Development of biocompatible mesoporous silica materials for enhanced UV protection

A new class of mesoporous silica (MPS)-based biocompatible ultraviolet (UV) protective materials (1–4) has been prepared and characterized. These materials, which include avobenzone (AV)-encapsulated MPS, were modified with biphenyl-4-triethoxysilane and polyethylene glycol (PEG200). Their photostability was tested under a sun-simulated lamp. It was found that the structure of the material significantly impacts UV protection performance. Specifically, encapsulating AV-enhanced UV radiation absorption, while the biphenyl layer improved UV-blocking capabilities. Additionally, the PEG layer increased the materials' biocompatibility. Materials 1–4 demonstrated critical wavelengths of 389 nm and UV-A/UV-B ratios ranging from 0.61 to 0.89. Notably, the sun protection factor values were estimated between 6.04 and 17.24. In vivo testing on nude mice showed that untreated skin exhibited significant epidermal thickening due to sunburn. In contrast, skin treated with material 3 did not show any epidermal thickening, being 14 times thinner than unprotected skin. With high stability against photodegradation, materials 1–4 are promising candidates for UV protection applications, with material 3 proving to be the most effective.