Preparation and Evaluation of Sunflower Oil Nanoemulsion as a Sunscreen

BACKGROUND: There are a lot of different types of sunscreen products (oils, sticks, gels, creams, lotions) which can be found on the world’s market. Sunscreen product that contains active chemical ingredients sometimes has harmful effects on the skin. Sunflower oil contains vitamin E and acts as a natural sunscreen which can absorb UVB light. The average droplet size of nanoemulsion is between 100 and 500 nm and do not show the problems of stability (creaming, flocculation, coalescence, and sedimentation), which are commonly associated with macroemulsions. AIM: The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate the sunflower oil nanoemulsion as a sunscreen. METHODS: Sunflower oil nanoemulsions were prepared by spontaneous emulsification method with 3 formulas F1 (Tween 80 38%, sorbitol 22%), F2 (Tween 80 36%, sorbitol 24%), F3 (Tween 80 34%, sorbitol 26%) and 5% sunflower oil as a sunscreen substance. The nanoemulsions were evaluated for particle size, physical stability in room temperature (25 ± 2°C), low temperature (4 ± 2°C) and high temperature (40 ± 2°C) during experiment for 12 weeks of storage, centrifugation at 3750 rpm for 5 hours, viscosity, pH, freeze-thaw test and sun protection value (SPF) value by in vitro. RESULTS: The results of nanoemulsion evaluation showed that nanoemulsion formula F1 had the smallest average particle size of 124.47 nm with yellowish colour, clear, transparent, pH value (6.5 ± 0.1), viscosity value (225 ± 25 cP), did not show any separation or creaming in the centrifugation, and stable during experiment for 12 weeks of storage at room temperature, low temperature and high temperature. The SPF value of all nanoemulsion preparations was higher than that of the emulsion. CONCLUSION: The preparation of the sunflower oil nanoemulsion with a ratio of Tween 80 and sorbitol (38: 22) produces a stable nanoemulsion during the experiment for 12 weeks storage at the room, low and high temperature. The nanoemulsion preparation has higher SPF values compared to the emulsion. This nanoemulsion formulation could be considered more effective in sunscreen cosmetic use compare to the emulsion.