Seaweed could possibly be the key ingredient to protect people from the damaging effect of the UV rays that can lead to skin cancer according to the Daily Mail.
Researchers are trying to find new solutions to protect people from the harmful rays of the sun, which can cause skin cancer. They made some new test aiming to protect people as well as textiles and outdoor materials from the UV rays, using the natural compound.
Scientists tested algae's sunscreen molecules and mix it with a compound that can only be found in crustacean shells.
Findings showed that the test objects stood up against the heat and light. Absorbing both ultraviolet A and B with high efficiency.
Professor Vincent Bulone of Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden said, "Inspired by the strategy developed by fish, algae, and micro-organisms exposed to UV radiations in confined ecosystems, we have constructed novel UV-protective materials that exclusively consist of natural compounds."
Commercial tanning products have limited efficiency and can pose risks to the environment and human health, researchers want to solve these issues.
Professor Bulone said, "It is becoming increasingly important to develop new biocompatible and environmentally friendly materials to address these issues."
"Here, we show these materials are biocompatible, photoresistant, and thermoresistant, and exhibit a highly efficient absorption of both UV-A and UV-B radiations."
Further adding that the new discovery can provide "efficient protection," unlike any other commercial products.
"Thus they have the potential to provide an efficient protection against both types of UV radiations and overcome several shortfalls of the current UV-protective products."
"In practice, the same concept can be applied to other biopolymers than chitosan and used to produce multifunctional materials."
"Therefore, it has a great potential to be exploited in a broad range of applications in living organisms and non living systems."
