UV-Blocking, Transparent, and Antioxidant Polycyanoacrylate Films

Abstract

Applications of cyanoacrylate monomers are generally limited to adhesives/glues (instant or superglues) and forensic sciences. They tend to polymerize rapidly into rigid structures when exposed to trace amounts of moisture. Transforming cyanoacrylate monomers into transparent polymeric films or coatings can open up several new applications, as they are biocompatible, biodegradable and have surgical uses. Like other acrylics, cyanoacrylate polymers are glassy and rigid. To circumvent this, we prepared transparent cyanoacrylate films by solvent casting from a readily biodegrade solvent, cyclopentanone. To improve the ductility of the films, poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) biopolymer was used as an additive (maximum 5 wt.%) while maintaining transparency. Additionally, ductile films were functionalized with caffeic acid (maximum 2 wt.%), with no loss of transparency while establishing highly effective double functionality, i.e., antioxidant effect and effective UV-absorbing capability. Less than 25 mg antioxidant caffeic acid release per gram film was achieved within a 24-h period, conforming to food safety regulations. Within 2 h, films achieved 100% radical inhibition levels. Films displayed zero UVC (100–280 nm) and UVB (280–315 nm), and ~15% UVA (315–400 nm) radiation transmittance comparable to advanced sunscreen materials containing ZnO nanoparticles or quantum dots. Transparent films also exhibited promising water vapor and oxygen barrier properties, outperforming low-density polyethylene (LPDE) films. Several potential applications can be envisioned such as films for fatty food preservation, biofilms for sun screening, and biomedical films for free-radical inhibition.

Polymer Composites with 0.98 Transparencies and Small Optical Energy Band Gap Using a Promising Green Methodology: Structural and Optical Properties

“…Their findings revealed a transmittance percent of 83.3% for Eu doped film in the visible range. Also, the transparency value for the blend polymers of poly (propylene carbonate) PPC and poly (ethyl cyanoacrylate) PECA with caffeic acid was found to be around 80%, as documented by Quilez-Molina et al [ 56 ].…”

Biodegradable Films of PLA/PPC and Curcumin as Packaging Materials and Smart Indicators of Food Spoilage

“…Light transmittance generally increased in line with the increase in PPC content, indicating the good miscibility and compatibility of the polymer blends. 59 These blends were also transparent to UVA and UVB radiation wavelengths, which are typical causes of photo-oxidation and photo-aging. 60 The CCM-loaded analogues exhibited slightly lower, yet still reasonable transparency (up to 68−84%) in visible light (T 700 ).…”

Polyphenolic sunscreens for photoprotection

“…caffeic acid (Fig. 2d), 103 ellagic acid 107 ], lignin 85 and stilbenes polyphenols ( i.e. resveratrol 28 ) have also demonstrated the effectiveness and have been validated as active sunscreen components with excellent UVB and UVA resistance, antioxidative abilities and various auxiliary functions (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, bio-adhesion and structural coloration).…”