Size and Optically Tunable Ethyl Cellulose Nanoparticles as Carriers for Organic UV Filters

Abstract

Optically active nanoparticles (NPs) are potential building blocks for bottom‐up functional technology in applications such as displays, sensors, and sunscreens. For sunscreens in particular, NPs can be used as delivery systems for organic UV filters in order to minimise skin exposure to these molecules. Here, we investigate the synthesis of size‐tunable ethyl cellulose NPs (ECNPs) and their application as carriers for multiple organic UV filters. We prepared ECNPs with sizes of 50 to 165 nm via an antisolvent precipitation technique and investigate the incorporation of three commonplace organic UV filters – oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate – into the ECNPs. We found the particle loading varied greatly with each UV filter. Photodegradation of the UV filters remained unchanged upon incorporation into ECNPs and was not affected by co‐encapsulating the antioxidant α‐tocopherol. These results can significantly advance the development of environmentally friendly functionalized nanoparticles and UV‐protective coatings.

Bio-Based Nanoparticles as a Carrier of β-Carotene: Production, Characterisation and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion

“…It is also confirmed by the images the lower size of ethylcellulose NPs when compared with zein NPs, as determined by DLS. The morphology observed is in line with the TEM images presented elsewhere for zein NPs [ 19 ] and ethylcellulose NPs [ 46 ].…”

Synthesis of hierarchically mesoporous silica with encapsulated avobenzone as a UV protection filter

“…The resulting of XRD avobenzone patterns showed apparent characteristic peaks. [41][42][43] The results for MSAB in Fig. 4 showed characteristic bands that were similar to prior research.…”

Fully-biobased UV-absorbing nanoparticles from ethyl cellulose and zein for environmentally friendly photoprotection

“…Interestingly, these maximum loading values of retinol, quercetin, and p-coumaric acid into ECNPs are comparable to the synthetic UV lters octinoxate, oxybenzone, and avobenzone, which show maximum loadings of 47 wt%, 14 wt%, and 8 wt% respectively into similarly-sized ECNPs (70-90 nm). 23 We have previously hypothesised that the discrepancy between loadings between compounds may be a result of the varying solubility of the compound in EC, 23 which is analogous to the high loadings of SLNs with lyophilic drugs 32 and polycarbonate NPs with hydrophobic drugs. 33 The size and stability of the ECNPs as a function of increasing loadings of quercetin and retinol (except for the largest loading of retinol) demonstrated similar behaviour in which the average particle size remained constant (70-76 nm) and absolute zeta potential would increase, indicating increased dispersion stability.…”

“…Loading the ECNPs with quercetin and retinol is therefore not limited by decreasing dispersion stability, unlike for p-coumaric acid. Quercetin and retinol are therefore very attractive for the preparation of effective fully-biobased UV-absorbing NPs from EC because of (i) high maximum loading values of quercetin and (particularly) retinol when compared with synthetic UV lters into similarly-sized ECNPs, 23 and (ii) because higher loadings of quercetin and retinol are not limited by decreasing dispersion stability.…”