Nanoemulsion of plant-based jelly

Abstract

The nanoemulsion composition comprises an inner oil phase and an outer water phase, the inner oil phase comprising: 40 to 75% by weight of a plant-based jelly of the total nanoemulsion composition, the plant-based jelly comprises a hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20-80 DEG C, a blend of a plant-based liquid oil and a naturally derived wax, a plant-based butter, an oligomer synthesized from a plant-based composition, or a combination thereof; and optionally C8 to C18, preferably C10 to C14 fatty acids wherein the plant-based jelly and fatty acids are present in a ratio of 120: 1 to 2: 1, preferably 20: 1 to 2: 1, more preferably 9: 1 to 2: 1 in the presence of fatty acids; the external aqueous phase comprises: water; and 1.6 to 15% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition of one or more surfactants comprising an ammonium salt of an acyl isethionic acid, an alkali metal salt, an alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl acyl taurine salt, an acyl taurine salt, a zwitterionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a combination thereof; wherein one or more surfactants comprising an ammonium salt of an acyl isethionic acid, an alkali metal salt, an alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl acyl taurine salt, an acyl taurine salt, or a combination thereof comprise equal to 70% or more of all surfactants present in the external aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Disclosed herein are nanoemulsion compositions comprising a plant-based jelly and methods for their preparation. The plant-based jelly can be classified for use in nanoemulsions. The nanoemulsion compositions comprise an internal oil phase and an external aqueous phase, the internal oil phase comprising the plant-based jelly and optionally a fatty acid. Background Art

[0002] Nanoemulsions are becoming increasingly common in personal care compositions. They are stable and have a high surface area per unit volume.

[0003] Nanoemulsions can also carry active substances in their aqueous and oil phases and are desirable because they enhance the penetration of active substances through the skin and the topical benefits delivered to consumers using end-use compositions formulated with the nanoemulsions. When compared to compositions not formulated with them, nanoemulsions not only result in better penetration of active substances but also improve the therapeutic effects and overall sensory benefits perceived by consumers.

[0004] Therefore, there is increasing interest in developing nanoemulsions that provide excellent benefits to consumers upon topical application.

[0005] Petrolatum, a product of the petrochemical industry, has been used in leave-on or rinse-off cosmetics and provides excellent moisturizing effects due to its high occlusivity. In recent years, for sustainability purposes, plant-based ingredients have become increasingly popular in the cosmetics industry. Therefore, petrolatum is being replaced by plant-based jelly in an increasing number of cosmetics. Products that seek to be used as alternatives to petrolatum-based products (such as petrolatum) may have the disadvantage of not having the same consistency or user feel in applications. For example, petrolatum-free oil-based products that can be used as petrolatum alternatives may have a lower viscosity than conventional petrolatum, or the oil matrix may have been processed, for example, by hydrogenation of the oil component, to provide a hydrogenated oil component with a higher consistency than its non-hydrogenated counterpart.

[0006] Oil-in-water (o / w) nanoemulsions of petrolatum have been developed for skin cleansing preparations to increase the deposition of petrolatum on human skin for increased moisturizing effects. With the increasing demand for natural-source moisturizers that replace petrolatum, it is desirable to prepare nanoemulsions of plant-based jelly for cleansing preparations.

[0007] Therefore, there is a continuing desire to produce cleansing products containing nanoemulsions using ingredients that are more environmentally sustainable compared to traditionally known products (such as petrolatum). Summary of the Invention

[0008] Nanostructured emulsion compositions and methods for preparing the same are disclosed in various aspects.

[0009] A method of classifying a plant-based gel for use in a nanostructured emulsion includes: providing a plant-based gel; combining the plant-based gel with a C8 to C18, preferably C10 to C14 fatty acid to form a mixture, wherein the ratio of the plant-based gel to the fatty acid is from 30:1 to 2:1, preferably from 20:1 to 2:1; more preferably from 10:1 to 2:1, even more preferably from 9:1 to 2:1; heating the mixture until it reaches a molten state or a temperature less than or equal to 85°C; cooling the mixture to room temperature; subjecting the mixture to heating and cooling cycles, wherein the heating and cooling cycles include heating from a temperature range of -80°C to -40°C to a temperature range of 80°C to 120°C, preferably from a temperature range of -70°C to -60°C to a temperature range of 90°C to 110°C, and then cooling from 80°C to 120°C to a temperature range of -80°C to -40°C, preferably from 90°C to 110°C to a temperature range of -70°C to -60°C. In one embodiment, the heating and cooling cycles include heating from a temperature of -60°C to 100°C and then cooling from 100°C to -60°C, preferably heating from a temperature of -50°C to 100°C and then cooling from 100°C to -50°C, more preferably heating from a temperature of -40°C to 100°C and then cooling from 100°C to -40°C. The heating and cooling rates are from 1°C per minute to 15°C per minute, preferably from 2°C per minute to 12°C per minute, more preferably from 3°C per minute to 10°C per minute, even more preferably 10°C per minute. The method further includes analyzing the mixture with a differential scanning calorimeter; and selecting the plant-based gel for use in the nanostructured emulsion if the area under the fatty acid-induced peak on the cooling curve is greater than 2.5 joules / gram, preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 joules / gram.

[0010] The nanoemulsion composition comprises an internal oil phase and an external aqueous phase. The internal oil phase comprises: a plant-based jelly that is 40 to 75% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition, which comprises a blend of a hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20 °C to 80 °C, a plant-based liquid oil, and a wax of natural origin, a plant-based butter, an oligomer synthesized from a plant-based composition, or a combination thereof; and optionally C8 to C18 fatty acids, preferably C10 to C14 fatty acids, wherein when fatty acids are present, the ratio of the plant-based jelly to the fatty acids is from 120:1 to 2:1, preferably from 20:1 to 2:1, more preferably from 9:1 to 2:1; The external aqueous phase comprises: water; and 1.6 to 15% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition of one or more surfactants, which comprises an ammonium salt, an alkali metal salt, an alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl alkyl taurate, an acyl taurate, an zwitterionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a combination thereof; wherein one or more surfactants comprising an alkali metal, an ammonium salt of acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonic acid, an alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl, an alkyl taurate, or a combination thereof account for 70% or more of all surfactants present in the external aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion.

[0011] These and other features and characteristics are described in more detail below. Detailed Description

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a method of classifying a plant-based jelly for use in a nanoemulsion composition, a method of preparing a nanoemulsion composition, and a nanoemulsion composition. The method of classifying a plant-based jelly for use in a nanoemulsion includes first providing a plant-based jelly and then combining the plant-based jelly with a C8 to C18, preferably C10 to C14 fatty acid to form a mixture. The plant-based jelly and the fatty acid may be present in the nanoemulsion composition in a ratio of 30:1 to 2:1, preferably 20:1 to 2:1, more preferably 10:1 to 2:1, and even more preferably 9:1 to 2:1. For example, the ratio of the plant-based jelly to the fatty acid may be 7.5:1 to 2:1, such as 5:1 to 2:1. The mixture may then be heated until it reaches a molten state. The molten state generally refers to a substance that has been reduced to a liquid form by heating. Generally, the mixture may be heated to a temperature of 40 to 95 °C, such as 50 °C to 85 °C, such as 60 to 80 °C, such as 65 to 75 °C to achieve the molten state, such as a temperature less than or equal to 85 °C. The mixture may then be cooled to room temperature. As used herein, room temperature generally refers to a temperature of 20 °C (72 °F). After cooling to room temperature, the mixture may be subjected to heating and cooling cycles. The heating and cooling cycles may include heating from a temperature range of -80 °C to -40 °C to a temperature range of 80 °C to 120 °C, preferably from a temperature range of -70 °C to -60 °C to a temperature range of 90 °C to 110 °C, and then cooling from 80 °C to 120 °C to a temperature range of -80 °C to -40 °C, preferably from 90 °C to 110 °C to a temperature range of -70 °C to -60 °C. In one embodiment, the heating and cooling cycles include heating from a temperature of -60 °C to 100 °C and then cooling from a temperature of 100 °C to -60 °C, preferably heating from a temperature of -50 °C to 100 °C and then cooling from a temperature of 100 °C to -50 °C, more preferably heating from a temperature of -40 °C to 100 °C and then cooling from a temperature of 100 °C to -40 °C. The heating and cooling cycles may have a rate of 1 °C per minute to 15 °C per minute, preferably 2 °C per minute to 12 °C per minute, more preferably 3 °C per minute to 10 °C per minute, and even more preferably 10 °C per minute. In one embodiment, the heating and cooling cycles have a rate of 10 °C per minute. After the heating and cooling cycles, the mixture may be analyzed with a differential scanning calorimeter, and if the magnitude of the area under the fatty acid-induced peak on the cooling curve is greater than 2.5 joules per gram (J / g), preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 J / g, then the plant-based jelly may be selected for use in forming the nanoemulsion. For example, the magnitude of the peak may be greater than or equal to 3.0 J / g.

[0013] The present disclosure also relates to a nanoemulsion composition. The nanoemulsion composition includes an internal oil phase and an external aqueous phase.

