Developing Sargassum-Based Liposomes Sunscreens: Thermal Stability for Astronaut Skin Care Shielding
Board Location: #35
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: cell & molecular biology
Session: 3
Victoria Valeria Viera Sánchez - University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus
Co-Author(s): Angela C. Cruz Lugo, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras; Dr. Liz M. Diaz Vázquez, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras
On Earth, organisms face UVA (315–400 nm) and UVB (280–315 nm) radiation; however, in space, the absence of ozone protection exposes astronauts to UVC (100–280 nm), which can cause severe burns. The harsh realities of space present unique challenges to skin health, like itching, skin rashes, and dryness, demanding protective measures far beyond the traditional care environments. Macroalgae offers a natural solution for creating skincare products resistant to extreme conditions, such as high levels of radiation and temperature fluctuations. Our experimental approach includes the formulation of macroalgae liposomes while ensuring their thermal stability after UV exposure. The liposomal formulation was irradiated with a Xenon Arc Lamp for 30 minutes and 1 hour. Thermal analysis techniques such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were carried out to prove the thermal stability of the liposomes. TGA monitored the mass changes as a sample was heated, recording physical or chemical changes, the analysis revealed that the photodegraded samples were more thermally stable, withstanding temperatures up to 230°C. This indicates that when exposed to harsh radiation, our liposomes maintain stability, making them suitable for extreme environments such as the Moon, where temperatures range from 121°C during the day to -133°C at night. Meanwhile, DSC measured the heat flow to identify phase transitions and thermal events. The data allows us to confirm the liposomes’ thermal stability, ensuring their effectiveness in harsh environments like space, aligning with the TGA results. The focus moving forward will be on optimizing the composition and formation of macroalgae liposomes to enhance their radiation resistance and thermal stability by ensuring and scaling their formulation for applications in astronaut skincare.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NASA PR-SPRInT
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Liz M. Diaz Vázquez, liz.diaz2@upr.edu
Role: During this research, I actively participated in every stage of the investigation, including lipid extraction, liposome formation, photodegradation processes and various analyses such as thermal stability testing.