Controlling zinc oxide particle size for sunscreen applications

The present application generally relates to chemical technology, and, more particularly, to sunscreen technologies.

Sunscreen creams and other such compositions are commonly used to prevent ultraviolet (UV) radiation (also referred to herein as “light” in this context) from reaching the skin of a human user and causing damage. It is noted that UV light is an electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength range between approximately 280 nanometers (nm) and approximately 400 nanometers (specifically, that is the range of UV radiation that is not absorbed by the ozone).

A common active ingredient of existing sunscreen compositions is zinc oxide (ZnO). ZnO is a semiconductor that has a specific band gap, and particles of ZnO used in existing sunscreen compositions are typically approximately 50-200 nm in size. Additionally, in existing sunscreen compositions, typical ZnO materials are capable of absorbing UV light (that is, blocking the UV light from passing through the sunscreen composition to be absorbed by the skin of the user) within a wavelength range of approximately 290 nm through only approximately 350-380 nm.

Additionally, high sun protection factor (SPF) sunscreen compositions, which can absorb a large majority of the UV light in the range of 290-380 nm, require the addition of a higher density of ZnO particles, which causes the composition to become white and/or opaque due to light scattering from the ZnO particles, and which is an often undesirable property to consumers.

In one embodiment of the present invention, zinc oxide compositions and methods for controlling zinc oxide particle size for sunscreen applications are provided. An exemplary method can include steps of manipulating the size of multiple zinc oxide particles to be below a predetermined maximum threshold; selecting one or more media, from a collection of multiple media, to be used in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the refractive index of each of the multiple media; and integrating the multiple manipulated zinc oxide particles into the one or more selected media to create the sunscreen composition.

In another embodiment of the invention, a composition can include multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the multiple zinc oxide particles is (i) coated with an optical coating material and (ii) of a size that is below a predetermined maximum threshold; and a medium layer within which the multiple zinc oxide particles are suspended, wherein the medium layer comprises a mixture of one or more media, and wherein each of the one or more media has a refractive index below a predetermined threshold.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles in conjunction with at least one sunscreen medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles in conjunction with at least one sunscreen medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques, according to an embodiment of the invention.

As described herein, an embodiment of the present invention includes zinc oxide compositions, methods of fabrications thereof and methods of use thereof. Specifically, at least one embodiment of the invention includes controlling ZnO particle size for sunscreen applications. Additionally, at least one embodiment of the invention includes controlling the amount of scattering in connection with use of a sunscreen composition by controlling the size of ZnO particles in the sunscreen composition. As used herein, “scattering” refers to the deflection of rays of visible light from their original path due to interaction with particle surfaces.

As further detailed herein, one or more embodiments of the invention include generating ZnO compositions and methods of use thereof for effectively blocking more and/or all of the complete spectrum of UV light (that is, as noted above, the UV radiation that is not absorbed by the ozone, and which ranges between approximately 280 nm and 400 nm) while also preventing whitening effects caused by the scattering of light in the visible spectrum (that is, radiation between approximately 400 nm and 700 nm).

At least one embodiment of the invention includes reducing particle size for ZnO particles in a sunscreen composition to a size of less than 100 nm, such as, for example between 30 nm and 80 nm. By way of example, at least one embodiment of the invention includes manipulating the size of ZnO particles to dimensions smaller than the wavelength(s) of visible light in order to decrease scattering of visible light, as particle scattering coefficients decrease as the particle size of ZnO decreases.

Additionally, as further detailed in connection with FIG. 1 , one or more embodiments of the invention can include aggregating multiple ZnO particles into clusters, for example, to prevent penetration through skin, and thereby improve product safety. Such clusters, by way of example, can be of a size that is greater than 200 nm. Such aggregation can be carried out, for example, and as further detailed in connection with FIG. 2 , by introducing a binding agent or anchoring particle that functions to bring together ZnO nanoparticle clusters. Such binding agent introduction is carried out in a manner that minimizes total scattering from the cluster of particles.

Also, and as further detailed in connection with FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , one or more embodiments of the invention can include selecting a particular sunscreen (lotion) medium based on the refractive index of the medium, and/or modifying the refractive index of a particular sunscreen medium via integration of one or more additional media. By way of example, at least one embodiment of the invention includes utilizing a sunscreen medium having a refractive index that is between that of ZnO and that of (ambient) air.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 1 depicts aggregating ZnO particles 102 , 104 and 106 that are coated with a coating material 101 or enveloped within a shell, which results in the aggregated particles to remain optically separate. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the coating or shell material 101 can have a refractive index that is in between that of ZnO and that of air. One example of such a material can include silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). By controlling the thickness of the coating or shell, the refractive index of the coating or shell, and the refractive index of the sunscreen (lotion) medium, the scattering of visible light by the aggregate of ZnO particles (which can cause undesirable whitening of the sunscreen (lotion)) can be minimized. In the absence of such a coating or shell, and in the absence of measures to control the given optical properties, the aggregates of ZnO particles might scatter light in a manner similar to that of one larger particle.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 2 depicts an anchoring particle 202 (also referred to herein as a binding agent) that is utilized to aid the aggregation of ZnO particles 102 , 104 , 106 and 108 . By way of example, another ZnO particle can be used as such an anchoring particle, wherein the anchoring particle's surface is modified such that the anchoring particle can bind to other particles. Similarly to the configuration depicted in FIG. 2 , this illustrated configuration utilizes the anchoring particle 202 , in part, to ensure that the aggregated particles remain optically separate.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles in conjunction with at least one sunscreen medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 3 depicts ZnO particles 102 , 104 , 106 , 108 and 110 positioned and/or integrated within a sunscreen lotion medium 302 . As further detailed herein, the particular lotion medium 302 can be selected as one or more media on the basis of refractive index to minimize scattering from the ZnO particles.

Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the invention include reducing scattering from ZnO particles by embedding ZnO particles in a sunscreen (lotion) medium with an appropriate refractive index (n). By way of illustration, consider a scenario wherein n air <n lotion <n ZnO . In such a scenario, n lotion can be selected as a sunscreen medium to minimize scattering.

It is noted that the refractive index of ZnO is approximately 1.9-2.1 (λ-dependent), while common media and their corresponding refractive index can include the following: water (n˜1.35), coconut oil (n˜1.44), mineral oil (n˜1.46), and polyparabens (n˜1.50). One or more embodiments of the invention can include combining and/or mixing two or more media in a particular ratio that optimizes optical properties (for example, a target refractive index).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of ZnO particles in conjunction with at least one sunscreen medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. By way of illustration, FIG. 4 depicts ZnO particles 102 , 104 , 106 , 108 and 110 positioned and/or integrated within sunscreen lotion medium 302 . Additionally, FIG. 4 depicts a second layer of a lotion medium 402 that is applied on top of medium 302 . In one or more embodiments of the invention, the second layer of lotion medium 402 (the top layer) can include a medium having a smaller refractive index than lotion medium 302 (the bottom layer) containing the ZnO particles. In one or more embodiments of the invention, a configuration such as depicted in FIG. 4 can additionally be modified and/or designed to further minimize the scattering of visible light by the ZnO particles. Similarly, the example embodiments illustrated herein are merely non-limiting examples, and it is to be appreciated that additional components and embodiments can be implemented. For example, additional oils (such as, for example, shea butter) can be utilized as a medium in one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating techniques according to an embodiment of the present invention. Step 502 includes manipulating the size of multiple zinc oxide particles to be below a predetermined maximum threshold. The predetermined maximum threshold can include, for example, 100 nanometers. Additionally, in one or more embodiments of the invention, manipulating can include manipulating the size of multiple zinc oxide particles to be (i) below a predetermined maximum threshold and (ii) above a predetermined minimum threshold. In such an embodiment, the predetermined maximum threshold can include 80 nanometers, and the predetermined minimum threshold can include 30 nanometers.

Step 504 includes selecting one or more media, from a collection of multiple media, to be used in a sunscreen composition, wherein said selecting is based on the refractive index of each of the multiple media. Selecting one or more media based on refractive index can include selecting one or more media having a refractive index between 1 and 2.

Step 506 includes integrating the multiple manipulated zinc oxide particles into the one or more selected media to create the sunscreen composition. In one or more embodiments of the invention, selecting one or more media can include selecting (i) a first medium having a first refractive index and (ii) a second medium having a second refractive index. In such an embodiment, the integrating step can include integrating the multiple manipulated zinc oxide particles into the first medium, and applying the second medium on top of the first medium, wherein the second refractive index is smaller than the first refractive index.

The techniques depicted in FIG. 5 can also include aggregating one or more subsets of the multiple zinc oxide particles into one or more clusters, wherein the one or more clusters each be of a size of greater than 200 nanometers. One or more embodiments of the invention can additionally include applying an optical coating (such as, for example, SiO 2 ) to each of the multiple zinc oxide particles in each of the one or more clusters to create an optical separation between each of the multiple zinc oxide particles in each of the one or more clusters. Also, in at least one embodiment of the invention, aggregating can include using one or more binding agents, wherein the binding agents can include one or more nanospheres and/or one or more particles of a substance which may include zinc oxide.

Additionally, the techniques depicted in FIG. 5 can also include combining two or more media from the collection of multiple media in a determined ratio to create a target refractive index.

Also, an additional embodiment of the invention includes a composition that include multiple zinc oxide particles, wherein each of the multiple zinc oxide particles is (i) coated with an optical coating material and (ii) of a size that is below a predetermined maximum threshold (for example, 100 nm), and a medium layer within which the multiple zinc oxide particles are suspended, wherein the medium layer comprises a mixture of one or more media, and wherein each of the one or more media has a refractive index below a predetermined threshold (for example, a refractive index of 2). In one or more embodiments of the invention, the optical coating material can include silicon dioxide.

Such a composition can also include a second medium layer applied on top of the medium layer within which the multiple zinc oxide particles are suspended, wherein the second medium layer has a refractive index that is smaller than the refractive index of the medium layer within which the multiple zinc oxide particles are suspended. Additionally, in one or more such embodiments, the mixture of one or more media can include a mixture of two or more media in a determined ratio to create a target refractive index. Further, in one or more such embodiments, the multiple zinc oxide particles can be aggregated into one or more clusters, and the one or more clusters can also include one or more binding agents.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of another feature, step, operation, element, component, and/or group thereof.

At least one embodiment of the present invention may provide a beneficial effect such as, for example, controlling the amount of scattering in connection with use of a sunscreen composition by controlling the size of ZnO particles in the sunscreen composition.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.