[0014] The internal oil phase includes a plant-based jelly and optionally a C8 to C22 , preferably C 10 to C 14 fatty acids, wherein when present, the plant-based jelly and the fatty acids are present in the internal oil phase at a ratio of 120:1; preferably 20:1, more preferably 9:1. For example, the ratio of the plant-based jelly to the fatty acids can be from 120:1 to 2:1, such as from 100:1 to 2:1, such as from 75:1 to 2:1, such as from 50:1 to 2:1, such as from 25:1 to 2:1, such as from 20:1 to 2:1, such as from 15:1 to 2:1, such as from 10:1 to 2:1, such as from 9:1 to 2:1, such as from 7.5:1 to 2:1, such as from 5:1 to 2:1. The internal oil phase can contain 40 to 75% by weight of the plant-based jelly of the total nanoemulsion composition. For example, based on the total nanoemulsion composition, the plant-based jelly can be present in an amount of 40 to 75% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition, such as 50 to 70% by weight, such as 55 to 65% by weight, such as 60% by weight of the plant-based jelly, including any and all ranges and values included therein.

[0015] The plant-based jelly can comprise a blend of a hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20 °C to 80 °C, a plant-based liquid oil, and a wax of natural origin, a plant-based butter, an oligomeric plant-based composition, or a combination thereof.

[0016] The hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20 °C to 80 °C can be formed by adding hydrogen atoms to the unsaturated bonds (such as double bonds) in the carbon chain of the vegetable oil. The hydrogenated plant-based oil can be fully or partially hydrogenated, wherein the hydrogenation level can be from 1 to 100%, where 100% is fully hydrogenated. When all the unsaturated bonds become saturated, the plant-based oil becomes fully hydrogenated (i.e., 100% hydrogenated); when a part of the unsaturated bonds become saturated, the plant-based oil becomes partially hydrogenated. The more unsaturated bonds that become saturated, the higher the melting point of the plant-based oil. Plant-based oils include triglycerides such as soybean oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, olive oil, canola oil, jatropha oil, argan oil, castor oil, etc., and monoesters such as jojoba oil.

[0017] The blend of the plant-based oil and the wax of natural origin can comprise (a) a pre-blended mixture composition of 25-95% by weight of a hydrocarbon liquid of natural origin, which comprises (1) squalene or other C15-23 alkanes of plant origin; (2) monoesters; (3) triglycerides; or (4) a combination thereof; the oily liquid has a melting point or phase transition point below 30 °C and a viscosity of 500 Pascal seconds (Pa·s) or less at room temperature; and (b) a pre-blended mixture composition of 5-75% by weight of a structuring material of natural origin, which comprises plant and vegetable waxes of natural origin; esters of long-chain (C16 to C34) fatty acids and long-chain (C16 to C34) fatty alcohols of natural origin; or a combination thereof, wherein the structuring material has a melting point greater than 30 °C.

[0018] The plant-based butter may include shea butter, mango seed butter, olive butter, hemp seed butter, almond butter, cocoa butter, coconut butter, macadamia nut butter, candelilla wax, babassu wax, moringa butter, jojoba butter, sunflower seed butter, or a combination thereof.

[0019] The oligomeric plant-based composition is an oligomer containing 2 to 30 repeating units such as triglycerides, esters, and terpenes, and is synthesized from a plant-based composition, fatty acid, fatty alcohol, or polyol by various polymerization methods. Hydrogenation or esterification can be carried out to adjust the oligomeric vegetable oil. Waxes of natural origin can be added to these oligomers to adjust their thermal properties or their texture. Examples of oligomeric oils include polycitronellol (Citropol H) and polycitronellol acetate (Citropol 1A) available from P2 Science, Inc.; hydrogenated soy polyglycerol esters available from Relevance Renewable Science, which are polymerized soybean oils by metathesis followed by hydrogenation; BOTANIJELLY TM , which is prepared by esterification and polymerization of natural oils (e.g., BOTANIJELLY TM 105) (hydrogenated plant glycerides); SoftFeel available from BASF, which is a C12-18 acyl glycerol / sebacic acid copolymer (e.g., SB45; shea (butyrospermum parkii) butter); Estolides or Estolides esters, a class of oligomers of unsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid) or hydroxy fatty acids (e.g., 12-hydroxy stearic acid) having secondary ester bonds on the alkyl backbone, such as BIOESTOLIDE from Biosynthetic Technologies 1300, which is acetyl ethylhexyl polyhydroxystearate. PELEMOL DISD available from Phoenix Chemical, which is a diester formed by the reaction of isostearyl alcohol and dimerized linoleic acid to form diisostearyl dimer dilinoleate. TM 1300, which is acetyl ethylhexyl polyhydroxystearate. PELEMOL DISD available from Phoenix Chemical, which is a diester formed by the reaction of isostearyl alcohol and dimerized linoleic acid to form diisostearyl dimer dilinoleate.

[0020] The plant-based jelly can include any combination of the described plant-based jellies. For example, the plant-based jelly can include a combination of castor wax (e.g., castor wax MP-70 which is hydrogenated castor oil, castor oil, and trihydroxystearin) from ACME-Hardesty and soybean oil in a ratio of 1:20 to 20:1, such as 1:15 to 15:1, such as 2:10 to 10:2, such as 2:7 to 7:2, such as 3:6 to 6:3. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include a combination of hydrogenated plant glycerides (e.g., castor wax MP-70 which is hydrogenated castor oil, castor oil, and trihydroxystearin) from ACME-Hardesty and castor oil in a ratio of 1:20 to 20:1, such as 1:15 to 15:1, such as 2:10 to 10:2, such as 2:7 to 7:2, such as 3:6 to 6:3. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include a combination of hydrogenated plant glycerides (e.g., BOTANIJELLY TM 105 from Cargill Company) and moringa oil (available from Naturex) in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as 9:1 to 1:9, such as 2:8 to 8:2, such as 3:7 to 7:3. In yet another example, the plant-based jelly can include a combination of hydrogenated plant glycerides (e.g., BOTANIJELLY TM 105 from Cargill Company) and vitamin E acetate in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as 9:1 to 1:9, such as 2:8 to 8:2, such as 3:7 to 7:3. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include a combination of polycitronellol and candelilla wax, such as commercially available as CITROLATUM TM from P2 Science Inc. In another embodiment, the plant-based jelly can include jojoba esters, such as commercially available as FLORAESTER TM 30 from Floratech. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include shea (butyrospermum parkii) butter (e.g., SB 45 available from BASF) and hydrogenated castor oil in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as 8:1 to 1:8, such as 2:7 to 7:2, such as 3:6 to 6:3. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include shea (butyrospermum parkii) butter (e.g., SB 45 available from BASF) and hydrogenated castor oil in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as, 8:1 to 1:8, such as, 2:7 to 7:2, such as, 3:6 to 6:3 SB 45) and hydrogenated castor oil in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as, 8:1 to 1:8, such as, 2:7 to 7:2, such as, 3:6 to 6:3. In another example, the plant-based jelly can include shea (butyrospermum parkii) butter (e.g., SB 45 available from BASF) and hydrogenated castor oil in a ratio of 20:1 to 1:20, such as 15:1 to 1:15, such as 10:1 to 1:10, such as, 8:1 to 1:8, such as, 2:7 to 7:2, such as, 3:6 to 6:3 The combination of SB 45) and tripalmitin. In another example, the plant-based jelly can contain a combination of moringa butter (e.g., available from Hall) and phytantriol (e.g., available from DSM) in a ratio of 1:20 to 20:1, such as 1:10 to 10:1, such as 1:9 to 9:1, such as 1:8 to 8:1, such as 1:5 to 5:1.

[0021] All of the above plant-based jellies and various combinations are preferred embodiments of the nanoemulsions of the present invention.

[0022] The external aqueous phase contains water and one or more surfactants. The surfactant preferably may include ammonium salts, alkali metal salts of acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonic acid, acyl taurates, alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl acyl taurates, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or combinations thereof. These ammonium salts, alkali metal salts of acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonic acid, alkali metal C1 to C3 alkyl taurates, and acyl surfactants may account for 70% or more of all the surfactants present in the external aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion. The surfactant may be present in an amount of 1.0 to 20% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition, such as 1.6 to 15% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition. For example, the surfactant may be present in an amount of 2.0 to 15% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition, such as 4.0 to 14% by weight, such as 5.0 to 13% by weight, such as 6.0 to 12% by weight, such as 7.5 to 10% by weight of the surfactant, including any and all ranges and values contained therein.

[0023] Due to the diverse nature of plant-based jellies, preparing nanoemulsions can be challenging. For example, there may be phase inversion when attempting to form a coarse emulsion, gelation, or phase separation after forming the nanoemulsion, or there may even be problems associated with the excessive processing temperatures (e.g., greater than or equal to 90 °C) required for natural jellies containing high melting point waxes. High temperatures can cause product discoloration, excessive evaporation of the aqueous phase, and difficulties in maintaining such temperatures with conventional emulsion processing equipment.

[0024] Surprisingly, it has been found that fatty acids can be used as a screening tool to identify which plant-based jellies can be made into stable nanoemulsions. Fatty acids can be an optional component of the nanoemulsion composition, which means it does not necessarily have to be present in the nanoemulsion composition. When present in the nanoemulsion composition, fatty acids can lower the melting point or freezing point of plant-based jellies containing high melting point waxes, thus making it possible to prepare nanoemulsions of such plant-based jellies within normal processing temperatures (e.g., less than or equal to 75 °C or lower).

