Comet assay combined with p53 detection as a sensitive approach for DNA photoprotection assessment in vitro.

A simple in vitro approach where sun formulations are spread on a quartz slide and placed over human skin cells in culture is proposed as a convenient test for photoprotection assessment at the DNA level. Using the comet assay, DNA strand breaks and oxidative DNA damage were detected. Then, accumulation of p53 protein was studied as a marker for UV-induced genotoxic stress. Such a method was used to compare formulations with different photostability. Spectroradiometry showed that a photo-unstable formulation lost its effectiveness in UVA screening when pre-irradiated by simulated sunlight. As a consequence, such a formulation was not as protective as a photostable one at the genomic level.