Melanin-like Nanoparticles Boosted the Photoprotective Efficiency and Stability of Sanshool

Sanshool, a naturally occurring molecule from Zanthoxylumxanthoxylum, is an essential component preventing photodamage;however, inherent instabilities and the potential risk of skin permeationlimit its further application. Inspired by the natural photoprotectivemechanism, melanin-like materials were applied to boost the photoprotectiveefficiency and stability of sanshool. This could be achieved withmelanin-sanshool nanoparticles (melanin-S NPs) via facileand efficient boron esterification interactions, yielding melanin-SNPs with uniform sizes and improving stability, effective ultravioletabsorption, and antioxidative capacities in vitro. In addition, the skin permeation, photoprotective activity, andpotential mechanism of melanin-S NPs were studied using skinphotodamage intracellular and animal models. This bioinspired strategyof melanin-based nanomaterials provides a platform for improving thekey properties of naturally occurring functional molecules.