[0025] Optional fatty acids may include lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, coconut fatty acids, isostearic acid, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the fatty acid is lauric acid.

[0026] When present, based on the total weight of the nanoemulsion composition, the fatty acid may be present in an amount of 0.1 to 15% by weight, such as 0.2 to 12% by weight, such as 0.25 to 10% by weight, such as 0.3 to 9% by weight, such as 0.3 to 8.4% by weight, such as 0.4 to 7% by weight, such as 0.5 to 0.65% by weight, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein.

[0027] A blend of 90% by weight of a plant-based jelly and 10% by weight of a fatty acid can be used to characterize the plant-based jelly for the nanoemulsion composition using a differential scanning calorimeter. It was unexpectedly found that the fatty acid induces an exothermic peak during the cooling process at temperatures from 100 °C to -40 °C. The heating and cooling rates can be from 1 °C per minute to 15 °C per minute, preferably from 2 °C per minute to 12 °C per minute, more preferably from 3 °C per minute to 10 °C per minute, and even more preferably 10 °C per minute. When the size of the area under the peak is greater than 2.5 J / g, preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 J / g, more preferably greater than or equal to 3.0 J / g, the plant-based jelly is capable of producing a stable nanoemulsion. However, if the size of the area under the peak is less than 2.5 J / g or no fatty acid-induced peak is detected, a stable nanoemulsion of the plant-based jelly cannot be produced.

[0028] It was further unexpectedly found that when the fatty acid is present in the plant-based jelly and the natural jelly contains a high melting point wax, the presence of the fatty acid can contribute to lowering the melting point and freezing point of the oil phase of the plant-based jelly by 1 to 20 °C, such as 3 to 15 °C. The reduction in the melting point and freezing point can lower the storage temperature of the molten oil phase before use in the nanoemulsion and can also lower the processing temperature of the nanoemulsion composition by 10 to 15 °C, such as from 100 °C to 85 °C, such as from 90 °C to 75 °C.

[0029] Methods for preparing nanoemulsions are also contemplated. Exemplary methods include providing a plant-based jelly and classifying the plant-based jelly according to the methods disclosed herein. If the plant-based jelly meets the criteria, i.e., the size of the area under the peak is greater than 2.5 J / g, preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 J / g, more preferably greater than or equal to 3.0 J / g, the plant-based jelly can be used to form a nanoemulsion. In this method, the internal oil phase containing the plant-based jelly is heated to a temperature of greater than or equal to 55 °C, such as 65 °C to 100 °C, such as 65 °C to 75 °C, and the external aqueous phase containing water and a surfactant is heated to a temperature of greater than or equal to 55 °C, such as 65 °C to 100 °C, such as 65 °C to 75 °C. After heating, the internal oil phase and the external aqueous phase are combined in a conventional emulsion processing equipment system to form a first emulsion. Then the first emulsion is passed through a high-pressure device such as a high-pressure sonicator at a pressure of greater than or equal to 1000 pounds per square inch (psi) (6.9 megapascals (MPa)), such as 1500 to 5000 psi (10.3 to 34.5 MPa), such as 1500 to 4500 psi (10.3 to 31 MPa), such as 2000 to 4000 psi (13.8 to 27.6 MPa) to form a nanoemulsion. Generally, a sonicator can operate at a pressure of 100 to 5000 psi (0.7 to 34.5 MPa). For pressures above 500 psi 3.4 MPa, the sonicator can be referred to as a high-pressure sonicator. When formed, the nanoemulsion contains droplets having a volume-average diameter size (D[4,3]) in the range of nanometers (nm) to 750 nm, such as 60 nm to 500 nm, such as 75 nm to 350 nm (in terms of the volume-average diameter D[4,3]), including any and all ranges and values included therein.

[0030] In the nanoemulsion, the plant-based jelly is typically present in an amount of 40 to 80 wt%, preferably 40 to 75 wt%, most preferably 50 to 65 wt% of the nanoemulsion, including any and all ranges and values included therein.

[0031] Optional components that can be used in the internal oil phase are oil phase stabilizers. For example, a small amount (e.g., 0.0002 to 2 wt%, preferably 0.0005 to 1.5 wt%, more preferably 0.0005 to 1 wt% of the nanoemulsion) of an antioxidant can be used. For example, exemplary antioxidants can be butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), or combinations thereof.

[0032] Regarding C8 to C that can be used with the plant-based jelly described herein 18Fatty acids, which can be branched or straight-chain, saturated or unsaturated. Caprylic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, coconut fatty acids or combinations thereof are generally preferred saturated straight-chain fatty acids. Preferred branched-chain fatty acids include isostearic acid, isopalmitic acid, 17-methylstearic acid, 15-methylpalmitic acid or combinations thereof.

[0033] Unsaturated fatty acids that are desired to be used include palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, erucic acid, nervonic acid, conjugated linoleic acid or combinations thereof. The use of mixtures of the above fatty acids is within the scope of the nanoemulsions of the present invention. In particular, when the end-use composition is a leave-on care composition, long-chain fatty acids, such as stearic acid, isostearic acid or combinations thereof, can be used in the nanoemulsion. Shorter-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid, myristic acid or combinations thereof, may be preferred, especially when the end-use composition is a rinse-off composition.

[0034] When included, the fatty acids can be present in the nanoemulsion in an amount of 0.1 to 10.0 wt%, such as 0.3 to 8.3 wt%, such as 0.5 to 8.0 wt%, such as 0.75 to 7.5 wt%, such as 1.0 to 7.0 wt%, such as 1.5 to 6.0 wt%, such as 2.0 to 5.5 wt%, such as 3 to 5 wt%, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein. In one embodiment, the weight ratio of the plant-based gelling agent to the fatty acid can be 120:1 to 2:1, such as 100:1 to 2:1, such as 75:1 to 2:1, such as 50:1 to 2:1, such as 25:1 to 2:1, such as 20:1 to 2:1, such as 15:1 to 2:1, such as 10:1 to 2:1, such as 9:1 to 2:1, such as 7.5:1 to 2:1, such as 5:1 to 2:1, the ratio of the plant-based gelling agent to the fatty acid can be 120:1 to 2:1, such as 100:1 to 2:1, such as 75:1 to 2:1, such as 50:1 to 2:1, such as 25:1 to 2:1, such as 20:1 to 2:1, such as 15:1 to 2:1, such as 10:1 to 2:1, such as 9:1 to 2:1, such as 7.5:1 to 2:1, such as 5:1 to 2:1.

[0035] Within the scope of the nanoemulsions and their end-use compositions of the present invention, oil-soluble beneficial active ingredients such as hydroxystearic acid (e.g., 10-hydroxystearic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, etc.) (including its esters), vitamins A, D, E or K (and their oil-soluble derivatives), vitamin E acetate, sunscreen agents such as octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate (ethylhexyl salicylate), homosalate (3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl salicylate), ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl hydroxybenzoate, cresyltriazone trisiloxane, bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenol triazine, 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl-2-propionate, 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate or a combination thereof are optionally included in the internal oil phase containing a plant-based jelly and a fatty acid or in the internal oil phase containing a plant-based jelly.

[0036] Other suitable optional oil-soluble beneficial agents include resorcinols such as 4-hexylresorcinol, 4-phenethylresorcinol, 4-cyclopentylresorcinol, 4-cyclohexylresorcinol, 4-isopropylresorcinol or a combination thereof. In addition, 5-substituted resorcinols such as 4-cyclohexyl-5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol, 4-isopropyl-5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol or a combination thereof, etc. can be used. 5-Substituted resorcinols and their synthesis are described in U.S. Patent No. 10,470,986.

[0037] Even other suitable oil-soluble active substances include ω-3 fatty acids, ω-6 fatty acids, clotrimazole, farnesol, ursolic acid, myristic acid, geranylgeraniol, oleyl betaine, coco acyl hydroxyethyl imidazoline, hexanoyl sphingosine, 12-hydroxystearic acid, petroselinic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, terpineol, thymol or a combination thereof.

[0038] In one embodiment, the oil-soluble beneficial active substance can be a retinoic acid precursor represented by the following formula:

[0039]

[0040] where each R is independently hydrogen or C 1-6 alkyl, and X is any of the structures -OH listed below,

[0041] and further, where each R' is hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl, and n is an integer from 0 to 16 (preferably, 1 to 5).

[0042] The optional oil-soluble beneficial agent can be a retinoic acid precursor. The retinoic acid precursor can be retinol, retinal, retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate or a combination thereof. Usually preferred can be retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate or a combination thereof.

[0043] Another retinoic acid precursor is hydroxylanisole retinoate, commercially available from Molecular Design International under the name and can be used in mixtures with the oil-soluble active substances described herein.

[0044] When used, the oil-soluble beneficial agent can be present in the nanoemulsion in an amount of 0.001 to 12% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 8% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 6% by weight, including any and all ranges and values included therein.

