title: Protective effect of maghemite nanoparticles on ultraviolet-induced photo-damage in human skin fibroblasts.
abstract: This study examined the optical properties of an oxidized form of maghemite (γ-Fe(2)O(3)) 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 γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles in the UV-visible absorption spectra increased with increasing particle size. The γ-Fe(2)O(3) 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 γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles have photoprotective properties, and have potential use as an agent against photoaging.
authors: Department of Physics, Soongsil University, Seoul 156-743, Korea.
authors: Kwon-Jai
authors: KJ
authors: Lee
authors: Jeung-Hee
authors: JH
authors: An
authors: Jae-Soo
authors: JS
authors: Shin
authors: Dong-Hee
authors: DH
authors: Kim
authors: Changman
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Ozaki
authors: Jae-Gui
authors: JG
authors: Koh