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EBT3 Gafchromic® film as a new substrate for in vitro evaluation of sun protection factor

  • Investigative Report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

There exist different methods for the determination of sun protection factor (SPF) values for sunscreens.

Objectives

We aimed to develop a new in vitro method using EBT3 Gafchromic® film as a substrate.

Materials & Methods

The colour of EBT3 Gafchromic® film changes when exposed to UV light. Films were covered by sunscreen preparations of different SPF values ranging from 0 to 50. Uncovered and covered films were exposed to different solar light energies and their colour change was compared. Absorbance spectra of films was measured at 633 nm using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer apparatus.

Results

The colour of the film darkens when ultraviolet energy increases, which means that absorbance increases with exposure time. However, when films are covered by sunscreens, the colour change is less visible and the absorbance significantly decreases with increasing SPF value.

Conclusion

There is a linear correlation between the absorbance of EBT3 Gafchromic® film and SPF value of sunscreens covering the film. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the SPF value of a sunscreen can be predicted using EBT3 Gafchromic® film as a substrate. This is the first report of an in vitro method based on colour change of a substrate which takes into consideration exposure time, and relates more closely to conditions of real-life. Based on these parameters, this is a reliable in vitro method for SPF testing.

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Acknowledgments and disclosures

Acknowledgments: We would like to thank Obegi Chemicals, the Research Council of Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (Projects FS99 & FS123) and CEDRE program for the financial support. Conflicts of interest: none.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Technologie et Valorisation Alimentaire, Centre d’Analyses et de Recherche, Université Saint-Joseph, Campus des Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Mkallès, Riad El Solh, P.O Box 11- 514, 1107 2050, Beirut, Lebanon

    Rindala El Khoury, Toufic Rizk & Roger Lteif

  2. Lipides, Systèmes Analytiques et Biologiques, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry, France

    Rindala El Khoury, Rime Michael-Jubeli, Arlette Baillet-Guffroy & Ali Tfayli

  3. Obegi Chemicals, Esseily building, Riad el Solh, P.O. Box 11-2652, Beirut, Lebanon

    Rindala El Khoury

  4. Physics department, UR TVA, Faculty of science, Saint Joseph University, B.P. 11-514-Riad El Solh, 1107 2050, Beirut, Lebanon

    Marie Abboud

  5. EA401, Matériaux et santé, Université Paris-Saclay, 92296, Châtenay-Malabry, France

    Najet Yagoubi

Authors
  1. Rindala El Khoury
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  2. Marie Abboud
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  3. Rime Michael-Jubeli
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Correspondence to Rindala El Khoury.

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El Khoury, R., Abboud, M., Michael-Jubeli, R. et al. EBT3 Gafchromic® film as a new substrate for in vitro evaluation of sun protection factor. Eur J Dermatol 31, 335–341 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2021.4049

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2021.4049

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