[0045] The neutralizing agents desired for neutralizing the fatty acids in the nanoemulsions of the present invention are limited to the extent that they can be used in topical compositions and are capable of neutralizing up to 100% by weight of the fatty acids within the nanoemulsion. Preferred neutralizing agents include sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), triethanolamine, or combinations thereof. Fatty acid soaps and fatty acid soaps with additional neutralizing agents are within the scope of the nanoemulsions of the present invention when added together with or in place of the fatty acids and neutralizing agents.

[0046] Regarding the amount of neutralizing agent used for preparing the nanoemulsion, it is adjusted such that 10 to 100% by weight, preferably 20 to 85% by weight, most preferably 35 to 65% by weight of all the fatty acids within the nanoemulsion are neutralized. To the extent that fatty acid neutralization exceeds 70%, when the fatty acid used is saturated, straight-chain, and is C 16 or higher, it is particularly preferred that less than 55%, most preferably less than 50% by weight of the total neutralizing agent used is NaOH.

[0047] In another preferred embodiment, if the fatty acid neutralization with NaOH as the neutralizing agent exceeds 70%, it is preferred that greater than 45% by weight, preferably greater than 50% by weight of the fatty acids used for preparing the nanoemulsion are branched-chain and saturated, and / or straight-chain and unsaturated.

[0048] Optionally, when preparing the nanoemulsion, additional anionic and amphoteric surfactants can be used. When present, the nanoemulsion contains less than 6% by weight, preferably 0.001 to 4% by weight of the additional surfactant.

[0049] The surfactant in the external aqueous phase or the optional additional surfactant can be selected from anionic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, or combinations thereof. The surfactant can contain C8-C 16 alkyl, such as C 12 -C 16 alkyl, such as C 10 -C 14 alkyl, or mixtures thereof. For example, the surfactant can contain C10 alkyl, C 12 alkyl, C 14 alkyl or any combination thereof.

[0050] When present, the anionic surfactant used may include aliphatic sulfonates such as primary alkane (e.g., C8-C 22 ) sulfonates, primary alkane (e.g., C8-C 22 ) disulfonates, C8-C 22 olefin sulfonates, C8-C 22 hydroxyalkane sulfonates or alkyl glycerol ether sulfonates (AGS); or aromatic sulfonates such as alkylbenzene sulfonates. The anionic surfactant may also be an alkyl sulfate (e.g., C 12 -C 18 alkyl sulfate) or an alkyl ether sulfate (including alkyl glycerol ether sulfate). Among them, the alkyl ether sulfates are those having the following formula:

[0051] RO(CH2CH2O) n SO3M

[0052] wherein R is an alkyl or alkenyl having 8 to 18 carbons, preferably 12 to 18 carbons, the average value of n is at least 1.0, preferably less than 5, and most preferably 1 to 4, and M is a solubilizing cation such as sodium, potassium, ammonium or substituted ammonium.

[0053] The anionic surfactant may also be an alkyl sulfosuccinate (including monoalkyl and dialkyl, e.g., C6-C 22 sulfosuccinate); alkyl and acyl taurates (usually methyl taurate), alkyl and acyl sarcosinates, sulfacetates, C8-C 22 alkyl phosphates and phosphonates, alkyl phosphates and alkoxyalkyl phosphates, acyl lactates, C8-C 22 monoalkyl succinates and maleates, sulfacetates, alkyl glucosides and acyl isethionates, etc.

[0054] The sulfosuccinate may be a monoalkyl sulfosuccinate having the following formula:

[0055] R 1 OC(O)CH2CH(SO3M)CO2M;

[0056] and

[0057] the amide-MEA sulfosuccinate of the following formula:

[0058] R 1 CONHCH2CH2OC(O)CH2CH(SO3M)CO2M

[0059] wherein R 1in the range of C8 - C 22 alkyl group.

[0060] Sarcosinates are generally represented by the following formula:

[0061] R 2 CON(CH3)CH2CO2M, where R 2 is in the range of C8 - C 20 alkyl group.

[0062] Taurates are generally represented by the following formula:

[0063] R 3 CONR 4 CH2CH2SO3M

[0064] where R 3 is C8 - C 20 alkyl group, and R 4 is C1 - C4 alkyl group.

[0065] M is the solubilizing cation as described above.

[0066] The nanoemulsions disclosed herein may contain C8 - C 18 acyl isethionates. These esters are prepared by the reaction between alkali metal isethionates and mixed aliphatic fatty acids having 6 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value less than 20. At least 75% of the mixed fatty acids have 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and at most 25% have 6 to 10 carbon atoms.

[0067] The acyl isethionates can be alkoxylated isethionates, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,393,466 to Ilardi et al. entitled "Fatty Acid Esters of Polyalkoxylated Isethonic Acid", issued on February 28, 1995; incorporated herein by reference. This compound has the following general formula:

[0068] R 5 C-(O)-O-C(X)H-C(Y)H-(OCH2-CH2)m-SO3M,

[0069] where R 5 is an alkyl group having 8 to 18 carbons, m is an integer from 1 to 4, X and Y are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons, and M is the solubilizing cation as described above.

[0070] In one aspect, the anionic surfactant used is 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium perfluorononanoate, potassium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium laurate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium stearate, sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium lauroyl isethionate, or a combination thereof. Such anionic surfactants are commercially available from suppliers such as Galaxy Surfactants, Clariant, Sino Lion, Stepan Company, and Innospec.

[0071] The zwitterionic surfactants (which can be zwitterionic depending on the pH) include sodium acyl amphoacetate, sodium acyl amphopropionate, disodium acyl amphodiacetate, and disodium acyl amphodipropionate, where the acyl group (i.e., alkanoyl group) can contain C7-C 18 alkyl moiety. Exemplary examples of zwitterionic surfactants include sodium lauroamphoacetate, sodium cocoamphoacetate, or a combination thereof.

[0072] Regarding the zwitterionic surfactants used, such surfactants include at least one acid group. Such an acid group can be a carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid group. They generally include a quaternary nitrogen and can thus be quaternary amino acids. They generally should include an alkyl or alkenyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms and generally conform to the general structural formula:

[0073] R 6 -[-C(O)-NH(CH2) q -] r -N + -(R 7 -)(R 8 )A-B

[0074] where R 6 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms; R 7 and R 8 are each independently an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or carboxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; q is 2 to 4; r is 0 to 1; A is an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group, and B is -CO2- or -SO3-.

[0075] The required zwitterionic surfactants include simple betaines of the following formula:

[0076] R 6 -N + -(R 7 )(R 8 )CH2CO2 -

[0077] and amido betaines of the following formula:

[0078] R 6 -CONH(CH2) t -N + -(R 7 )(R 8 )CH2CO2 - ,

[0079] wherein t is 2 or 3.

[0080] In both formulas, R 6 、R 7 and R 8 are as previously defined. R 6 may in particular be a mixture of C 12 and C 14 alkyls derived from coconut oil such that at least half, preferably at least three quarters, of the groups R 6 have 10 to 14 carbon atoms. R 7 and R 8 are preferably methyl.

[0081] A further possibility is that the zwitterionic surfactant is a sulfobetaine of the formula:

[0082] R 6 -N + -(R 7 )(R 8 )(CH2)3SO3 - or

[0083] R 6 -CONH(CH2) u -N + -(R 7 )(R 8 )(CH2)3SO3 -

[0084] wherein u is 2 or 3, or variants of these in which -(CH2)3SO3 - is replaced by -CH2C(OH)(H)CH2SO3 - .

[0085] In these formulas, R 6 、R 7 and R 8 are as previously defined.

[0086] Illustrative examples of zwitterionic surfactants desired to be used include betaines such as lauryl betaine, citric acid betaine, coco dimethyl carboxymethyl betaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine, coco alkyl dimethyl betaine, and laurylamidopropyl betaine. Additional zwitterionic surfactants suitable for use include cocoamidopropyl sulfobetaine, such as cocoamidopropyl hydroxysulfobetaine. Preferred zwitterionic surfactants include lauryl betaine, betaine citrate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, (carboxymethyl)dimethyl-3-[(1-oxododecyl)amino]propyl ammonium hydroxide, coco alkyl dimethyl betaine, (carboxymethyl)dimethyl oleyl ammonium hydroxide, cocoamidopropyl betaine, (carboxymethyl)dimethyl oleyl ammonium hydroxide, cocoamidopropyl betaine, (carboxymethyl)dimethyl(octadecyl)ammonium, cocoamidopropyl hydroxysulfobetaine, or a combination thereof. Such surfactants are commercially available from suppliers such as Stepan Company, Solvay, Evonik, etc., and the use of mixtures of the above surfactants is within the scope of the nanoemulsions disclosed herein.

[0087] Nonionic surfactants may optionally be used in the external aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion. When used, nonionic surfactants are typically used at levels as low as 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%, or 2 wt% and as high as 6 wt%, 8 wt%, 10 wt%, or 12 wt% of the total nanoemulsion composition, including any and all ranges and values therebetween. Nonionic surfactants that can be used particularly include reaction products of compounds having a hydrophobic group and a reactive hydrogen atom (such as aliphatic alcohols, acids, amides, or alkylphenols) with alkylene oxides (especially ethylene oxide alone or ethylene oxide and propylene oxide). Specific nonionic surfactant compounds are alkyl (C6-C 22 ) phenol, ethylene oxide condensates, aliphatic (C8-C 18 ) straight-chain or branched primary or secondary alcohol condensates with ethylene oxide, and products prepared by condensation of reaction products of ethylene oxide with propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. Other nonionic surfactants include long-chain tertiary amine oxides, long-chain tertiary phosphine oxides, dialkyl sulfoxides, etc.

