A construção e a aplicação de um sensor biomimético para a determinação de 4-metilbenzilideno cânfora (4-MBC), um protetor de radiação ultravioleta (UV), são descritas. O sensor foi preparado pela modificação de um eletrodo de pasta de carbono com um complexo de cloreto de ferro(III) com ftalocianina, FePcCl. As medidas amperométricas conduzidas com o sensor, sob um potencial aplicado de 0,0 V vs. Ag|AgCl em uma mistura de tetraidrofurano e 0,1 mol L -1 H 2 SO 4 (30:70 em volume), mostraram uma resposta linear no intervalo de 1,8×10 -4 to 9,0×10 -4 mol L -1 . Uma investigação detalhada da seletividade da resposta frente a outros nove filtros UV também foi realizada. Um mecanismo de resposta do sensor foi proposto e os resultados para a quantificação de 4-MBC em protetores solares comerciais e em águas de piscinas e de rios são apresentados.The construction and application of a biomimetic sensor for determination of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), an ultraviolet (UV) radiation protector, are described. The sensor was prepared by modifying a carbon paste electrode with iron(III) phthalocyanine chloride (FePcCl). Amperometric measurements carried out with the sensor under an applied potential of 0.0 V vs. Ag|AgCl in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and 0.1 mol L -1 H 2 SO 4 solution (30:70 volume ratio) showed a linear response range from 1.8×10 -4 to 9.0×10 -4 mol L -1 . A detailed selectivity investigation for other nine UV filters was also performed. A sensor response mechanism was proposed and the results for 4-MBC quantification in commercial sunscreens and in water from swimming pools and rivers are presented.Keywords: iron phthalocyanine, amperometric sensor, methylbenzylidene camphor
IntroductionChemical ultraviolet (UV) filters have been introduced in 1889, when an acidified quinine sulfate solution was used to block UV radiation, 1 and thereafter sunscreen has become an everyday cosmetic with continuously increasing use.The positive effect exerted by UV filters is to block the UV light radiation damage from sunlight, sunlamps and in tanning parlours; moreover, they have color protective abilities and therefore may prevent premature fading of hair color and damage to hair cuticle. On the other hand, it has been recently reported that commonly used chemical UV filters may cause endocrine disrupting effects in both aquatic and terrestrial animals, as well as in human skin cells. [1][2][3][4] In addition, five of the most commonly UV filters used in cosmetic formulations, i.e., oxybenzone, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), homosalate, p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), octyldimethyl-PABA (ODP), and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), exhibited oestrogenic effects in MCF-7 (Michigan Application of a Biomimetic Sensor Based on Iron Phthalocyanine Chloride J. Braz. Chem. Soc. 1378 Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cells. Furthermore, oxybenzone, 4-MBC and OMC were confirmed to be oestrogenic by classical in vivo uterotrophic assays with rats dosed in the feed. For the most potent oestrogenic UV filter 4-MBC, the eff...