Discussion Abounds on the Potential Carcinogenic Risks Associated With the Use of UV Curing Lamps for Permanent Nail Polish

BACKGROUND

Controversy has recently broken out over the potential carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to UV lamps for permanent nail polish. The new LED-based polymerization devices, and their potential biological effect has not been analyzed to this date.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the emission power and its potential biological effects on the skin of 2 types of UV LED and fluorescent curing lamps under normal use conditions compared to doses of sunlight exposure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The emission spectrum (290nm to 450nm) of curing lamps and the Sun at noon on an average summer day in mid-latitude Spain was analyzed. The effective biological irradiance potential for erythema, non-melanoma skin cancer, DNA damage, photoimmunosuppression and permanent pigmentation was also characterized.

RESULTS

The high-energy UVA-visible irradiance emitted by these devices was similar to the one coming from the Sun in that spectral range while the effective biological doses were lower or similar to those also coming from the Sun. The total UV and high-energy visible dose per manicure session corresponded to that obtained from 3.5min to 6min exposures to the Sun at noon in the summer days at our latitudes.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure times and doses received with the common use of artificial lamp nail drying correspond to sunlight exposures of 3min to 5min in the central hours of the day. This represents a very low carcinogenic potential compared to sunlight exposure, although similar regarding immunosuppressive potential. Photoprotective measures would further minimize the risks.

Discussion Abounds on the Potential Carcinogenic Risks Associated With the Use of UV Curing Lamps for Permanent Nail Polish

BACKGROUND

Controversy has recently broken out over the potential carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to UV lamps for permanent nail polish. The new LED-based polymerization devices, and their potential biological effect has not been analyzed to this date.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the emission power and its potential biological effects on the skin of 2 types of UV LED and fluorescent curing lamps under normal use conditions compared to doses of sunlight exposure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The emission spectrum (290nm to 450nm) of curing lamps and the Sun at noon on an average summer day in mid-latitude Spain was analyzed. The effective biological irradiance potential for erythema, non-melanoma skin cancer, DNA damage, photoimmunosuppression and permanent pigmentation was also characterized.

RESULTS

The high-energy UVA-visible irradiance emitted by these devices was similar to the one coming from the Sun in that spectral range while the effective biological doses were lower or similar to those also coming from the Sun. The total UV and high-energy visible dose per manicure session corresponded to that obtained from 3.5min to 6min exposures to the Sun at noon in the summer days at our latitudes.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure times and doses received with the common use of artificial lamp nail drying correspond to sunlight exposures of 3min to 5min in the central hours of the day. This represents a very low carcinogenic potential compared to sunlight exposure, although similar regarding immunosuppressive potential. Photoprotective measures would further minimize the risks.

Mechanical characterisation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylates used in intraocular lenses through depth sensing indentation

In this work, the mechanical behaviour of hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylates has been characterised by depth sensing indentation. Time-dependent behaviour has been studied using load-relaxation tests. Experiments have been simulated with a finite element software using a visco-hyperelastic material model. The parameters of this model have been determined using deep learning techniques. The developed material models have been used to mechanically simulate a standard compression test of a prototype intraocular lens.

Bulky Cyclometalated Ruthenium Nitrates for Challenging Z-Selective Metathesis: Efficient One-Step Access to α-Oxygenated Z-Olefins from Acrylates and Allyl Alcohols

α-Oxygenated Z-olefins are ubiquitous in biologically active molecules and serve as versatile handles for organic synthesis, but their syntheses are often tedious and less selective. Here we report the efficient Z-selective metathesis of various terminal acrylates and allyl alcohols, which enables facile and selective construction of high value-added α-oxygenated Z-olefins from readily available feedstock chemicals. These challenging metathesis transformations are enabled by novel cyclometalated Ru-carbene-nitrate complexes bearing bulky-yet-flexible side arms, whose assembly was unlocked by new organometallic syntheses.

Intraocular Acrylic Allergy: Is it Something to Sneeze at?

Cataract surgery is most commonly performed with acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. To date, there have been no reported cases of intraocular acrylic allergy despite increasing rates of acrylic-induced contact dermatitis elsewhere in the body. Concern regarding acrylate sensitization is gaining traction in the ophthalmology community. This commentary explores the lack of intraocular atopy and whether an acrylic allergy necessitates extensive preoperative consideration.

