UV-Protective Polymers Developed by Multicomponent Reactions

Excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation does harm to human health and also degrades the mechanical properties and appearance of materials. Conventional organic UV filters suffer from poor photostability and potential biotoxicity, while inorganic nanoparticles require high loading and stable dispersing. Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) can achieve UV-resistant products that efficient absorb UV radiation through the heterocyclic structures present in the products or through the introduction of UV-absorbing groups. MCRs are efficient, atom-economical, and highly modular, providing a practical tool to develop polymers with UV-protective functionality. This mini review summarizes recent progress in UV-protective polymers prepared by MCRs, including the design concepts and synthesis of MCR-based agents that protect cells against UV-induced oxidative stress, polymeric sunscreens, multifunctional UV-protective films, and UV-protective fabrics. Additionally, we also outline the extension of this strategy to protect against other harmful radiations, such as harmful blue rays. Finally, we have a brief discussion on future perspectives of UV-protective polymers via MCRs.