Nanotechnology – Preserve Women’s Youth
Bingqing Zhong
Abstract
Cosmetics and skin care products have used the most advanced technologies to
help women preserve their youth and beauty. Nanotechnology has enhanced the
effectiveness and user friendliness of cosmetics and provides a perspective of future of
cosmetics.
Introduction
For thousands of years, women have been using cosmetics and skin care products
applied with advanced technologies to preserve their youth and beauty. In ancient Egypt,
women implanted gold fibers under their skin to preserve their youth; in ancient China,
women used face powder composed of mercury to make their skin white and clear.
Nowadays, the technology is far more advanced and as a result, women’s youth and
beauty can be much better preserved. Nanotechnology can be used to create extremely
small atoms and molecules. Therefore, this technology can make active ingredient
carriers small enough to penetrate skin and make cosmetics much easier to be absorbed
by human skin.
Development of Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is a technology dealing with small particles, each about 1 to 100
nanometers. One nanometer is 109 of a meter and a sheet of newspaper is about
100,000 nanometers thick. This technology was first conceived by Physicist Richard
Feynman, who first proposed a theory that scientists could manipulate individual
molecules and atoms; then Professor Norio Taniguchi created the term nanotechnology;
in 1981, modern nanotechnology began with the development of the scanning tunneling
microscope and the atomic force microscope, which could "see" individual atoms.
Fig. 1 Size of the Nanoscale
In only 33 years, nanotechnology has enhanced the properties of many materials
and products by giving them higher strength, lighter weight, and greater chemical
reactivity because scientist and engineers can tailor the essential structures of materials
at the nanoscale to achieve specific properties. For instance, nano-scale materials in
cosmetics provide greater coverage and clarity.
Implications for Beauty
The nanotechnology has been used in sunscreens, skin cleansers, complexion
treatment, creams and specialized make up. For instance, La Prairie introduced its
'Platinum Rare' Cellular Cream in which nanotechnology is used to minimize skin
pigmentation and wrinkles in only six weeks; Olay was designed with nanoemulsion
technology in 2005. The 2 main uses for nanotechnology in cosmetics are the use of
nanoparticles as UV filters and delivery agents.
First, best-selling sunscreens often contain titanium dioxide nanoparticles or zinc
oxide nanoparticles. These two kinds of nanoparticles act as physical blockers to reflect
and scatter UV radiations [2]. They are better for sensitive skin and known for their
abilities to protect skin from UVA and UVB rays. They make sunscreen much clearer,
less greasy, much lighter and much easier to be absorbed by skin – no residue while
retaining ability to block UVA and UVB lights [2]. These nanoparticles can fit into every
nook and cranny of the skin, give more protection and coverage on the skin’s surface [2].
Particularly, zinc oxide nanoparticles are especially stable in sunlight, a property making
them more appealing than larger zinc oxide particles [2]. One example of such a
sunscreen is “Vinosun Anti-Aging Suncare” from Caudalie, which relies on “nanomized”
UV filters.
Fig.2: Nanoparticles
Second, the nanotechnology is widely used in the delivery of active ingredients in
moisturizers, creams and other skin care products. The nanoparticles used here include
lipid, and dendritic or hyper-branched polymers, which are much more efficient at
delivering active ingredients to the skin cells than their larger counterparts. Active
ingredients are contained in liposomes (simply bigger lipid nanoparticles); liposomes
combine with cellular membranes when applied to the skin, and then active ingredients
are released into the skin cells.
Fig. 3: Active ingredients encapsulated in both liposomes and nanoparticles
Lipid nanoparticles also encapsulate active ingredients. However, lipid
nanoparticles are composed of much higher quality phospholipids than larger liposomes
are created from, and some lipid nanoparticles have higher percentages of
phosphatidylcholine, an essential component of cell membranes. Therefore, lipid
nanoparticles can much easily combine with skin cells, and can even deliver
phosphatidylcholine to feed the cells’ own building block. Moreover, nanoparticles made
with various phospholipid types can contain and release both water soluble and oil
soluble materials. [3] For instance, L’Oreal has used polymer nanocapsules (a type of
nanoparticles) to deliver active ingredients such as Vitamin A to deeper layers of skin. [4]
Nanoparticles can also be used as antioxidant ingredients in cosmetics and skin
cares. For instance, platinum and silver nanocolloids – two types of metal nanoparticles,
are used as active ingredients in ‘Platinum Silver Nanocolloid Cream’ from DHC, to
minimize the appearance of wrinkles (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid Cream
Potential Risks
Despite all the benefits nanotechnology brings, there are still some debates about
its applications in cosmetics. Because of their size, nanoparticles can have significantly
different chemical properties from larger scales of the same materials. Therefore,
nanoparticles may introduce new and potentially heightened risks that remain poorly
understood.
