reviewNanotechnology Science and ApplicationsOct 1, 2011GOLD OA

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness

TGThrees G. M. SmijsPPPavel Pavel

Open University of the Netherlands · University of Applied Sciences Leiden · +2 more institutions

PubMed
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Abstract

Sunscreens are used to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV)B (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) radiation. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the protection factor against UVA should be at least one-third of the overall sun protection factor. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) minerals are frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers. As TiO2 is more effective in UVB and ZnO in the UVA range, the combination of these particles assures a broad-band UV protection. However, to solve the cosmetic drawback of these opaque sunscreens, microsized TiO2 and ZnO have been increasingly replaced by TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (

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1,077
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Authors

2

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Titanium dioxide
  • Sun protection factor
  • Stratum corneum
  • Nanoparticle
  • Nanotechnology
  • Ultraviolet
  • Materials science
  • Photocatalysis
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