Acta Chimica Slovaca (ACS) publishes papers on fundamental and applied aspects of chemistry, biochemistry, chemical technology, chemical engineering and process control, biotechnology and food technology. Welcome are also topics which include chemical aspects of materials, physical chemistry and chemical physics, analytical chemistry, macromolecular chemistry and biomedical engineering.

Reducing the impact of artificial blue light on the skin: A spectroscopic study

Silvia Martiniaková *, Jarmila Hojerová †, Zuzana Turányiová, Dana Dvoranová a, Miriama Malček Šimunková b

Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
a Institute of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
b Institute of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics, Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 9, SK-812 37 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

E-mail: * silvia.martiniakova@stuba.sk, † jarmila.hojerova@stuba.sk

Abstract: As people spend many hours looking at digital screens, the negative effects of artificial blue light are becoming more apparent. While most research has focused on its effects on eyes, less is known about the effects of blue light on the skin, where similar photoreceptors are located. Unlike the sunscreens against UVB and UVA radiation, there is no standard method for determining skin protection against blue light. The lipophilic complex Carotolino, a system combining carrot root extract, carrot seed oil, and β-carotene, was chosen as a model substance for this research. Spectrophotometric investigation demonstrated the ability of Carotolino to absorb radiation in the blue light region (400—500 nm). After a 60-minute LED@450 nm exposure, corresponding to the maximum wavelength of radiation from the displays of common smartphones, only small changes (1.4 %) in the optical spectra were observed. The spectra showed sufficient photostability of Carotolino and its stabilizing effect on the photolabile Ubiquinone. In the 415—455 nm wavelength range associated with oxidative stress, Carotolino (0.4 % wt.) reduced blue light by ∼97.0 %. EPR spin trapping showed that blue light with a maximum wavelength of 450 nm causes significant formation of reactive free radicals, which can be partially eliminated by the application of Carotolino. The results confirmed the suitability of both methods to evaluate the effectiveness of substances to reduce physical impact of incident light on the skin. Further methods are needed to investigate biological protection of skin against blue light by promising substances.

Keywords: blue light; carotenoids; EPR spin trapping; free radicals; light emitting diodes; skin care

Acta Chimica Slovaca, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2024, pp. 55—62, DOI: 10.2478/acs-2024-0007