Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin
Light exposure has relevant effects both on living organisms and artificial materials. In particular, ultraviolet radiation is known to kill living cells and damage human skin but also degrade important artificial materials like plastics. In nature, the main pigment responsible for photoprotection i...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/376 |
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| author | Arianna Menichetti Dario Mordini Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Marco Montalti |
| author_facet | Arianna Menichetti Dario Mordini Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Marco Montalti |
| author_sort | Arianna Menichetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Light exposure has relevant effects both on living organisms and artificial materials. In particular, ultraviolet radiation is known to kill living cells and damage human skin but also degrade important artificial materials like plastics. In nature, the main pigment responsible for photoprotection is melanin, which is able both to prevent penetration of light by absorption and scattering and to block the action of light-generated radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties. The combination of light extinction with antioxidant action is still the most diffused and effective approach to photoprotection. Nevertheless, up to now, these two mechanisms, light extinction and antioxidant activity, have been considered independent. Recent studies showed that exposing melanin to light leads to an increase in its radical content and possibly in its antioxidant activity. Do light extinction and antioxidant activity work in synergy for photoprotection in nature? In this paper, we discuss the steps still needed to answer this intriguing question. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e77e0636049b4645b978894e9773fa97 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-e77e0636049b4645b978894e9773fa972025-08-20T03:14:24ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-03-0114437610.3390/antiox14040376Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of MelaninArianna Menichetti0Dario Mordini1Silvia Vicenzi2Agata Pane3Marco Montalti4Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, via Francesco Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyLight exposure has relevant effects both on living organisms and artificial materials. In particular, ultraviolet radiation is known to kill living cells and damage human skin but also degrade important artificial materials like plastics. In nature, the main pigment responsible for photoprotection is melanin, which is able both to prevent penetration of light by absorption and scattering and to block the action of light-generated radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties. The combination of light extinction with antioxidant action is still the most diffused and effective approach to photoprotection. Nevertheless, up to now, these two mechanisms, light extinction and antioxidant activity, have been considered independent. Recent studies showed that exposing melanin to light leads to an increase in its radical content and possibly in its antioxidant activity. Do light extinction and antioxidant activity work in synergy for photoprotection in nature? In this paper, we discuss the steps still needed to answer this intriguing question.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/376polydopamineROSnanoparticlesultrafast transient absorptionradical scavenginglight scattering |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Menichetti Dario Mordini Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Marco Montalti Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin Antioxidants polydopamine ROS nanoparticles ultrafast transient absorption radical scavenging light scattering |
| title | Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin |
| title_full | Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin |
| title_fullStr | Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin |
| title_short | Unexplored Mechanisms of Photoprotection: Synergistic Light Absorption and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin |
| title_sort | unexplored mechanisms of photoprotection synergistic light absorption and antioxidant activity of melanin |
| topic | polydopamine ROS nanoparticles ultrafast transient absorption radical scavenging light scattering |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/4/376 |
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