[0088] In one aspect, the nonionic surfactant includes a fatty acid / alcohol ethoxylate having the following structure: a) HOCH2(CH2) s (CH2CH2O) v H or b) HOOC(CH2) v (CH2CH2O) dH; where s and v are each independently integers of at most 18; and c and d are each independently integers of 1 or greater. In one aspect, s and v are each independently from 6 to 18; c and d are each independently from 1 to 30. Other alternatives for nonionic surfactants include those having the formula HOOC(CH2) i -CH=CH-(CH2) k (CH2CH2O) z H, where i and k are each independently from 5 to 15; and z is from 5 to 50. In another aspect, i and k are each independently from 6 to 12; and z is from 15 to 35.

[0089] Nonionics can also include sugar amides, such as polysaccharide amides. Specifically, the surfactant can be one of the lactosamides described in U.S. Patent No. 5,389,279 to Au et al., titled "Compositions Comprising Nonionic Glycolipid Surfactants", issued February 14, 1995; which is incorporated herein by reference, or can be one of the sugar amides described in U.S. Patent No. 5,009,814 to Kelkenberg, titled "Use of N-Poly Hydroxyalkyl Fatty Acid Amides as Thickening Agents for Liquid Aqueous Surfactant Systems", issued April 23, 1991; which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0090] Illustrative examples of nonionic surfactants optionally useful in the cleaning compositions disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, polyglycosides, cetyl alcohol, decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether, n-octyl β-d-thioglucopyranoside, octyl glucoside, oleyl alcohol, polysorbates, sorbitans, stearyl alcohol, or combinations thereof.

[0091] In one aspect, cationic surfactants are optionally useful in the nanoemulsions of the present application.

[0092] One class of cationic surfactants includes heterocyclic ammonium salts, such as cetyl or stearyl pyridinium chloride, alkylamidoethyl pyrrolinium methyl sulfate, and lapyrium chloride.

[0093] Tetraalkylammonium salts are another class of useful cationic surfactants. Examples include cetyl or stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride or bromide; hydrogenated palm or tallow trimethyl ammonium halide; behenyl trimethyl ammonium halide or methyl sulfate; decyl isononyl dimethyl ammonium halide; ditallow (or distearyl) dimethyl ammonium halide, and behenyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

[0094] Other types of cationic surfactants that can be used are various ethoxylated quaternary amines and ester quaternary ammonium salts. Examples include ammonium PEG-5 stearyl lactate (e.g., Genamin KSL manufactured by Clariant), ammonium PEG-2 cocoate chloride, ammonium PEG-15 hydrogenated tallowate chloride, ammonium PEG 15 stearate chloride, distearoylethylmethylammonium chloride, distearoylethylhydroxymethylsulfate, and stearamidopropyl dimethylamine lactate.

[0095] Other useful cationic surfactants include quaternized hydrolysis products of silk, wheat, and keratin, and the use of mixtures of the above cationic surfactants is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0096] If used, the cationic surfactant generally accounts for no more than 1.0% by weight of the total weight of the nanoemulsion. When present, the cationic surfactant generally accounts for 0.01 to 0.7% by weight of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, and more typically 0.1 to 0.5% by weight, including any and all ranges therein.

[0097] Preferred anionic surfactants that can be used include sodium acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonate, sodium acyl methyl hydroxyethyl sulfonate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium trideceth sulfate, sodium lauryl ether sulfate - 3EO, acyl glutamates, acyl glycine salts, lauroyl sarcosinate, acyl sarcosinates, or mixtures thereof. Suitable optional amphoteric surfactants include coco betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium lauroamphoacetate, lauramidopropyl hydroxysulfobetaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysulfobetaine, or combinations thereof.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment, no water-miscible liquid is used in the aqueous phase. Preferably, water accounts for at least 25% by weight of the external aqueous phase, preferably at least 50% by weight of the external aqueous phase, and even more preferably at least 75% by weight, based on the weight of the external aqueous phase.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment, the external aqueous phase contains water and a water-miscible liquid. Preferably, the water-miscible liquid accounts for 5 to 75% by weight of the aqueous phase.

[0100] In another preferred embodiment, the external aqueous phase contains water and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant accounts for 1.5 to 15% by weight of the total weight of the nanoemulsion.

[0101] Regarding the external aqueous phase (water; water and a water-miscible liquid mixed therewith; water and a surfactant; water, a surfactant, and a water-miscible liquid mixed therewith), it generally accounts for 20 to 55% by weight of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, preferably 25 to 45% by weight, and most preferably 30 to 40% by weight.

[0102] Preferred water-miscible liquids include those classified as humectants such as glycerol, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, ethoxylated glycerol, propoxylated glycerol or mixtures thereof.

[0103] For example, the water-miscible liquid used can be glycerol. Generally, the weight ratio of the water-miscible liquid to water is from 1:3 to 3:1, preferably from 1:2.5 to 2.5:1, and most preferably from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, including all ratios therebetween.

[0104] Inclusion of water-soluble active substances in the aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion is also within the scope. Such water-soluble active substances are limited to the extent that they are useful in topical compositions. Illustrative examples of water-soluble active substances useful in the present invention include niacinamide, picolinamide, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, dihydroxyacetone, extracts (such as pomegranate extract), vitamins (such as vitamin C), and sunscreens (such as salts of benzophenone-4 and phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid). Mixtures and water-soluble derivatives thereof can also be used. Generally, when used in the nanoemulsion, based on the total weight of the nanoemulsion, the water-soluble active substances are present in an amount of 0.0 to 6%, preferably 0.001 to 5%, and most preferably 0.01 to 4%, and include any and all ranges therebetween.

[0105] In manufacturing the nanoemulsion, the components are first mixed (i.e., the oil phase is incorporated into the aqueous phase, or the aqueous phase is incorporated into the oil phase or simultaneously) in a conventional mixing vessel equipped with a rotor / stator high-shear device to produce a coarse emulsion. The high-shear mixing device used (which can be in series with or within the mixing vessel) is commercially available from suppliers such as ESCO-LABOR AG and ) The coarse emulsion produced generally has a volume average droplet diameter size (D[4,3]) of less than 8 microns, preferably less than 5 microns, and most preferably less than 2 microns, as measured by a Malvern Mastersizer recognized in the art. The rotor speed is generally from 1,000 to 8,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), preferably 2,000 to 7,500 rpm, and most preferably 3,000 to 7,000 rpm. The time required to uniformly mix the components is the time of passage through the theoretical minimum to produce the desired uniform coarse emulsion.

[0106] Alternatively, the coarse emulsion can be prepared in continuous mode by simultaneously supplying the internal oil phase and the external aqueous phase to a low-pressure homogenizer (e.g., a low-pressure sonicator) commercially available from Sonic Corporation of Connecticut, USA, which generally operates at 100 to less than 500 pounds per square inch (psi) (0.7 MPa to 3.45 MPa).

[0107] The resulting crude emulsion is then passed through a device, such as a high-pressure device, namely a high-pressure homogenizer, to form the desired nanoemulsion. Suitable high-pressure homogenizers are devices well-known in the art and can operate at 600 to 7000 psi (4.14 to 48.3 MPa), preferably 900 to 6000 psi (6.2 to 41.4 MPa), and most preferably 1000 to 5500 psi (6.89 to 37.9 MPa) to produce the nanoemulsion. Those suitable for use are commercially available from BEE International in Massachusetts, USA (manufacturer of the DeBee series of homogenizers) and Sonic Corporation in Connecticut, USA (manufacturer of high-pressure sonifiers).

[0108] When the aqueous (external water) phase contains a water-miscible liquid and the oil phase contains a fatty acid, high-pressure homogenization is not required to produce the nanoemulsion of the above-described diameter size. Thus, under the conditions described above for the low-pressure homogenizer, for example, typically operating at 100 to less than 500 pounds per square inch (psi) (0.689 MPa to 3.45 MPa), the desired diameter nanoemulsion is produced after mixing with only a commercially available rotor / stator device (or low-pressure homogenizer).

[0109] In one embodiment, the water-miscible liquid accounts for 25 to 75% by weight of the water-miscible phase, and the nanoemulsion is prepared without homogenization exceeding 500 psi (3.45 MPa).

[0110] In one embodiment, the aqueous phase having water-soluble components and the internal oil phase having oil-soluble components are each mixed and prepared first, and then all components are mixed with a high-shear mixing device. If the phases are not clear and / or non-uniform, the individual phases are separately heated to a temperature of 30 to 85 °C, preferably 40 to 80 °C, and most preferably 45 to 75 °C until a homogeneous solution or mixture is obtained within the range.

[0111] The pH of the resulting nanoemulsion is generally 5 to 10, and preferably 6.5 to 8.5, including any and all ranges and values included therein.

