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Melanin, Nature’s Own Sunscreen Polymer

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Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Applications of Polymers

Abstract

Melanin is a colored polymer widely distributed in species as diverse as mushroom, squid, sturgeon and chicken. In man, it is produced within the epidermis as a response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation injury. It protects the skin be­cause it absorbs a wide range of UV and visible light. How­ever, it has never been used as a sunscreen because (a) it was not available in commercial quantities and (b) it is difficult to formulate. Biosynthetic melanin, produced by genetic engineered organisms, was entrapped in a MICROSPONGE Rpolymeric system and formulated in a cream base containing also regular sunscreens to boost the UVB absorbance. When this formulation was tested in humans, melanin provided bet­ter UVA protection than any other sunscreen available and at a lower concentration. Furthermore, studies conducted with radioactive melanin showed no penetration through human skin, thereby supporting its safety.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research & Development Advanced Polymer Systems Inc., 3696 Haven Ave., Redwood City, CA, 94063, USA

    Sergio Nacht

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  1. Sergio Nacht
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, USA

    Charles G. Gebelein

  2. Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., Santa Clara, California, USA

    Tai C. Cheng

  3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Victor C. Yang

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Nacht, S. (1991). Melanin, Nature’s Own Sunscreen Polymer. In: Gebelein, C.G., Cheng, T.C., Yang, V.C. (eds) Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Applications of Polymers. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3858-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3858-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6722-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3858-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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