Organic nanoparticles secreted by English ivy rootlets absorb and scatter ultraviolet light thanks to large surface-to-volume ratio and uniformity.
“Zhang, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, along with his research team and
collaborators, has found that ivy nanoparticles may protect skin from UV
radiation at least four times better than the metal-based sunblocks
found on store shelves today…”Zhang speculated the greenery’s hidden power lay within a yellowish
material secreted by the ivy…It also has the ability to soak up and disperse light which is
integral to sunscreens.
“‘Nanoparticles exhibit unique physical and chemical properties due
to large surface-to-volume ratio which allows them to absorb and scatter
light,’ Zhang said. ‘Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are currently used
for sunscreen for the same reason, but the ivy nanoparticles are more
uniform than the metal-based nanoparticles, and have unique material
properties, which may help to enhance the absorption and scattering of
light, and serve better as a sun-blocker.’” (EurekAlert! 2010)
