Ultraviolet Blocking Research Articles

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a well-established risk factor for ocular diseases; however, the ultraviolet-blocking properties of daily disposable contact lenses remain insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated thirteen commercially available lenses to determine their spectral transmittance across UV-B, UV-A, and visible light ranges using a UV–visible spectrophotometer. The oxygen permeability, central thickness, water content, and FDA material classification of each lens were documented, and oxygen transmissibility was subsequently calculated. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was applied to identify predictors of spectral transmittance. All lenses demonstrated high visible light transmittance (>88%), but exhibited substantial variation in UV attenuation. While several lenses effectively blocked most UV radiation, others transmitted more than 70%. The analysis revealed that lens power was the most consistent predictor of spectral transmittance, with higher minus powers associated with reduced UV-blocking efficacy. Moisture content and material classification also influenced UV protection but had minimal effect on visible light transmission. In conclusion, daily disposable contact lenses vary considerably in their UV-blocking capabilities, and although lens power cannot be altered, consideration of material composition and UV transmittance properties may assist in selecting lenses that provide optimal ocular protection.

Pickering emulsion system of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)-stabilized essential oils (EOs) and their effect on food packaging characteristics: A review.

A novel two-step wet-chemical synthesis produced neodymium-doped core/shell heterojunctions, Copper(II) oxide (neodymium)/Zinc oxide(CuO(Nd)/ZnO and Zinc oxide (neodymium)/Copper(II) oxide ZnO(Nd)/CuO), with tunable optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties. Structural characterization via x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals uniform crystallite sizes (6.3-31.4 nanometers- nm) and distinct morphologies: hexagonal for CuO(Nd)/ZnO and spherical for ZnO(Nd)/CuO. Incorporating neodymium induced lattice strain (7.8-10.2 × 10⁻⁴) and increased Urbach energies (5.0-15.3 millielectron volts-meV), enhancing defect states. Tauc analysis demonstrated bandgap narrowing to 2.49-3.17eV for ZnO and 1.49-1.55eV for CuO. ZnO(Nd)/CuO achieved a remarkable 94.6% degradation of malachite green (MG) under cost-effective 500W (W) white light irradiation. This significantly surpasses the performance of undoped systems (by 5%) and generally exceeds that reported for other nanocomposites (≤ 90%) in the literature. Conversely, CuO(Nd)/ZnO exhibited 89.04% ultraviolet blocking efficiency at 280-315nm (UV-B), outperforming polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with ZnO quantum dots (50-60%) and ZnO nanoparticles with polylactic acid composite films (15-75%). These enhancements stem from neodymium(III) (Nd³)-mediated trap states, optimized band alignment, and charge separation at the heterojunction interface. Integrating rare-earth doping with core/shell architecture provides a scalable route for high-performance photocatalytic and ultraviolet-protective materials.

Preparation of chitosan quaternary ammonium salt/pectin antifogging and antibacterial composite film loaded with riboflavin and its application in rape preservation.

This study develops a novel dual-layer chitosan (CS)/pectin film incorporating grape skin anthocyanin extract (GSAE) and lignin to address critical limitations in cherry preservation. Unlike traditional methods that leave harmful residues, this bilayer design separately integrates functional components: GSAE for targeted antioxidant/antibacterial action and lignin for ultraviolet (UV) blocking. This targeted incorporation enables synergistic performance unattainable with single-layer or conventional approaches. The films, fabricated with lignin concentrations from 1% to 15% (w/v), demonstrated excellent mechanical integrity (assessed with structural characterization), optimized gas barrier performance, and effective UV attenuation (achieved via lignin incorporation). Antibacterial analyses confirmed substantial inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Crucially, cherry preservation tests showed that the 15% lignin film (PG/CL15%) reduced weight loss, preserved firmness, and extended shelf life by 8 days-a significant quantitative improvement over uncoated fruit. Structural characterization (TGA, FT-IR, and XRD) verified successful GSAE/lignin embedding via hydrogen bonding. Beyond cherries, this dual-layer, bio-based design offers a promising template for the active packaging of other perishable produce sensitive to oxidation, microbial spoilage, and UV degradation, which enhances its industrial relevance.

The purpose of this study is to explore chitosan with Stachys floridana Shuttlew. ex Benth (SFSB) extract as an additive to prepare an active film. The effects of the SFSB extract on the physical, antioxidant, and bacteriostatic properties of chitosan biodegradable films were studied. The results showed that the addition of SFSB extract significantly improved the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the film, and its biodegradation rate increased rapidly. Compared to the control film, the water solubility was lower at 19.40%, the expansion degree was higher at 288.90%, the water vapor permeability (WVP) was 0.364 g·mm/(m²·d·kPa), the surface hydrophobicity increased, and the mechanical strength was also improved. The contact angle increased to 89.3°. In addition, as the amount of SFSB increased, the thermal stability of chitosan-Stachys floridana Shuttlew. ex Benth (CS-SFSB) films also increased significantly, and their ultraviolet (UV) blocking ability was gradually enhanced. The results indicate that CS-SFSB has potential as a food packaging material.

