Abstract
It is well known that peptides, naturally-derived raw materials, can have various kinds of functions due to their high affinity for the skin and hair. Chemical modification allows for a wide control of a peptide's properties. By using these beneficial characters, we prepared microcapsules the walls of which contained peptide, silicone, and alkyl moieties in the structure. The microcapsules can encapsulate various materials with high encapsulation rate. When the microcapsule incorporates UV absorbers, encapsulating UV absorbers can disperse water and be applied to cosmetic formulas easily without using surfactants. Nor do UV absorbers encased in the microcapsule mix with another insoluble material in the cosmetic formula. In addition, the microcapsules can suppress the permeation of UV absorbers on the surface of the skin. So encapsulating UV absorbers provides an opportunity to design a safe and stable sun-care formula. The microcapsules can also allow cosmetic chemists to control the UV absorption range of sun-care products by manipulating the absorption balance between UVB and UVA with various kinds of UV absorbers in the microcapsules. This formula design strategy can yield special sun-care products which can pass a new standard concerning UVA protection.
