The Tough Tech problem we are solving
Recent research indicates a link between ubiquitous UV chemical filters and the health of marine ecosystems like coral reefs. Chemical filters are easily washed off into the oceans, contaminating the seabed. Major tourist destinations like Key West, the US Virgin Islands, Palau, and the entirety of Hawaii, have banned the use of sunscreens with these chemicals.
With growing environmental concerns regarding regular sunscreen use, efforts have also been made to re-evaluate the safety and efficacy of sunscreens for human use, an initiative spearheaded by several regulatory agencies worldwide. There is no doubt, however, that sunscreen is one of the easiest and most proven ways to prevent skin cancer. This disparity demands a solution — something that offers all the benefits of traditional chemical UV filters, without adverse effects on human and marine health.
About our solution
Seaspire has unlocked the ability to recreate and package the chemical machinery of the chromatophore, a pigment-containing organ found in the skin of marine life like squid and other cephalopods. Chromatophores enable these animals to adapt to their environment by changing color almost instantaneously. The team is using this chromatophore-inspired class of pigments — coined xanthochrome by the team — to replace the harmful active ingredients that provide UV filtering in existing sunscreens.
Xanthochrome has the potential to be among the first UV filters that can protect against solar irradiation and be used in preventative skincare, while reducing toxicities to marine organisms. The compounds have the ability to scatter and absorb light and can protect against a broader spectrum of UV radiation (from UV to near IR) compared with current physical and chemical UV filters.