[Contact dermatitis caused by diagnostic devices and surgical orthopedic treatment]

BACKGROUND

Acrylates are plastic materials that are formed by the polymerization of monomers that are derived from acrylic or methacrylic acid; they have a wide range of applications, and they are increasingly used in medicine.

CASE REPORT

We are reporting two clinical cases of contact dermatitis in the hospital environment; the first one is about a nurse (occupational exposure) and, the second one, about a patient who experienced contact dermatitis after a diagnostic procedure was performed.

CONCLUSION

New sources of acrylates are identified every year due to the multiple uses of these synthetic resins; these materials are included in medical devices, both for orthopedic diagnosis or follow-up (telemetry, electrodes of electroencephalographs) and treatment (bone cement), as well as for surgery.

Curing of UV prints - Assessment of possible toxicological hazard for consumers

In an experimental setting a laboratory analysis of substances migrating from UV prints under mechanical stress into sweat and saliva simulant was performed. The influence of paper type and curing degree on UV prints was investigated. Five substances were identified at concentrations above the limit of detection in the simulants PPG-3 glyceryl triacrylate, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, 2/4-isopropylthioxanthone (ITX), and 2,4-diethylthioxanthone (DETX). Migration of the acrylates and photoinitiators into saliva and sweat simulants were increased when the UV inks were printed on uncoated paper in comparison to coated paper. With an exposure scenario considering a person to leaf through 80 pages of UV-printed paper per day while touching each page with a licked fingertip, Risk Characterisation Ratios (RCR) for oral exposure well below 1 were obtained for all five substances indicating no risk for the general population. The three acrylates are classified for skin sensitisation. The migrated amounts per skin surface area of these three were compared with the EC3 value for a hypothetical substance that could be categorised as strong sensitiser (EC3 = 0.1%). The results show that the risk of skin sensitisation even under worst case conditions can be considered as negligible.

A review of acrylates: Super glue, nail adhesives, and diabetic pump adhesives increasing sensitization risk in women and children

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a cutaneous type IV hypersensitivity immune reaction mounted against substances in contact with the skin to which the patient has been sensitized. ACD is common, affecting approximately 72 million Americans per year, and is more common in women. One common contact allergen group is acrylates, which are monomers that are polymerized in the making of glues, adhesives, and plastic materials. It is the monomers that are sensitizing, whereas the final polymers are inert. Acrylates were the 2012 Contact Allergen of the Year with the specific acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, being the 2020 Contact Allergen of the Year. This article reviews the history of acrylate use, epidemiology, and both known and emerging sources of acrylates resulting in ACD.

Evaluation of Isobornyl Acrylate Content in Medical Devices for Diabetes Treatment

Background: Along with increased usage of continuous glucose monitors, flash glucose monitors, and patch pumps by patients with diabetes, the frequency of skin reactions has also increased. Skin irritation and itching can be annoying to users. However, more serious contact allergies to one or more components of the adhesives or plastic material of the housing of the devices can become lifelong. Redness and itchiness are so strong that patients can no longer use a particular system. In August 2017, a major culprit allergen, isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), was identified for these more serious reactions. Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate IBOA content in different medical products. Methods: The plastic material used for the housing of the Freestyle Libre (n = 3), Dexcom G6 (n = 3), and Enlite (n = 4) was analyzed for IBOA content by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Adhesives of the different systems were also analyzed. Results: IBOA was found in the housings of Freestyle Libre and Enlite sensor, but not in the Dexcom G6. Conclusions: Patients with an IBOA allergy should consider switching to a medical product without IBOA. Furthermore, removal of IBOA from devices that contact the skin is encouraged.

Polyacrylate/polyacrylate-PEG biomaterials obtained by high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with tailorable drug release and effective mechanical and biological properties

The paper focuses on the preparation of polyacrylate based biomaterials designed as patches for dermal/transdermal drug delivery using materials obtained by the high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) technique. In particular, butyl acrylate and glycidyl methacrylate were selected, respectively, as backbone and functional monomer while two different crosslinkers, bifunctional or trifunctional, were used to form the covalent network. The influence of PEG on the main properties of the materials was also investigated. The obtained materials show a characteristic and interconnected internal structure as confirmed by SEM studies. By an industrial point of view, an interesting feature of this system is that it can be shaped as needed, in any form and thickness. The physiochemically characterized materials showed a tailorable curcumin (model of hydrophobic drugs) drug release, effective mechanical properties and cell viability and resulted neither pro nor anti-angiogenic as demonstrated in vivo by the chick embryo choriallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Based on these results, the obtained polyHIPEs could be proposed as devices for dermal/transdermal drug delivery and/or for the direct application on wounded skin.

