protects from UVB rays it is not as effective at shielding UVA, as ZnO.

An apparent disadvantage of macro-particulate (bulk) ZnO and TiO2 is that in sunscreens, they are visible on the skin as an opaque layer resulting in a reluctance of consumers to use such products.

The use of nanotechnology in sunscreen formulations increases the UV ray blocking efficiency, making it possible to decrease the concentration of UV filters in the formulation. More precisely, the use of quantum materials (< 20 nm in at least one dimension), that have an ultra-high specific area (nano)particles is significantly beneficial, for an enhanced effectiveness in UV shielding.

The reason being, that the UV sorption capacity and other beneficial functions of (nano)materials (e.g. antimicrobial, anti-fungal, wound healing, etc) significantly increase as the (nano)particle dimensions get smaller. This makes it possible achieve performance goals in sunscreen cosmetic products, with less (nano)material, per unit area/volume, whilst also, offering lasting protection.

At such highly effective low doses, a mineral sunscreen with ultra-high specific surface area (nano)particles is also easier to spread, thus reducing the “whitening” effect. As the ZnO ultra-high surface area (nano)particles do not scatter light like conventional microparticles, the white colour disappears and the resulting sun lotion still blocks UV, but looks transparent when applied to the skin.

While TiO2 in its macro-particulate form is useful, in its nanoform, it is carcinogenic. ZnO on the other hand, is safe. The challenge remains, the apprehension of some consumers, towards the use of products fortified, with nanoparticles, which makes the adoption of higher performance sunscreens, slow.

NANOARC's expertise in quantum material design, has been invested here, to address this issue. We offer two forms of ZnO, with ultrahigh specific surface area as follows:

I. Zincene Oxide (2-Dimensional ZnO) Atomically thin flakes (non-nano) - 635,200 cm²/g

II. Zinc Oxide (0-Dimensional) nanoparticles (nano) - 415,300 cm²/g

To offer perspective on how we rank, the average specific surface area of conventional ZnO is 45,000 cm²/g and for current commercial nano-ZnO, this averages approx 100,000 cm²/g.

With these values, the laws of physics in nature indicate that the enhanced specific surface area of NANOARC ZnO advanced material systems, offer sunscreen and skin care manufacturers, an opportunity to design more superior performing products, using low doses and achieving better dispersion and amore appreciable cosmetic result.

Incidentally, it is our non-nano ZnO material (Zincene Oxide), that offers a high specific surface area and hence performance. That is the beauty of material design and the benefit for manufacturers, is an ability to now cater to nano sensitive client, with more superior deliverables.