B2948 - LA LUCE IN FARMACIA

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires: - the essential basic knowledge of photochemistry and photophysics to understand the optical processes underlying the production and perception of color, oxidative stress following solar radiation in photoprotection strategies and the mechanism exploited in phototherapies; - knowledge on the structure and functional groups of dyes and sensitizers determining their properties as photoactive species at the basis of cosmetics and phototherapy; - knowledge of the characteristics of continuous and pulsed light sources and methods based on the use of LEDs and lasers for whitening, hair removal, photopolymerization and light-based skin treatments, both in cosmetics and medicine; - the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to solve professional problems in the field of light-matter interaction, understanding its basic mechanisms.

Course contents

Basics of photophysics and photochemistry.

- The ground state and the excited electronic states. Photophysical processes and photochemical processes: radiative, non-radiative and bimolecular processes. The fundamental quantities of photochemistry.

- Basics of photoreactivity, photodegradation and phototoxicity

- Absorption and emission spectra and their quantitative treatment. Instrumentation: spectrophotometers and spectrofluorimeters.

- Bimolecular processes: basics of static and dynamic quenching and their quantitative treatment.

- Light sources. Principles of laser operation.

Processes underlying the application of light in cosmetics, aesthetic medicine, and photoprotection

-Interaction of light with the skin: scattering and absorption of biomolecules.

- Physical properties of lasers and correlation with their cosmetic applications.

- Photopolymerization and photoactive pigments, application in nail polishes.

- Photoprotection: oxidative stress due to solar radiation, need for and strategies of photoprotection. Sunscreens: protection mechanisms, UV filters, SPF evaluation.

Light-based medical therapies

- Photodynamic therapy (PDT): mechanisms, photosensitizers, clinical applications.

- Molecular and nanostructured photodrugs: photoinduced release and photolytic strategies.

Readings/Bibliography

Indications about reference texts (all available in the main libraries) will be given during the course.

Papers and review articles will be also provided.

Only for the part of photoprotection:

Steven Q. Wang, Henry W. Lim, Principles and Practice of Photoprotection, Adis Ed., Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Teaching methods

The course is based only on frontal lessons with projection of presentations from a PC.

Assessment methods

The learning assessment will be based on an exam consisting of a single oral exam on the course topic, the official dates of which will be published on the Almaesami website.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PC, video projector, blackboard.

Office hours

See the website of Nelsi Zaccheroni