Protective effect of maghemite nanoparticles on ultraviolet-induced photo-damage in human skin fibroblasts

This study examined the optical properties of an oxidized form of maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) nanoparticles and their protective effects against the photoaging of human skin fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 8.7 to 12 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were coated with two surfactants to obtain a water-based product. The onset of the absorption of the. gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the UV-visible absorption spectra increased with increasing particle size. The. gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles significantly inhibited the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblast HS 68 cells by 60% compared with the UV-irradiated control. These results suggest that gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles have photoprotective properties, and have potential use as an agent against photoaging.