Nanotechnology is so new that it is almost entirely untested for negative health
effects, and some argue there aren’t sufficient requirements for either testing or labeling
nanotechnology products to guarantee that consumers are both safe and well informed
of the risks. Moreover, some animal experiments found that when carbon nanotubes are
inhaled, they may cause mesothelioma – a type of cancer. This finding identified the
risks exposed to workers who manufactured products containing carbon nanotubes, and
to the consumers who bought the final products. Preliminary scientific research also
suggested that since nanoparticles can penetrate cell walls and they are highly reactive,
some nanoparticles can be toxic to human tissue and cells, resulting in DNA mutation
and even cell death. [5]
In fact, scientists have shown that at least some nanotechnology products are
indeed safe to use. There is no evidence suggesting that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
nanoparticles can penetrate skin in any significant amounts. A recent experiment
suggested that penetration of zinc oxide particles of 19 and 110 nanometers on people
[6], who applied sunscreen two times a day for five days, isn’t significant. Less than 0.01 %
of the zinc from either particle size entered the bloodstream. A European Union study
also found that sunscreen users did not show increased blood zinc levels [5].
Still, there are some measures to prevent these risks and reduce concerns about
nanotechnology used in cosmetics. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics asks
manufacturers and retailers to: 1) “label all products that contain nanomaterial
ingredients”, 2) request data from suppliers and manufacturers on the impacts of
nanomaterial ingredients, and 3) “prohibit the unsafe or untested use of nanomaterial
ingredients in personal care products”. Moreover, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
suggests FDA to: 1) “require the manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products
to conduct comprehensive pre-market testing of products composed of nanomaterial
ingredients for their impact on public health, worker health and environmental health”;
(2) “prohibit the unsafe or untested use or sale of nanomaterial ingredients in personal
care products”; (3) create a publicly accessible database on impacts of nanomaterial
ingredients; and (4) “require manufacturers to label all products they manufacture or
sell that contain nanomaterial ingredients”. [7] If the manufacturers, retailers and FDA
act as the proposals suggest, benefits and costs of nanotechnology will be more
accurately understood by all parties, and there will be less concerns raised towards
nanotechnology and its applications.
Futures of Nanotechnology
Every technology has its benefits and costs just like nanotechnology. In the future,
the nanotechnology will be far more advanced than today, so many concerns will be
reduced and many questions will be answered.
In the future, nanotechnology can be commonly used in anti-aging products.
Nanoparticles may be able to topically deliver retinoids and antioxidants such as
botulinum toxin or growth factors to rejuvenate skin. [8] These active ingredients would
not normally penetrate the skin if not delivered by nanoparticles. For instance,
antioxidant vitamin C can help reduce age-related skin damage, and work bests below
the top layer of skin. Vitamin C of normal particle size is unstable and is hard to
penetrate the skin. Yet, in the future, the stability of vitamin C can be increased and its
ability to penetrate the skin can be enhanced by making vitamin C into nanoparticles. [8]
Nanotechnology may also help with treatment of melanoma in the future. Gold
nanoshell is very useful to treat for melanoma in animal studies because it can absorb
specific wavelengths of light [9]. Gold nanoshell particles generate heat when the
wavelength of light unique to a type of gold nanoshell is used on it. In one animal study,
gold nanoshells were joined with a molecule which homes to melanoma, and these
particles are injected into mice harboring melanoma [9]. After, the nanoshells gathered
together in the cancerous tissue. When lights with particular wavelength illuminated the
mice, their tumors, which were surrounded by gold nanoshells, were heat up and killed.
The remaining parts of this tissue, lacked gold nanoshells, and thus were unharmed [9].
The future of nanotechnology is bright, given all these prospective benefits. The
risks present today exist, but as more research and experiments are conducted, less
questions about nanotechnology will be raised. After knowing benefits and costs of
nanotechnology, people will be able to utilize this technology to the greatest extent in
the right place.
[1]
"What
is Nanotechnology?". Available: http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/
what/definition
[2] Bray, K, "Sunscreen and nanoparticles". Retrieved July, 2012 Available: http://
www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/beauty-and-personal-care/
cosmetics/sunscreen-and-nanoparticles.aspx
[3] "Nanoparticles in Skincares & Cosmetics Is Smaller Better?". Available:
http://www.beautymagonline.com/sample-pages/1190-nanotechnology-2
[4] "Nanotechnology in Cosmetics". 2013 Available: http://www.nanowerk.com/
nanotechnology-in-cosmetics.php
[5] "Nanotechnology." Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Web. Available: http://
safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=307
[6] "Nanoparticles in Sunscreens". Available: http://www.ewg.org/2013sunscreen/
nanoparticles-in-sunscreen/
[7] "Position Statement On Nanotechnology". Available: http://safecosmetics.org/
article.php?id=336
[8] "Sizing Up Nanotechnology: How Nanosized Particles May Affect Skin Care
Products." PRnewswire. Web. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sizing-upnanotechnology-how-nanosized-particles-may-affect-skin-care-products86378327.html
[9] "Sizing Up Nanotechnology: How Nanosized Particles May Affect Skin Care
Products". Retrieved March, 2010 Available: http://www.newswise.com/articles/
sizing-up-nanotechnology-how-nanosized-particles-may-affect-skin-care-products
Fig. 1: "Size of the Nanoscale". Available: http://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/
nano-size
Fig. 2: Available: http://images.gizmag.com/hero/msnanoparticles.jpg
Fig. 3: Available: http://www.beautymagonline.com/sample-pages/1190-nanotechnolo
gy-2
Fig. 4: Available: http://www.dhccare.com/DHC/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=3002