ABSTRACTBuilding energy consumption accounts for 40% of global energy use, with a large part attributed to windows. Transparent radiative cooling (TRC) coatings integrate transparency and radiative cooling, offering a promising solution. In this study, the transparency constraint and selective transmittance spectra of TRC films were proposed according to the heat transfer equation. On the basis of these rules, we designed a flexible TRC film composed of an emission layer, an ITO coating, a flexible substrate, and an adhesive layer from top to bottom. An ultrathin emission layer (~10 μm) with dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles embedded in polydimethylsiloxane was fabricated via a low‐cost blade coating process suitable for manufacturing production. The film exhibited high visible light transmittance, ultraviolet blocking ability, and ultrahigh infrared emissivity. In addition, it provides benefits such as hydrophobicity and electromagnetic interference shielding. The results of outdoor tests revealed that a maximum cooling temperature of 12.6°C can be reached during sunny days. The theoretical cooling power reaches 99.25 W/m² at 27°C ambient temperature, making this TRC film a potential sustainable solution for room thermal management and energy efficiency.

Packaging composed of polysaccharides has emerged as an alternative to petroleum-based commercial products. Thus, this research aimed to develop, optimize, characterize, and apply biodegradable pectin/starch-based films for fresh pears. All film-forming formulations were characterized. Digital images and optical properties suggest stable, transparent, and efficient ultraviolet (UV) blocking films, especially UVC-UVB and partially UVA. Thermal analysis indicated significant mass loss at high temperatures (above 250 °C). The films were permeable to water vapor (0.305-0.255 g × mm/h × m2 × kPa) and impermeable to oil. Scanning electron microscopy revealed surface and cross-sectional changes in the material that influenced its mechanical properties, including tensile strength (0.029-0.041 MPa), Young's modulus (1.42-2.21 MPa), and elongation at break (1.69-2.98%). The films showed a water solubility of around 74% (w/w) with a maximum swelling of 233%. In addition, statistical tools facilitated optimization and data interpretation. The Simplex lattice mixture design indicated that the film containing 100% pectin (Pec-100) was more resistant and less permeable to water vapor, while principal component analysis attributed high transparency and rigidity. In this sense, the Pec-100 material showed potential for film application on fresh pears. Digital images recorded during storage suggested that coated fruits appeared fresh after 15 days. On the other hand, uncoated pears displayed degradation points starting from the tenth day. Therefore, the renewable-source-based film demonstrated promising fruit preservation results.

Lanthanides are a common component in glass windows for smart products. However, glasses are fragile and inflexible, corrosive to alkali, and costly, whereas plastics are cheap, durable, and safe. Herein, afterglow and photochromic smart plastic windows were developed by reinforcing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with electrospun glass nanofibers (GNF; 65-125 nm). Transparent films with photoluminescence properties were introduced by physically immobilizing rare-earth doped aluminate nanoparticles (REAN; 7-13 nm) into a composite of GNF@PAN. When irradiated with ultraviolet light, the GNF@PAN samples showed a change in color from transparent to green as proved by coloration parameters and photoluminescence spectra. An emission band was detected at 518 nm upon excitation at 365 nm. The morphology of the photoluminescent hybrids was investigated by different analytical techniques. The scratch resistance of GNF@PAN was significantly enhanced when the REAN content was increased. With low concentration levels of REAN, GNF@PAN quickly reversed photochromism to signify fluorescence emission. GNF@PAN with high REAN concentrations showed afterglow emission via prolonged emission in the dark. The photoluminescent hybrids showed enhanced superhydrophobic and ultraviolet blocking upon increasing the phosphor content. The photoluminescent plastics displayed an improved hydrophobicity from 139.1° to 150.8° when the phosphor content was increased.

Evaluation of methodologies and additive efficacy on maxillofacial color longevity research: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tannic acid-assisted exfoliation of molybdenum disulfide for enhancing the multifunctional properties of natural rubber latex-coated polycotton fabrics.

Abstract Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause significant damage to the skin and immune system. There has consequently been an increasing emphasis on the development of biodegradable and sustainable materials that offer UV protection, reflecting increased awareness of health and disease prevention. Due to its high concentration of phenolic groups, lignin has emerged as a promising candidate for natural UV protective materials. This study therefore aimed to produce nanocomposites of lignin from cashew apple bagasse, due to its wide availability and high lignin content, combined with zinc or titanium oxides for sunscreen application. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X‐ray analysis confirm interactions between lignin and zinc/titanium oxides. The resulting nanocomposites are stable, as indicated by their zeta potential (−32 mV to −48 mV). Lignin nanocomposites (LigZnO and LigTiO2) exhibited similar antioxidant activity, though lower than that of lignin alone. Although lignin nanocomposites exhibited low sun protection factor (SPF) values in an emulsion base, they enhanced SPF in a commercial sunscreen. LigZnO (15.9) and LigTiO2 (15.7) boosted the effectiveness of commercial UV absorbers (Parsol MCX and avobenzone), outperforming formulations with lignin alone or commercial ZnO and TiO2. The synergistic interaction between LigTiO2, LigZnO, and organic UV blockers reinforced thixotropy, making lignin nanocomposites a promising additive for sunscreen formulations. Their low cost and sustainable synthesis add value to nanomaterials while mitigating agro‐waste disposal.

