Fabrication and Determination of the Sun Protection Factor and Ultraviolet Protection Factor for Piscean Collagen/Bischalcone Derivative (B1) Composite Films with Wide-Range UV Shielding

[Image: see text] The present study investigates the development of distinct UV-A and UV-B radiation filtering materials through the introduction of a heterocyclic bischalcone derivative [(3,5-bis{[4-(methylsulfanyl)phenyl]methylidene}piperidin-4-one] (B1) into the matrix of PVA/Piscean collagen blend films (1:1) prepared through the solution casting method and characterized. The dopant concentration varied from 0.25 to 4%. The scanning electron microscopy images showed the rough surface due to the uniform dispersion of dopant B1. The addition of different concentrations of B1 altered the mechanical strength with a proportional increase in Young’s modulus (146–317 MPa), tensile strength (23.3–39.21 MPa), and decrease in its elongation at break (158.8–105.2%). As the dopant B1 belongs to the bischalcone class of compounds which absorb in the UV–vis region (370 nm λ(max)) due to the α, β unsaturated keto group, it was selected for doping. Dopant concentration-dependent increase in density was observed in films (31–162 mg/cm(3)). The bathochromic shift in UV absorption from 370 to 390 nm for λ(max) as well as hyperchromism was evidenced with proportional increase in the concentration of B1, indicating its capacity to block UV rays. On determining the UV filtering ability for all the prepared films, the one with 4% dopant showed a higher sun protection factor (SPF) with a value of 27.53 and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) with a value of 58.23. In addition, the degradation of supercoiled PBR322 DNA on UV irradiation was effectively inhibited by these films with a dopant concentration of 0.5–4.0%, which might cause less harm to the skin. The inferences of the experiments would indicate the use of these water-insoluble films as UV blocking potential materials with a merit of SPF and UPF characteristics.