Modification of Nano Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) By Biosurfactants for Safety and Sustainable Cosmetics
Creators: name: Cesa, Elena
name: Hulya Yilmaz
name: Tugba M. Okyay
name: Sevin Adiguzel
name: Culha, Mustafa
name: Ziosi, Paola
name: Baldisserotto, Anna
name: Vertuani, Silvia
name: Faccani, Lara
name: Costa, Anna Luisa
name: Manfredini, Stefano
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) used in several applications including medicine and cosmetics need further investigation for their functional performance and safety towards humans and environment. Although, surface modification introduced as a solution, it may result with the loss their functionality [1]. Therefore, safe-by-design (SbD) approach aims to maximize the functional performances while minimizing their impact on human and environment [2]. European Commission supports the SbD concepts of nanomaterials in nanotechnology field [3]. One of the projects supported by EC is SbD4Nano. In this project, one of the nanomaterials evaluated is TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs, which is typically used in cosmetics as sun light blocker. Nevertheless, the photo-induced excitation of TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs in UVB region (290-320 nm) may cause short-term catalytic reactions under the sun light [4]. Photocatalytic redox reactions occurred on the TiO<sub>2 </sub>NPs surface may cause the degradation of organic formulation components in contact and produce reactive oxygen species resulting in adverse effects on human health [4, 5]. The coating of ENMs with a suitable molecular barrier to insulate them may help to decrease their toxicity while keeping their function intact [6]. In this study, biosurfactant such as sodium surfactant as an anionic surfactant and its undissociated forms were used as surface modifiers due to their very low toxicity, and biodegradable features. After the optimization of modification procedures, the characterization of modified species by using spectroscopic, thermal and images techniques, as well as the evaluation of photocatalytic effects and toxicity, it was found a dependence of <em>in vitro</em> responses by the molecular structures used to coat their surface. This study suggests an experimental strategy to modify TiO<sub>2</sub> NPs surface and demonstrate how this decreases their potential toxicity by preserving their solar barrier capacity, so implementing a SbD approach in a very relevant and appealing application. Authors thanks: European Community’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program (grant number 862195 Project: SbD4Nano computing infrastructure for the definition, performance testing and implementation of safe-by-design approaches in nanotechnology supply chains; https://www.sbd4nano.eu/) and the Lamberti Group to support this project.
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