A team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and Seoul National University in South Korea have jointly developed a new sunscreen microgel. Made with camellia pollen, this sunscreen not only effectively protects against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, but is also coral-friendly and cools the skin.
(From left to right) PhD student Deng Jingyu, researcher Dr. Fahan Abdul Rahim, researcher Dr. Shahruddin Ibrahim, and Professor Zhao Nanjun (holding original pollen and bottled pollen sunscreen) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Currently, most commonly used sunscreen formulas contain mineral ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Although they can effectively protect against sun exposure, if they enter the ocean in non-nanoparticle form, they may cause damage to coral reefs. The newly developed sunscreen product does not contain these minerals at all. Instead, it uses the plant polysaccharide shell "sporopollenin" extracted from camellia pollen to make a transparent microgel that is less thick than a human hair.
(Left) Camellia pollen microgel applied to a subject’s hand, and its natural origin
The research team said they used a "non-irritating water-based process" that removes pollen contents without requiring high temperatures or harmful chemicals, leaving only the naturally tough sporopollenin outer wall. It is then made into a microgel that is applied to the skin. The results show that the gel can have an SPF sun protection factor of about 30, which is equivalent to blocking 97% of ultraviolet rays. In addition, relevant experiments also found that the material absorbs less visible light and near-infrared energy than traditional sunscreen materials, allowing the skin to cool down by up to 5 degrees Celsius within 20 minutes after application, effectively helping the skin cool down.
It is worth mentioning that in the experiment, this gel did not cause any adverse effects on the corals even if it was stored with the corals in the water for 60 days. In comparison, conventional commercial sunscreens can cause coral bleaching in just 6 days.
Professor Zhao Nanjun of Nanyang Technological University, the leader of the research, pointed out: "Pollen itself has natural UV resistance, and its outer shell needs to protect the internal contents from harsh environments, including the effects of sunlight. Our goal is to develop a natural sunscreen product that is affordable, non-allergenic, and ecologically friendly."
The research results have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.