Department

College of Science and Technology, North Carolina A&T State University, 1601 Market E st,, Greensboro, NC, 27411

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Abstract

Assessing Synthetic Organic Molecular Photoswitches as Next-Generation UVA Filters for Sunscreens Jayla Reed, Jakayla Reed, Stefan Cooper North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Department of Chemistry Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major contributor to skin damage and skin cancer, particularly UVA radiation (315–400 nm), which penetrates deeply into the skin and induces oxidative stress and DNA damage. Despite this risk, only a small number of FDA-approved sunscreen filters effectively protect against UVA radiation, and many current formulations primarily target UVB radiation associated with sunburn. This research explores synthetic organic molecular systems designed as potential next-generation UVA filters that may provide improved stability and efficiency compared to existing compounds such as avobenzone. In this study, heteroaryl hydrazone-based molecules were synthesized and characterized to evaluate their ability to absorb UVA light. The synthesis involved hydrazone formation using substituted aniline derivatives under controlled solvent conditions, with variations in ethanol–water ratios investigated to determine their influence on pigment formation and crystallization. Structural characterization was performed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy with DMSO-d₆ as the solvent, while UV–visible spectroscopy was used to analyze absorption within the UVA region (315–400 nm). Preliminary results confirm successful synthesis of hydrazone-based molecules and demonstrate strong absorption in the UVA range. Evaluation of potential photoswitching behavior is currently ongoing, and a detailed photoswitching activity report is pending. These findings suggest potential advantages over traditional UV filters, including improved photostability and enhanced UVA absorption. Continued investigation of these molecular systems may contribute to the development of safer and more effective sunscreen technologies capable of providing enhanced protection against long-term UVA-induced skin damage.

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