[0112] The nanoemulsion can be used as a final-use composition and is thus directly topically applied by consumers to the hair and / or skin. Adding the nanoemulsion to commercially available final-use products to enhance the efficacy of such final-use products is also within the scope of the nanoemulsion of the present invention.

[0113] Since the nanoemulsion is water-continuous, it is preferred that the final-use composition used with the nanoemulsion is also water-continuous.

[0114] When the nanoemulsion is not the end-use composition, the consumer is instructed to manually mix the nanoemulsion and the end-use composition (leave-on or rinse-off) until a homogeneous mixture is prepared. After obtaining the homogeneous mixture, the product can then be topically applied. In the most preferred embodiment and when the nanoemulsion and the end-use composition are mixed, 2 to 50 wt%, preferably 5 to 35 wt%, and most preferably 10 to 25 wt% of the nanoemulsion is used, based on the total weight of the nanoemulsion and the end-use composition, including any and all ranges and values contained therein.

[0115] Due to the presence of water, conventional preservatives present in topical consumer products can be used. The preservative generally accounts for 0.01 to 3 wt% of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, for example, 0.01 to 2.0 wt% of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, including any and all ranges and values contained therein. It is desirable to incorporate the preservative into the concentrated cleaning composition to prevent the growth of potentially harmful microorganisms. Cosmetic chemists are familiar with suitable preservatives and routinely select them to meet preservative challenge tests and provide product stability.

[0116] Preservatives used include hydantoin derivatives and propionates. Particularly preferred preservatives include iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, phenoxyethanol, 1,2-alkanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, hexylene glycol, methylparaben, propylparaben, benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, potassium sorbate, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, octanediol (CAPG), 1,2-octanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, ethylhexylglycerin, hexylene glycol, methylparaben, propylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea, sodium dehydroacetate, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin or combinations thereof. Other preservatives include sodium dehydroacetate, chlorphenesin, decylene glycol or combinations thereof. The choice of preservative should take into account the use of the composition and possible incompatibilities between the preservative and other components in the nanoemulsion. The preservative is preferably used in an amount in the range of 0.01 to 2.0 wt% of the total weight of the end-use composition (up to 7 wt% of the total concentrated cleaning composition), including any and all ranges contained therein. Preservatives include sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, potassium sorbate or combinations thereof.

[0117] Fragrances, fixatives, opacifiers (such as titanium dioxide or ethylene glycol distearate), and chelating agents may optionally be included in the nanoemulsion. Possible chelating agents include, but are not limited to, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), pentasodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, trisodium N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetate, the acid form of EDTA, sodium thiocyanate, trisodium methylglycinediacetate, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, and phytic acid, preferably where the chelating agent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), or a combination thereof. Each of these substances may be present in an amount of 0.03 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.05 to 0.09 wt%, of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein.

[0118] Emulsifiers with an HLB greater than 8 may optionally be used. Illustrative examples include Tween 40, 60, 80, polysorbate 20, or a combination thereof. Generally, the emulsifier for a water continuous system accounts for 0.3 to 2.5 wt% of the total weight of the nanoemulsion.

[0119] Humectants may be used as additives in the nanoemulsion to assist in moisturizing upon topical application of such emulsions. These are generally polyol-type materials. Typical polyols include glycerol (i.e., propanetriol or glycerin), propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol (e.g., PPG-9), polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, hydroxypropyl sorbitol, hexylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, isopentylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, ethoxylated glycerol, propoxylated glycerol, or a combination thereof. Most preferably, it is glycerol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the humectant may be propylene glycol, butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, triethylene glycol, erythritol, octylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, or a combination thereof.

[0120] Generally, the humectant accounts for 0.0 to 35 wt%, preferably 0.001 to 20 wt%, more preferably 0.5 to 15 wt% (most preferably 0.75 to 12 wt%) of the total weight of the nanoemulsion, including any and all ranges and values subsumed therein.

[0121] The thickener is optionally applicable to the nanoemulsion. Particularly useful are polysaccharides. Examples include fibers, starches, natural / synthetic gums, and cellulosic materials. Representatives of starches are chemically modified starches such as sodium starch propylene phosphate and aluminum starch octenyl succinate. Usually preferred is tapioca starch, and maltodextrin is also preferred. Suitable gums include xanthan gum, scleroglucan, pectin, karaya gum, gum arabic, agar, guar gum (including locust bean gum), carrageenan, alginate, or a combination thereof. Suitable cellulosic materials include hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (cellulose gum / carboxymethyl cellulose), and cellulose (e.g., cellulose microfibrils, cellulose nanocrystals, or microcrystalline cellulose). Sources of cellulose microfibrils include secondary cell wall materials (e.g., wood pulp, cotton), bacterial cellulose, and primary cell wall materials. Preferably, the source of the primary cell wall material is selected from the parenchymal tissues from fruits, roots, bulbs, tubers, seeds, leaves, and combinations thereof; more preferably selected from citrus fruits, tomato fruits, peach fruits, pumpkin fruits, kiwi fruits, apple fruits, mango fruits, beets, beet roots, turnips, parsnips, corn, oats, wheat, peas, and combinations thereof; and even more preferably selected from citrus fruits, tomato fruits, and combinations thereof. The most preferred source of the primary cell wall material is the parenchymal tissue from citrus fruits. Citrus fibers, such as those available from the company with AQ Plus, can also be used as a source of cellulose microfibrils. The cellulose source can be surface-modified by any known method, including those described in Colloidal Polymer Science, Kalia et al., "Nanofibrillated cellulose: surface modification and potential applications" (2014), Volume 292, pages 5 - 31.

[0122] In addition to polymer viscosity aids, synthetic polymers are another class of effective thickeners that can be optionally used. This class includes cross-linked polyacrylates such as carbomer, polyacrylamides such as 305, and sulfosuccinate copolymers such as EG, and AVC. The copolymers are identified as sodium acrylate / sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate and acryloyldimethyltaurine / vinylpyrrolidone copolymers by their respective INCI nomenclature. Another preferred synthetic polymer suitable for thickening is an acrylate-based polymer commercially available from Seppic and sold under the name SIMULGE TM INS100. Calcium carbonate, fumed silica, and aluminum magnesium silicate can also be used.

[0123] Carbomer can also be used as a suspending agent. Carbomer can be present in an amount of 0.1 to 0.5% by weight, such as 0.2 to 0.4% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0124] When used, the amount of the optional thickener can range from 0.001 to 5% by weight of the composition. Maltodextrin, xanthan gum, and carboxymethyl cellulose are generally preferred optional thickeners. In one embodiment, the thickener can include sodium chloride, silica, bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, carbomer, cellulose, or a combination thereof.

[0125] The droplets of the nanoemulsion as disclosed herein generally have a volume mean diameter size (D[4,3]) (also used in the terms "volume mean diameter" or "volume average size" and interchangeable with the terms "volume average diameter" or "volume average size") of 750 nm or less, preferably from 60 nm to 500 nm, more preferably from 75 to 350 nm.

[0126] Nanoemulsions with droplet sizes within these ranges can be obtained using devices such as high-pressure homogenizers, such as high-pressure sonifiers. The pressure used can be 5000 psi or less, preferably 4500 psi or less (34.5 MPa or less, 31 MPa or less).

[0127] A wide variety of packaging can be employed to store and deliver the nanoemulsion. The packaging generally depends on the type of personal care end use. For example, leave-on skin lotions and creams, shampoos, conditioners, and body gels are typically packaged in plastic containers that have an opening at the dispensing end covered by a closure. Typical closures are screw caps, non-aerosol pumps, and flip-top hinged caps. Packaging for antiperspirants, deodorants, and depilatories can include containers with a ball at the dispensing end. Alternatively, these types of personal care products can be delivered in a composition formulation in a container with a propellant / expulsion mechanism. Metal cans pressurized by a propellant and having a nozzle are used as packaging for antiperspirants, shaving creams, and other personal care products.

[0128] As used herein, skin is meant to include the skin on the arm (including underarm), face, foot, neck, chest, hand, leg, buttocks, and scalp (including hair). The end-use composition (aqueous or oil continuous, but preferably aqueous continuous) is a composition for topical application and includes creams, lotions, balms, serums, gels, mousses, aerosols, deodorants, antiperspirants, shampoos, conditioners, toners, and personal detergents, including bars and liquids. Such end-use composition can be a nanoemulsion or a nanoemulsion added to the end-use composition. The beneficial active substance is an oil-soluble component that delivers a beneficial effect to the skin upon topical application. As used herein, oil is intended to include substances having a melting point below 75 °C, including oils that are beneficial active substances (such as sunscreens). As defined herein, high pressure means 600 psi or higher, and preferably more than 850 psi. In one embodiment, the end-use composition is aqueous continuous, and the nanoemulsion of the present invention is also aqueous continuous. In another embodiment, the end-use composition is a leave-on skin lotion or cream, or a solid or liquid personal washing composition.

[0129] As used herein, viscosity is measured using a Discovery HR-2 rheometer with a blasted plate having a 1000 micron gap and for a first viscosity V A at 0.4 s -1 for a first shear rate S A and for a second viscosity V B at 10 s -1 for a second shear rate S B , both measured at 25 °C and at 20 second intervals.

