About: The project aims to obtain hybrid materials—based on Taraxacum officinale/Trifolium pratense L. and mica clay—that possess ultraviolet light-shielding properties. This interdisciplinary research focuses on developing new methods for producing and testing innovative mica-coumarin materials intended for use as UV and HEV radiation blockers in skincare products.

Obiectives

O 1. Selection of natural fluorescent compounds with antioxidant properties from sustainable sources and synthesis of analogous derivatives with a coumarin structure.

O 2. Development of small-sized mica particles with varied designs to facilitate the adsorption of coumarin derivatives and obtain hybrid materials with multiple optical properties.

O 3. Demonstration and validation of the compatibility of the hybrid materials with various types of emulsion systems used in sunscreen cosmetic products.

Estimated results:

New products:

4 new coumarin-derived compounds;

3 types of mica minerals with distinct surface architectures, compatible with various natural or synthetic organic compounds;

2 types of hybrid materials with different designs, used as UV filters.

Production technologies and application methods:

Technology for producing hybrid materials with multiple optical properties.

Demonstration of the functionality and utility of hybrid materials in emulsion systems to achieve UV and HEV light shielding properties.

Publications: Articles (4), International conference presentations (6), Patent applications (1).

Project development

Stage 1 – 2025

Ultraviolet radiation is one of the most harmful environmental factors for human skin, contributing to premature aging, light-induced degradation, and an increased risk of skin cancer. Polyphenols are well known for their antioxidant and UV-absorbing properties, making them attractive candidates for the development of bio-inspired protection systems. The initial stage focused on identifying sources of natural polyphenolic compounds and methods for their extraction. To this end, efforts were made to obtain natural extracts rich in polyphenolic compounds using plant materials—specifically flowers, leaves, or roots—derived from dandelion or red clover. Structural analyses (chromatography, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy) of the obtained extracts, evaluated against various extraction methods and conditions, revealed that polyphenols can be extracted more efficiently using modern microwave-assisted or ultrasonic methods; these approaches require significantly less time and lower costs compared to conventional techniques. The studies demonstrated that a significant proportion of polyphenolic compounds with fluorescent properties are found in the plants' flowers, although these compounds undergo photodegradation when in isolated systems. To prevent degradation, polyphenolic compounds were subjected to complexation with transition metal ions, resulting in molecular superstructures—specifically coordinated metal complexes (Zn, Cu) or metal nanoparticle-stabilized systems (Ag, Se)—leveraging their antioxidant properties. Another approach regarding fluorescent compounds involved synthesizing similar derivatives that offer greater stability by eliminating the enzymatic processes inherent in natural extracts. Consequently, four coumarin derivatives were synthesized and characterized using either conventional solvent-based methods or microwave-assisted synthesis. These structures will serve as the foundation for developing fluorescent compounds intended for use in organic-inorganic hybrid materials designed for UV shielding. Studies on the adsorption of compounds isolated from natural extracts—as well as their metal complexes—onto inorganic mica supports aim to elucidate structure-property relationships based on the interactions between the natural compounds and the host matrix. This paves the way for developing new molecular structures with tunable optical properties, obtained either through direct synthesis or by modifying natural compounds to ensure compatibility with the inorganic host matrix. The resulting hybrid materials, combining the complementary optical properties of their two components, will achieve high performance in UV radiation protection.