Correlations between odour activity and the structural modifications of acrylates

Acrylates (acrylic esters) are versatile monomers that are widely used in polymer formulations because of their highly reactive α,β-unsaturated carboxyl structure. Commonly used acrylates such as butyl acrylate are known to emit a strong unpleasant odour, and the monomers are therefore potential off-odorants in acrylic polymers. However, up to now, the odour properties of structurally related acrylic esters have not been characterised in detail. To obtain deeper insights into the smell properties of different acrylates, we investigated the relationship between the molecular structure and odour thresholds as well as the odour qualities of 20 acrylic esters, nine of these synthesised here for the first time. The OT values of 16 acrylates fell within the range from 0.73 to 20 ng/L_air, corresponding to a high-odour activity. Moreover, sec-butyl acrylate and 2-methoxyphenyl acrylate showed even lower OT values of 0.073 and 0.068, respectively. On the other hand, the OT values of the hydroxylated acrylates 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate were 5-244 times higher than those of the other compounds, demonstrating that the presence of a hydroxyl group obviously favours odour inactivity.

Characterization of methacrylated alginate and acrylic monomers as versatile SAPs

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) based on polysaccharides, especially alginate, could offer a valuable solution in a plethora of applications going from drug delivery to self-healing concrete. This has already been proven with both calcium alginate and methacrylated alginate combined with acrylic acid. In this manuscript, the effect of varying the degree of methacrylation and use of a combination of acrylic acid and acrylamide is investigated to explore the effects on the relevant SAP characteristics. The materials showed high gel fractions and a strong swelling capacity up to 630g_water/g_SAP, especially for superabsorbent polymers with a low degree of substitution. The SAPs also showed only a limited hydrolysis in aqueous and cement filtrate solutions.

An unexpected Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition of aryl allenes and acrylates

An unexpected [4+2] cycloaddition of aryl allenes and simple acrylate derivatives is reported. This process functions well with a variety of allenes and acrylates to generate bi- and tricyclic dihydronaphthalene derivatives through a nonconventional bond disconnection.

Theoretical study of the mechanism of the N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed cyclotetramerization of acrylates

A theoretical study of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed cyclotetramerization of acrylates forming trisubstituted cyclopentenones indicates a mechanism through a key deoxy-Breslow intermediate generated from one molecule of NHC and two molecules of methyl acrylate (MA). Pathways involving different proton-transfer (α or β) and the role of a tert-butoxide ( (t) BuO(-)) group were investigated.

Isobornyl acrylate: an impurity in alkyl glucosides

CONTEXT

Alkyl glucosides and alkyl poly-glucosides are widely used as wetting agents, surfactants and emulsifiers in several industrial and cosmetic products. They are known as well-tolerated and are usually added to the primary surfactants in order to reduce the irritating potential of the main foaming agents.

OBJECTIVE

Recently, some authors suggested that allergic contact dermatitis to alkyl glucosides might be more frequent than suspected. On the other hand, the chemical structures of glucosides do not show potentially allergenic chemical groups or strongly polarized structures. The aim of our study is to investigate alkyl glucosides carrying out a detailed chemical analysis on samples of raw materials to identify potentially allergenic impurities or by-products contained in commercial samples of alkyl glucosides.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We chemically analyzed samples of cocoyl glucoside, decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside by three different analytical methods, in order to identify any undesired or polluting substances.

RESULT

In each of the three samples, we detected the presence of isobornyl acrylate. Its approximate content in the tested samples is 500 ng/g of the product.

DISCUSSION

Isobornyl acrylate is not used in the synthesis of alkyl glucosides, but as a plasticizer in many plastic materials. It can be easily released to materials flowing over these surfaces when they have high extraction power, as glucosides.

CONCLUSION

Isobornyl acrylate may play a role as hidden allergen, in the form of an impurity collected during the industrial process, explaining some cases of allergic reaction to alkyl glucosides.