Synthetic “Melanin” Could Act as a Natural Sunscreen

[Guest Nicole]

As summers grow steadily hotter, many people feel a need to slather on ever more sunscreen—or wear more clothes—to prevent the sun’s ultraviolet radiation from crisping their skin and increasing the odds of developing cancer. But scientists may have found a new way to block these dangerous rays: melanin-imitating nanoparticles that protect skin cells from within. If proved, this approach could be used to develop better topical protection and possibly treatments for certain skin disorders as well.

The darkening pigment melanin is one of the body’s primary natural defenses against UV-induced DNA damage. Below the skin’s surface, special cells secrete melanosomes, which produce, store and transport melanin. These structures are absorbed by skin cells called keratinocytes and form protective, UV-blocking shells around the cells’ nuclei. People suffering from diseases such as albinism and vitiligo, however, have faulty melanin production and are highly susceptible to the effects of UV.

To create synthetic versions of these melanosomes, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, bathed dopamine—a signaling chemical found in the brain and other parts of the body—in an alkaline solution. This step produced melaninlike nanoparticles with shells and cores made of polydopamine, a dopamine-based polymer. When incubated in a petri dish with human keratinocytes, the synthetic particles were absorbed by the skin cells and distributed around their nuclei like natural melanin.

Read more: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/synthetic-ldquo-melanin-rdquo-could-act-as-a-natural-sunscreen/

[Guest]

I will finally be able to get a tan!!! :-)