Elucidating the Photoluminescence Quenching in Ensulizole: an Artificial Water Soluble Sunscreen

Evaluating the Fluorescence Quenching of Troxerutin for Commercial UV Sunscreen Filters

2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) and disodium phenyl dibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate (DPDT) are commercially available ultraviolet (UV) sunscreen filters that are known to undergo radiative relaxation following the absorption of UV light. The release of high-energy photons from this relaxation can be detrimental to human health; therefore, fluorescence quenchers need to be incorporated in commercial sunscreen formulations containing PBSA or DPDT. Troxerutin is a fluorescence quencher utilized for DPDT commercially. Here, its ability to quench the fluorescence of both PBSA and DPDT is evaluated using a dual-pronged approach by breaking down the multicomponent problem into its constituent parts. First, PBSA and DPDT's femtosecond to nanosecond photodynamics are uncovered in solution and on the surface of a human skin mimic to ascertain a benchmark. Second, these results are compared to their photodynamics in the presence of troxerutin. A significant reduction in the fluorescence lifetime is observed for both PBSA and DPDT on a human skin mimic with the addition of troxerutin, which is attributed to a Dexter energy transfer (DET) or Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) quenching mechanism. This finding demonstrates the hitherto unseen fluorescence quenching mechanism of troxerutin on a human skin mimic and its role in quenching the fluorescence of commercial UV sunscreen filters through a DET or FRET mechanism.

Elucidating the Mechanism of Copper-Induced Photoluminescence Quenching in 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-Sulfonic Acid

To explore the possible impact of 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) on the function of a sunscreen, in this work we investigate the binding of copper metal ions (Cu2+) to PBSA. Due to the existence of an intrinsic interaction phenomenon between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules, the photoluminescence (PL) quenching arises owing to the charge transfer from PBSA to Cu2+ ions. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching is probed experimentally following excitation at 306 nm by evaluating various quenching parameters with the help of the Stern-Volmer plot. Through the assessment of the values of the Stern-Volmer constant (K SV = 45.2 M - 1 ) and bimolecular quenching rate constant (k q = 0.77 × 10 10 M - 1 . s - 1 ), it is deduced that the dynamic mode of PL quenching is operative between PBSA and Cu2+ ions. We evaluate the number of binding sites (n = 1) that advocate the presence of a single binding site in PBSA for Cu2+ ions. The numerical value of standard Gibbs free energy change,Δ G o ~ -27.485 kJ.mol-1 implies the spontaneous binding between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules. The results obtained give an insight into the mechanism of metal-induced PL quenching of water soluble PBSA sunscreen.

Probing the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Dynamics in Colloidal Donor-Acceptor Quantum Dots Assemblies

In this article, we report the synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by hydrothermal method and surface modified CdS quantum dots (QDs) via the colloidal method and the fabrication of their dyad. The CdS QDs functionalized by mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) attach to the GQDs via electrostatic interactions. Spectral overlapping between the emission spectrum of GQDs and the absorption spectrum of CdS QDs allows efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from GQDs to the CdS QDs in the GQDs-CdS QDs dyads. The magnitude of FRET efficiency (E) and the rate of energy transfer (kE) assessed by the photoluminescence (PL) decay kinetics are ~61.84% and ⁓3.8 × 108 s- 1, respectively. These high values of FRET efficiency and energy transfer rate can be assigned to the existence of strong electrostatic interactions between GQDs and CdS QDs, which arise due to the presence of polar functionalities on the surface of both GQDs and CdS QDs. The understanding of energy transfer in the luminescent donor-acceptor FRET system is of significant importance and the practical implications of such FRET systems could overall improve the efficiency of photovoltaics, sensing, imaging and optoelectronic devices.

Functionalization of ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide with Ensulizole and Its Application as a UV-Protective Agent in a Transparent Polymer Coating

In this study, we propose a promising photoprotective additive that combines the advantages of both organic UV absorbers and inorganic particles without compromising the properties of the paint material. This additive involves the intercalation of a well-known organic UV absorber, 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBISA), into zinc-aluminum layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH). Three ZnAl-LDH intercalates with PBISA were prepared using various methods based on either anion exchange or direct synthesis. The intercalates were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, and IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The composition and basal spacings of all three intercalates are very similar. An effective UV protection film was prepared when the ZnAl-PBISA-1 intercalate was incorporated into polyurethane-acrylate lacquer. The resultant UV protective film exhibited stability and uniform distribution of the intercalated fillers. Some minimal particle sedimentation and aggregation were observed on the cured film's underside, but did not compromise the films' UV protective properties. The prepared lacquers with intercalated fillers offer a viable solution for the surface modification of plastic products.

