# Blue Light's Impact on Skin Barrier Components: Insights from NP-LC/HR-MS n and Raman Analyses

Léa Habib, Marie Abboud, Roger Lteif, Ali Tfayli, Rime Michael-Jubeli

► To cite this version:

Léa Habib, Marie Abboud, Roger Lteif, Ali Tfayli, Rime Michael-Jubeli. Blue Light's Impact on Skin Barrier Components: Insights from NP-LC/HR-MS n and Raman Analyses. COMET, Jan 2025, Cergy-Pontoise, France. [hal-04986540](https://hal.science/hal-04986540v1)

HAL Id: hal-04986540

https://hal.science/hal-04986540v1

Submitted on 11 Mar 2025

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 4.0 International License
# Blue Light's Impact on Skin Barrier Components: Insights from NP-LC/HR-MS<sup>n</sup> and Raman Analyses

Léa Habib<fnref n="1" />,<fnref n="2" />, Rime Michael-Jubeli<fnref n="1" />*, Marie Abboud<fnref n="3" />, Roger Lteif<fnref n="2" />, Ali Tfayli<fnref n="1" />

## Introduction

The integrity of the skin barrier is essential for maintaining skin health. While the deleterious effects of UV radiation on the epidermis are well-documented, the impact of blue light, a significant component of both natural and artificial light sources, is less clear.

Modern lifestyles, characterized by extensive use of digital tools, expose individuals to elevated levels of blue light.

Blue light, a high-energy visible light, penetrates deeply into the skin, potentially causing oxidative stress and cellular damage.

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>UVA, UVB, and blue light transmission into the skin</figcaption></figure>

J. of Biomed Phys Eng (2018) and modified

## Objective

This study aims to explore the effects of blue light at wavelengths of 415 nm and 455 nm on reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) models.

## Methodology

* RHE models were exposed to blue light at different wavelengths and doses

<table><thead><tr><th>Sample name</th><th>Irradiation repetition</th><th>Total Dose (J.cm<sup>-2</sup>)</th><th>RHE maturation day</th><th>Measurement</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>R3_D17</td><td>3</td><td>150</td><td>17</td><td rowspan="3">Immediately after the last exposure</td></tr><tr><td>R4_D18</td><td>4</td><td>200</td><td>18</td></tr><tr><td>R6_D20</td><td>6</td><td>300</td><td>20</td></tr><tr><td>R3_D18</td><td>3</td><td>150</td><td>18</td><td>24h after the last exposure</td></tr></tbody></table>

* Molecular changes were analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy and NP-LC/HR-MS<sup>n</sup>

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

## Results

### Delayed effects of irradiation: evaluation 24 hours after the last exposure

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Protein folding</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

Evolution of the protein and lipid structure between R3_D17 and R3_D18: (a) α-helix/amide I (1650 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />), (b) β-sheet/amide I (1630 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />), (c) random coils/amide I (1690 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />) ratios, (d) Fermi doublet of tyrosine (1850/1830) and (e) lipid compactness.

The data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) across these 9 spectra.

For statistical significance (*) is used for I415 and (+) for I455. */+: 10%, **/++: 5% and ***/+++: 1%.

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>Lipid compactness</figcaption></figure>

Evolution of the protein and lipid structure between R3_D17, R4_D18 and R6_D20: (a) α-helix/amide I (1650 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />), (b) β-sheet/amide I (1630 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />), (c) random coils/amide I (1690 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />/1660 cm⁻<fnref n="1" />) ratios, (d) Fermi doublet of tyrosine (1850/1830) and (e) lipid compactness.

The data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) across these 9 spectra.

For statistical significance (*) is used for I415 and (+) for I455. */+: 10%, **/++: 5% and ***/+++: 1%.

### Impact of irradiation dose on RHE

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>Protein folding</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>Lipid composition</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /></figure>

* p-value<0.05

** p-value < 0.01

Impact of the irradiation dose on lipid profiles in RHE. Experiments were performed in triplicate (n = 3), and data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Lipid composition</figcaption></figure>

Lipid response kinetics: detectable changes observed at 24 hours. Two groups of RHE samples (n = 2) were analysed: one was assessed immediately after exposure (R3_D17), while the other was evaluated 24 hours post-exposure (R3_D18). Both groups were subjected to the same cumulative dose of 150 J cm⁻<fnref n="2" />, administered through 3 irradiation repetitions.

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /></figure>

NPLC/HR-MS<sup>n</sup> chromatogram obtained in a full scan APPI + mode from the analysis of the RHE sample at D20 of maturation, covering lipid classes of different polarities.

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /></figure>

Impact of the irradiation dose on ceramide subclasses.
Experiments were performed in triplicate, and data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>Impact on ceramide subclasses</figcaption></figure>

Ceramide biosynthesis during keratinocyte differentiation

## Conclusion

Our study reveals that blue light exposure significantly alters the lipid and protein organization within the stratum corneum. At 415 nm and 455 nm, blue light exposure also disrupts the structural integrity and composition of key skin lipids in a dose- and wavelength-dependent manner. Our results highlight the need for protective measures against blue light and offer insights for optimizing phototherapy applications.

Subclasses of ceramides showing significant variation (p < 0.05), similar to the overall ceramide peaks, in response to blue light

<footnote n="1">¹ Lip(Sys)²- Chimie Analytique Pharmaceutique, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² Laboratoire d'étude cinétique en milieu hétérogène (LECH), Université Saint-Joseph, Liban</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Physics department, UR TVA, Faculty of science, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-514 - Riad El Solh, 1107 2050 Beirut, Lebanon</footnote>