Ecosustainable Development of Novel Bio-inorganic Hybrid Materials as UV Protection Systems for Potential Cosmetic Applications

A new organoclay, bio-inorganic hybrid material, was successfully prepared following the "green chemistry" principles, exploiting microwave irradiation (as an alternative energetic source) in both the solvent-free synthesis of the organic filler (UVB filter) and in its hydrothermal intercalation in a sodium Bentonite clay (renewable natural inorganic source at low temperature). The organic filler is a benzylidene camphor derivative with the same cationic moiety as the well-known UV filter camphor benzalkonium methosulfate. The aim of the research was the ecosustainable development of a new UV protection model, suitable for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, with potential advantages of stability, efficiency and safety compared to the commercially available UVB sunscreens. The organically modified clay was thoroughly investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermo gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Results confirmed the complete intercalation of the organic filler in the interlayer region of the smectite clay, leading to a new bio-inorganic hybrid material with potential for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications in the UV protection field, as confirmed by preliminary photochemical studies. This work represents the first example in the use of Na-Bentonite cationic clay (usually employed as rheological additive) as hosting agent of the synthesized quaternary UVB filter, as well as in the complete MW-assisted preparation of the organoclay, starting from the synthesis of the organic UV sunscreen to its hydrothermal intercalation.