Enhancing the FRET by tuning the bandgap of acceptor ternary ZnCdS quantum dots

In this article, we report the band gap tuning of ternary ZnCdS quantum dots (QDs) by varying the concentration of the capping ligand, mercaptoacetic acid (MAA). The functionalization of QDs leads to the control of their size and band gap due to the quantum confinement effect, causing blue shift in the absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra with a gradual change in the concentration of the capping ligand from 0.5 to 2.5 M. Ensulizole (2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid) is an important organic ultraviolet (UV) filter that is frequently used in sunscreen cosmetics. An effective overlapping of the PL spectrum of ensulizole and the absorption spectrum of QDs with 2.5 M MAA is achieved. A formidable decrease in the PL intensity and the PL lifetime of ensulizole promotes an efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from sunscreen ensulizole to the QDs. The magnitude of the FRET efficiency (E) is ∼70%. This very high value of E is the signature of the existence of a very fast energy transfer process from ensulizole to the MAA functionalized ZnCdS QDs. The dyad system consisting of ZnCdS QDs and ensulizole sunscreen can serve as a prototype model to develop a better understanding of the photochemistry of ensulizole and consequently the formulation of more efficient sunscreen cosmetics.

Cu-Enhanced Efficient Förster Resonance Energy Transfer in PBSA Sunscreen-Associated Ternary Cu x Cd1-x S Quantum Dots

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting nanocrystals that exhibit size- and composition-dependent optical and electronic properties. Recently, Cu-based II-VI ternary Cu _x Cd_1-x S (CCS) QDs have emerged as a promising class of QDs as compared to their binary counterparts (CuS and CdS). Herein, a series of ternary CCS QDs are synthesized by changing the molar concentration of Cu²⁺ ions only keeping the 1:1 ratio of the stoichiometric mixture of Cd²⁺ and S^2-. These CCS QDs are attached to 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA), an eminent UV-B filter widely used in many commercial sunscreen products to avoid skin erythema and DNA mutagenic photolesions. The photoinduced Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is investigated from PBSA to CCS QDs as a function of Cu concentration in CCS QDs using the steady-state photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. A 2-fold increase in the magnitude of non-radiative energy transfer rate (K _T(r)) is observed as the molar concentration of Cu in CCS QDs increases from 2 to 10 mM. Our findings suggest that in PBSA-CCS QD dyads, the FRET occurrence from PBSA to QDs is dictated by the dynamic mode of photoluminescence (PL) quenching. The bimolecular PL quenching rate constants (k _q) estimated by Stern-Volmer's plots for PBSA-CCS QD dyads are of the order of 10¹⁰ M^-1 s^-1, which signifies that in the PBSA-CCS QD dyad FRET system, the process of PL quenching is entirely diffusion-controlled.

Elucidating the Size-dependent FRET Efficiency in Interfacially Engineered Quantum Dots attached PBSA Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen on human skin provides photoprotection against the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun. Sunscreen absorbs UV radiations and dissipates the absorbed energy through various radiative and non-radiative pathways. The attachment of functionalized quantum dots (QDs) to the sunscreen component is a novel idea to enhance the absorption cross-section of UV radiations. Therefore, the attachment of the sunscreen component to the ligand functionalized biocompatible QDs and the absorbed energy transfer from sunscreen to the QDs could work as a model system to overall improve the efficiency of the sunscreen. This study elucidates the mechanism of size-dependent Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency and its rate between 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) and mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) functionalized CdS QDs. In the PBSA-QDs dyad, the PBSA (donor) dissipates UV-absorbed energy to the CdS QDs (acceptor). Following excitation at 306 nm, the steady-state photoluminescence (SSPL) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) techniques measurements demonstrate that both the non-radiative energy transfer efficiency and rate are QDs size-dependent in addition to donor-acceptor distance, and suggest that bigger sized-QDs result in an increase of the FRET efficiency.

Exploring the photoexcited electron transfer dynamics in artificial sunscreen PBSA-coupled biocompatible ZnO quantum dots

Frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation without any protection turns out to be a fatal threat leading to skin cancer, necessitating the use of sunscreen cosmetic product with enhanced efficiency to dissipate the UV absorbed energy.

FeVO4 nanowires for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

Band structures of the FeVO4 semiconductor were investigated by first-principles calculations, and FeVO4 nanowires can greatly improve the performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction.