A Chemical Perspective of Nano-Cosmetics

Prof. Chang-Chin Kwan,
Department of Applied Chemistry,
Providence University, TaiwanAbstract:Nano-cosmetics have recently raised environmental hazard concerns as nano particles have the ability to be absorbed into skin cells. As the growth of the science becomes enormous, so does the danger and long term risk involved in their use. Nano-cosmetics generally includes nano-sized materials (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, nano-gold or nano-silver) and perhaps includes nano-carriers (nano-encapsulation, liposome, fullerene, carbon tube and dentrimer).Titanium dioxide usage in cosmetics is very extensive. The titanium dioxide used in cosmetics products is Rutile (R-type, where the photocatalytic effect is not obvious), but Anatase (R-type, a photo-catalyst) is a contaminant in it. In this study we use salicylic acid as a hydroxyl free radical capture agent or dismutant, to confirm whether the cosmetic grade titanium dioxide will produce free radicals or not. An important segment of Dr. Kwan's research includes relating the surfactant with flow properties. His findings show that suspension flow curves at low shear rate (1-15 s-1 by cone-and-plate method) showed a non-Newtonian behavior. Plastic and relative viscosities, along with the Bingham yield, were derived from these flow curves.Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is commonly used in the productions of whitening and anti-aging materials. It can prevent from the deactivation of tyrosinase and reduction the oxidized melanin. However, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a hydrophilic derivative of ascorbic acid, is not stable in the air.

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