Eco-friendly, antibacterial, antioxidant, ultraviolet blocking sodium alginate-gelatin films loaded with clove essential oil for food packaging

Abstract The photostability of organic solar cells (OSCs) is extremely crucial to their commercial application. Herein, double‐layered anode interface layer (DL‐AIL) with ultraviolet (UV) absorber BP2 is constructed by layer‐by‐layer processing to simultaneously improve power‐conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and photostability of OSCs. The DL‐AIL exhibits good UV absorbance and photon utilization due to the effective Förster energy transfer from BP2 to polymer donor. High electric conductivity, optimal work function, and improved surface roughness can be obtained as well. The DL‐AIL based devices also achieve higher PCEs with excellent thickness insensitivity, attributed to the remarkable increase on electric conductivity of DL‐AIL and reduced transport resistance. More intriguingly, even under irradiation in air by xenon lamp with UV band, an extrapolated T80 lifetime of the device based on DL‐AIL with 85 nm thick can reach 1306 h, which is approximately 54 times of that of PEDOT:PSS based device. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism of OSCs with different AIL is revealed by transient charge extraction, capacitance‐voltage and capacitance‐frequency. The incorporation of BP2 layer delivers improved charge carrier density and constrained deep trap in the aged devices. Consequently, this new finding demonstrates that the DL‐AIL strategy can promote the efficiency and long‐term stability of OSCs.

Climate change has led to high ultraviolet (UV) levels, affecting materials and human health. To become more aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation, find ways to protect against it. One solution is using natural extracts like aloe vera and carrot in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. These films offer eco-friendly UV protection, helping to address growing environmental concerns while providing better protection against harmful UV rays. This into using these natural compounds in films that protect materials and human health. This study determined the effectiveness of aloe vera (Aloe vera (L.) Burm . f.) and carrot (Daucus carota ‘SS35’) extracts as natural ultraviolet (UV) blockers in film formulations. The researchers utilized a true experimental design, specifically a post-test-only control group design and Tukey’s HSD tests. The study found that films containing aloe vera and carrot extracts displayed high efficiency in the ultraviolet (UV) blockage, claiming that T3 (100 mL extract) achieved the mean efficiency at 84.09%. Finally, the statistical analysis proved there was a significant difference between the experimental films and the negative control but not against the positive control. Therefore, it can be deduced that aloe vera and carrot films are effective UV-blocking materials, which corroborates or refutes claims from other studies. Ametur Cor Jesu, Ametur Cor Mariae!

We present a tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-catalyzed inverse vulcanization (IV) process that extends the methodology for anionic IV polymerisation under mild conditions and broadens the potential application areas of the resulting polymers.

Evaluation of solar ultraviolet blocking by sunglasses and their compliance with recommended safety limits

This work is part of our research to develop facile green methods for synthesizing bioactive molecules from biomass. The current study deals with the preparation and investigation of the newly synthesized cyanoacetyl-acetylated microcrystalline cellulose (CAA-MCC). The novelty of this derivative lies not only in its ability to act as a green dry-film biocide/UV blocker for eco-friendly waterborne paints but also in being biomass-derived via solar pulping of rice straw, which is a mild process that produces cellulosic pulp and non-toxic black liquor. Solar acid dissociation of the bleached pulp produces microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), which was utilized to synthesize its acetate derivative incorporating the cyanoacetyl moiety (CAA-MCC). The presence of acetyl and cyano acetyl groups in CAA-MCC was confirmed using elemental and spectral analyses, including FT-IR and NMR. Two sets of paint formulations were prepared, one with CAA-MCC and the other with the commercial dry-film biocide Rocima 363. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analyses were performed for MCC, CAA-MCC, and the prepared dry films. CAA-MCC demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity, encouraging its evaluation as a dry-film biocide and UV blocker. CAA-MCC paint films showed resistance to microbial growth on their surfaces without inhibition zones. Moreover, films were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation while monitoring their color change over time. The results revealed that films containing CAA-MCC were more resistant to deterioration than those containing Rocima 363. Viscosity, X-cut adhesion, hardness, and water resistance were also evaluated, and they all improved with the CAA-MCC addition. CAA-MCC could act as a new, cost-effective alternative to petrochemical-derived biocides and UV blockers that can improve paint performance.Graphical

Sustainable synthesis of PVA@ZnO:Ga3+ nanocomposite films for UV shielding, food preservation, shape memory and anti-counterfeiting applications

Green synthesis of multifunctional natural rubber-lignin nanocomposites: A sustainable approach for waste reduction