[0130] Unless otherwise expressly stated, all numbers expressing amounts of materials or reaction conditions, physical properties, and / or uses of materials in this specification are to be understood as being modified by the word "about". All amounts are by weight of the final composition, unless otherwise indicated.

[0131] It should be noted that when specifying any range of concentrations or amounts, any particular higher concentration can be associated with any particular lower concentration or amount and any sub-range contained therein. In this regard, it should be noted that all ranges disclosed herein include the endpoints, and the endpoints can be combined independently of each other (e.g., "up to 25 wt%", or more specifically, "the range of 5 wt% to 20 wt%", includes the endpoints and all intermediate values of the range of 5 wt% to 25 wt%, etc.). "Combination" includes blends, mixtures, alloys, reaction products, etc. Further, the terms "first", "second", etc. in this document do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are used to distinguish one element from another. Unless otherwise specified herein or clearly contradicted by the context, the terms "a", "an", and "the" in this document do not denote a limitation of quantity, but should be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. As used herein, the suffix "(s)" is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the item it modifies, thus including one or more items (e.g., membranes(s) includes one or more membranes). References throughout the specification to "one embodiment", "one aspect", "another embodiment", "another aspect", "an embodiment", "an aspect", etc. mean that a particular element (e.g., a feature, a structure, and / or a property) described in connection with that embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect described herein, and may or may not be present in other embodiments or aspects. Additionally, it should be understood that the described elements can be combined in any suitable manner in various embodiments or aspects.

[0132] All cited patents, patent applications, and other references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. However, if a term in this application conflicts or contradicts a term in the incorporated references, the term from this application shall prevail over the conflicting term from the incorporated references. Although particular aspects have been described, alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents that are presently unforeseen or may not be foreseeable to the applicant or other skilled artisans in the art may be contemplated. Accordingly, the appended claims, as filed and as may be amended, are intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and substantial equivalents.

[0133] To avoid doubt, the word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of". In other words, the listed steps, options, or alternatives need not be exhaustive.

[0134] The disclosure of the present invention as found herein is considered to cover all aspects found in claims that are mutually multiply dependent, regardless of the fact that the claims could be found without multiple dependence or redundancy. Unless otherwise specified, a numerical range expressed in the form “x to y” should be understood to include x and y. When specifying any range of values or amounts, any particular upper value or amount can be associated with any particular lower value or amount. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and ratios herein are by weight. The various features of the present invention mentioned in the above respective parts are appropriately applicable to other parts with necessary modifications. Thus, the features specified in one part can be appropriately combined with the features specified in other parts. The addition of any section headings is for convenience only and is not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0135] The following are brief descriptions of the drawings, where like elements are numbered similarly and are presented for the purpose of illustrating the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purpose of limiting them.

[0136] Figure 1 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0137] Figure 2 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0138] Figure 3 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0139] Figure 4 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0140] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0141] Figure 6 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0142] Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the heat flow versus temperature of a plant-based jelly containing fatty acids and a plant-based jelly not containing fatty acids.

[0143] Figure 8Graphical representation of the heat flow of plant-based gels containing fatty acids and plant-based gels without fatty acids as a function of temperature.

[0144] Figure 9 Graphical representation of the heat flow of plant-based gels containing fatty acids and plant-based gels without fatty acids as a function of temperature.

[0145] Figure 10 Graphical representation of the heat flow of plant-based gels containing fatty acids and plant-based gels without fatty acids as a function of temperature.

[0146] Figure 11 Graphical representation of the heat flow of plant-based gels containing fatty acids and plant-based gels without fatty acids as a function of temperature.

[0147] Examples

[0148] The following examples illustrate only the method of classifying the plant-based gel and nanoemulsion compositions disclosed herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0149] Preparation of Plant-based Jellies with and without Fatty Acids

[0150] Various plant-based gels are provided or prepared for classification by DSC analysis and for the preparation of nanoemulsions. Table 1 lists the commercially available and prepared plant-based gels used for DSC characterization.

[0151] Table 1. List of natural gels used for DSC analysis and nanoemulsion preparation

[0152]

[0153]

[0154] Note: 1 Castor wax mp-70, hydrogenated castor oil, castor oil, and trihydroxystearin from ACME-Hardesty

[0155] 2 Hydrogenated plant glycerides from Cargill Company

[0156] 3 Jojoba esters from Floratech - A Cargill Company

[0157] 4 Poly citronellol (and) candelilla wax from P2 Science Inc.

[0158] 5 Moringa oil from Naturex, a division of Givaudan

[0159] 6 Phytantriol from DSM

[0160] 7 Moringa resin from Hall

[0161] 8 Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) butter from BASF

[0162] 9 Acetyl ethylhexyl polyhydroxystearate

[0163] Jellies #4, #6, and #7 are commercially available and remain unchanged. Jelly #4, BOTANIJELLY TM 105 is an oligomer prepared by the esterification and polymerization of natural oils. Jelly #6, FLORAESTER TM 30, is an interesterified form of jojoba esters with a melting point of about 47 to about 51 °C. Jelly #7, CITROLATUM TM C, is a blend of candelilla wax and a liquid polymer polycitronellol with a repeating unit of about 2 to about 20. Jelly #11, BIOESTOLIDE TM 1300 is synthesized by reacting 12 - hydroxystearic acid and is an oligomer capped at both ends with acetic acid and ethylhexyl alcohol. The remaining jellies are prepared by combining the components in a glass container and heating in an 85 °C water bath until melted, removing from the water bath and cooling to a room temperature of about 20 to about 25 °C. In the jellies, where there are mixtures of materials, the ratio of one material to another is given in the description in Table 1. For example, for Jelly #1, it is a blend of castor wax MP 70 and soybean oil in a ratio of 2:7. Castor wax MP 70 is partially hydrogenated castor oil with a melting point of 68 - 72 °C. Jelly #2 is a blend of SB 45 and fully hydrogenated castor oil in a ratio of 8:1. SB 45 is shea butter with a melting point of 42 - 46 °C, while fully hydrogenated castor oil has a melting point of 86 to 88 °C. When the combination of materials is listed in Table 1, the ratio of the materials is given in parentheses after the description. For example, in plant - based Jelly #1, the ratio of the castor wax and soybean oil blend is 2:7.

[0164] Individually, each jelly listed in Table 1 is combined with lauric acid in a ratio of 9:1 and heated in an 85 °C water bath until melted, then cooled to a room temperature of about 20 °C to about 25 °C.

[0165] DSC Characterization of Plant-based Jellies with and without Fatty Acids

[0166] In this step, DSC is used to analyze plant-based gels and plant-based gels combined with fatty acids to determine their feasibility for use in nanoemulsions. When used, the fatty acid is lauric acid, and the ratio of the plant-based gel to the fatty acid is 9:1.

[0167] DSC analysis is carried out to determine which plant-based gels will be successful in the nanoemulsion composition by performing heating and cooling cycles on a TA Instruments DSC Q1000 from a temperature of -40 °C to 100 °C and then from 100 °C to -40 °C. The heating and cooling rates are 10 °C per minute. Data analysis is performed using Universal Analysis 2000. The area under a specific peak and the peak temperature are determined using the integral peak linear function.

[0168] Figures 1 to 11 The heat flow curves of plant-based gels with lauric acid (dashed line) and without lauric acid (solid line) are shown. In the case of including fatty acids, an additional peak is observed during the cooling process in the curve, and its area and peak temperature can be obtained using Universal Analysis 2000 through the integral peak linear function, as shown in Table 2.

[0169] For gels #1 to #11, the peak area of the lauric acid-induced peak ranges from 13.4 to 0 joules per gram (J / g), while the peak temperature falls anywhere between -27 °C and 2 °C. Figure 1 When lauric acid is present, gel #1 (a blend of castor wax MP 70 and soybean oil (2 / 7)) produces a peak area of 13.40 J / g and a peak temperature of -2.38 °C. Gel #10, a blend of moringa fat and phytantriol (1 / 9), does not produce any lauric acid-induced peaks, as Figure 10 shown.

[0170] Table 2: Peak area and peak temperature of natural gels:

[0171]

[0172] Including fatty acids in the plant-based gel lowers the freezing point of the plant-based gel, as Figures 1 to 10 shown. For example, Figure 3 when lauric acid is present, the freezing point onset of gel #3 changes from 60.6 °C to 52.32 °C. When lauric acid is mixed with gel #3, the 8.3 °C decrease in the freezing point onset will lower the temperature at which gel #3 can be processed into a nanoemulsion by approximately 8 °C.

[0173] Examples and Comparative Examples of Nanoemulsions

[0174] Nanoemulsions are typically formed in a two-stage process. The first stage is used to form a coarse emulsion. The internal oil phase and the external water phase are each heated to 75 °C (55 °C to 75 °C) such that each phase is clear and homogeneous (the oil phase is heated to 55 °C to 75 °C or until melted); then the internal oil phase is mixed with the external water phase under intense mixing. Intense mixing can be accomplished by conventional means, including mixing the materials in a stirred tank and passing the mixture through a rotor / stator mixer, such as a high-shear in-line mixer, or mixing in a vessel equipped with a high-shear mixer such as a Turbon mixer. Alternatively, the coarse emulsion can be produced by using a continuous high-shear mixing device (such as a standard Sonolator device manufactured by Sonic Corporation of Connecticut). These standard sonolators typically operate at pressures of 200 - 500 psi (1.4 to 3.4 MPa) to form the coarse emulsion.

