Durability of Specific Immunoglobulin (Ig) Y Againts Influenza and Covid-19 in Sunscreen

Abstract

The benefit of specific immunoglobulin Y (Ig Y) as an active ingredient in personal care products such as sunscreen has not been properly studied. Our study aims to evaluate the reliability of specific IgY against influenza and the COVID-19 virus in a sample sunscreen product. Specific IgY influenza and COVID-19 viruses were inserted in the sample sunscreen at two concentrations of 0.1% and 0.25%. Three treatments were observed: control (C) sunscreen without IgY, treatment 1 (T1) sunscreen with 0.1% IgY, and treatment 2 (T2) sunscreen with 0.25% IgY. Organoleptic observations were carried out to monitor changes in aroma, color, and texture, and sunscreen sampling was done every week for 6 weeks. The durability of IgY was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a neutralization assay. Organoleptic observation from weeks 1 to 6 showed consistency in its aroma, color, and texture. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralization assay (NA) results of the T1 and T2 groups showed negative results except for sample T1 at week 5, which showed a positive result in the Influenza A ELISA. Based on the results, it seems that IgY concentrations of 0.1% or 0.25% were not optimal. However, this negative result might be due to low concentration of the IgY and the presence of beeswax, which inhibits IgY and causes it to dissolve in distilled water, thus preventing it from being detected in the assay.