In-Vitro Testing for Sunscreen Development

One main issue of R&D depends on sunscreens is the instant measurement of the sun protection factor (SPF). Until today this can be done only by long lasting experiments on human skin. It requires a lot of human resources, technical expertise and time.

The given task

For the measurement of relative protection parameters such as UVA balance, critical wavelength and UVA/B ratio ratios a spectrometer for measurement of optical density up to 5 OD was required. At the same time, automated testing of 100 different samples without the need of an operator should be possible.

The Solution

Based on the m·u·t HELIAS fiber optical integrator a spectrometer system was developed by m·u·t. The light efficiency is 10,000 times higher than in reflective optical integrators. Therefore, this high-tech optical device also increases the sensitivity of transmission spectroscopy by a factor of 10,000. Optical density can be measured up to 6 OD now.
  

An automated probe handling system and a complex software make the HELIAS system independent from human operators for a whole testing series. Test series that have lasted two weeks in the past are handled overnight by HELIAS now.

A special software tool is used for the determination of SPF in-vitro values, UVA balance, critical Wavelength and UVA/UVBratio (Boots-ratio). The software, the parameter settings and the stored data can be protected with administration and user passwords. The software associated with the device can easily be adapted to the customer needs and requirements.