[0175] The second stage of the process is to pass the coarse emulsion through a high-pressure homogenizer to form a nanoemulsion at a pressure of 1500 to 5000 psi (10.3 to 34.4 MPa) to achieve a desired droplet size of 75 to 350 nm, as measured by the volume-average diameter D[4,3] using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000. The high-pressure homogenizers used are the Nano DeBee homogenizer from BEE International (Massachusetts, USA) and the high-pressure sonolator device also manufactured by Sonic Corporation of Connecticut, USA. These devices can operate at pressures up to 1000 - 5000 psi (6.9 to 34.4 MPa) to produce nanoemulsions with droplet sizes (measured as volume-average diameter (D[4,3])) less than 400 nm. Homogenizers from other suppliers can be used as long as they can operate at pressures of 1000 - 5000 psi (6.9 to 34.4 MPa).

[0176] Table 3. Nanoemulsion Examples 1 - 9 and Comparative Examples 1 - 2

[0177]

[0178]

[0179] Note: 1 From Innospec, INCI name: Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, having 78 - 82% active matter and 8 - 13% free fatty acids, mainly lauric acid.

[0180] 2From Galaxy Surfactants, Ltd, INCI name: Sodium methyl lauroyl taurate, having 84 - 88% active matter and less than 4.5% free fatty acids.

[0181] Table 4: Correlation of lauric acid-induced peak area with the feasibility of forming stable nanoemulsions of native jelly:

[0182]

[0183] From the results in Table 4, it can be seen that when the peak area is greater than 2.5 J / g, stable nanoemulsions can be formed from plant-based jelly. When the peak is less than 2.5 J / g, such nanoemulsions cannot be formed, as demonstrated by the nanoemulsion examples and comparative examples listed in Table 3.

Claims

1. A method for classifying a plant-based jelly for nanoemulsion, comprising: Providing a plant-based jelly; Combine the plant-based jelly with C8 to C 18 , preferably C 10 to C 14 fatty acid combination to form a mixture, wherein the ratio of the plant-based jelly to the fatty acid is from 30:1 to 2:1, preferably from 20:1 to 2:1; more preferably from 10:1 to 2:1, even more preferably from 9:1 to 2:1; Heating the mixture until it reaches a molten state or until a temperature of 85 °C or lower; Cooling the mixture to room temperature; Subjecting the mixture to heating and cooling cycles, wherein the heating and cooling cycles include heating from a temperature range of -80 °C to -40 °C to a temperature range of 80 °C to 120 °C, preferably heating from a temperature range of -70 °C to -60 °C to a temperature range of 90 °C to 110 °C, and then cooling from 80 °C to 120 °C to a temperature range of -80 °C to -40 °C, preferably cooling from 90 °C to 110 °C to a temperature range of -70 °C to -60 °C, wherein the heating and cooling rates are from 1 °C per minute to 15 °C per minute, preferably from 2 °C per minute to 12 °C per minute, more preferably from 3 °C per minute to 10 °C per minute, and even more preferably 10 °C per minute; Analyzing the mixture with a differential scanning calorimeter; and Selecting the plant-based jelly for nanoemulsion if the area under the fatty acid-induced peak on the cooling curve is greater than 2.5 joules / gram, preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 joules / gram.

2. A method for preparing a nanoemulsion, comprising: Provided is a combination of a plant-based jelly and C8 to C 18 , preferably C 10 to C 14 fatty acids to form a mixture, wherein the ratio of the plant-based jelly to the fatty acids is from 30:1 to 2:1, preferably from 20:1 to 2:1; more preferably from 10:1 to 2:1, even more preferably from 9:1 to 2:1; classifying the plant-based jelly and fatty acid mixture according to the method of claim 1, wherein if the area under the fatty acid-induced peak in the cooling curve is greater than 2.5 joules / gram, preferably greater than or equal to 2.75 joules / gram, then the plant-based jelly and fatty acid mixture is selected to form the nanoemulsion; Heating an internal oil phase containing the plant-based jelly to a temperature of 55 °C or higher; Heating an external aqueous phase containing a water and surfactant mixture to a temperature of 55 °C or higher; Combining the internal oil phase and the external aqueous phase to form a first emulsion; And Passing the first emulsion through a device at a pressure of 1000 psi (6.9 MPa) or higher to form the nanoemulsion.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the size of the area under the peak is greater than or equal to 3.0 joules / gram.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plant-based jelly comprises a blend of a hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20 °C to 80 °C, a plant-based liquid oil, and a wax of natural origin, a plant-based butter, an oligomer synthesized from a plant-based composition, or a combination thereof.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20 °C to 80 °C includes a fully hydrogenated oil in which all double bonds are saturated by adding hydrogen to the double bonds and a partially hydrogenated oil in which less than 100% of the double bonds are saturated, preferably wherein the oil includes soybean oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, olive oil, canola oil, jatropha oil, argan oil, castor oil, a partially or fully hydrogenated monoester oil, or a combination thereof.

6. The method according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the blend of the plant-based liquid oil and the wax of natural origin comprises (a) a pre-blended mixture composition of 25-95% by weight of a liquid oil of natural origin, which comprises (1) squalane; (2) a monoester; (3) a triglyceride; or (4) a combination thereof; wherein the liquid oil has a melting point or phase transition point below 30°C and a viscosity of 500 Pa·s or less at room temperature; and (b) a pre-blended mixture composition of 5 to 75% by weight of a structuring material of natural origin, which comprises a plant wax and a vegetable wax of natural origin; wherein the structuring material has a melting point above 30°C.

7. The method according to claims 4 and 6, wherein the plant-based butter comprises shea butter, mango seed butter, olive butter, almond butter, cocoa butter, coconut butter, macadamia nut butter, candlenut butter, babassu butter, moringa butter, jojoba butter, sunflower seed butter, or a combination thereof.

8. The method according to claims 4 and 7, wherein the oligomers synthesized from the plant-based composition comprise polycitronellol and polycitronellol acetate; hydrogenated soy polyglycerol esters; C12-C18 alkanoyl glycerol / sebacic acid copolymers; acetyl ethylhexyl polyhydroxystearate; diisostearyl dimer dilinoleate, or a combination thereof.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fatty acid comprises lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, coconut fatty acid, or a combination thereof, preferably wherein the fatty acid is lauric acid.

10. A nanoemulsion composition prepared by the method according to claim 2, wherein the nanoemulsion composition comprises: An internal oil phase, which comprises: 40 to 75% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition of a plant-based jelly, the plant-based jelly comprising a hydrogenated plant-based oil having a melting point of 20°C to 80°C, a blend of a plant-based liquid oil and a wax of natural origin, a plant-based butter, an oligomer synthesized from a plant-based composition, or a combination thereof; and Optionally C8 to C 18 , preferably C 10 to C 14 fatty acids, wherein when the fatty acids are present, the plant-based jelly and the fatty acids are present in a ratio of 120:1 to 2:1, preferably 20:1 to 2:1, more preferably 9:1 to 2:1; and An external aqueous phase, which comprises: Water; and 1.6 to 15% by weight of the total nanoemulsion composition of one or more surfactants, which comprises an ammonium salt, an alkali metal salt, an alkali metal C1-C3 alkyl acyl taurate, an acyl taurate, an amphoteric ion surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or a combination thereof of acyl hydroxyethyl sulfonic acid; wherein the one or more surfactants comprising an ammonium salt, an alkali metal salt, an alkali metal C1-C3 alkyl alkyl taurate, an acyl taurate, or a combination thereof account for equal to or greater than 70% of all the surfactants present in the external aqueous phase of the nanoemulsion.

11. The nanoemulsion according to claim 11, which comprises 0.33% to 8.33% of a fatty acid.

12. The nanoemulsion according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the blend of the plant-based liquid oil and the wax of natural origin comprises (a) a pre-blended mixture composition of 25-95% by weight of a liquid oil of natural origin, which comprises (1) squalane; (2) a monoester; (3) a triglyceride, or (4) a combination thereof; wherein the liquid oil has a melting point or phase transition point below 30 °C and a viscosity of 500 Pa·s or less at room temperature; and (b) a pre-blended mixture composition of 5 to 75% by weight of a structuring material of natural origin, which comprises a plant wax and a vegetable wax of natural origin; wherein the structuring material has a melting point greater than 30 °C.

13. The nanoemulsion according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the plant-based butter comprises shea butter, mango seed butter, olive butter, almond butter, cocoa butter, coconut butter, macadamia nut butter, candlenut butter, babassu butter, moringa butter, or a combination thereof.

14. The nanoemulsion according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the oligomers synthesized from the plant-based composition comprise polycitronellol and polycitronellol acetate; hydrogenated soy polyglycerol esters; C12-C18 alkanoyl glycerol / sebacate copolymers; acetyl ethylhexyl polyhydroxystearate; diisostearyl dimer dilinoleate, or a combination thereof.

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