Absorbent product with prebiotic composition

Abstract

The present invention supports skin flora by providing an absorbent article having a topsheet coated with a coating composition comprising a prebiotic mixture of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, and anionic surfactant. Prebiotic efficacy of the absorbent article having a coating composition comprising a prebiotic mixture of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, and anionic surfactant is examined on the strains of Streptococcus salivarius, beneficial microorganism and Staphylococcus aureus, infectious microorganism. Consequently, increase in growth rate of strains of Streptococcus salivarius, beneficial microorganism while decrease in growth rate of Staphylococcus aureus, infectious microorganism is observed.

Description

[0001] ABSORBENT ARTICLE WITH PREBIOTIC COMPOSITION

[0002] Technical Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an absorbent article comprising a prebiotic composition for supporting skin flora.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Probiotics and prebiotic s are important factors in human health. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal tract as well as on the human skin. Prebiotic s are well known for stimulating the growth or activity of probiotics. On the other side of probiotics, the microorganism that causes infection are commonly called infectious microorganisms. Beneficial microorganisms: probiotics fight against infectious microorganisms by competing for growth and building a barrier on skin and limiting infectious microorganism growth.

[0006] This defense mechanism is essential and especially in women skin health, maintaining a healthy microbiome during menstrual cycle provides protection against infections and diseases.

[0007] W02005110504, EP3054998 both discloses a wet wipe and an absorbent article with prebiotics, that promotes probiotics on the contacted skin. There is always a need for low-cost and more effective absorbent articles coated with prebiotic compositions.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention supports skin flora by providing an absorbent article having a topsheet coated with a coating composition comprising a prebiotic mixture of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin, and anionic surfactant.

[0010] Brief description of drawings

[0011] Figure 1: Brief steps of the microorganism growth method Figure 2: Growth of Streptococcus salivarius (beneficial microorganism) on nonwoven with anionic surfactant using 0.0%, 1.0%, and 1.5% prebiotic mixtures after 7 hours of incubation period.

[0012] Figure 3: Growth rate of Streptococcus salivarius (beneficial microorganism) on hygienic pad with anionic surfactant using 0.0 %, and 1.0 % prebiotic mixtures after 7 hours of incubation period.

[0013] Figure 4: Growth of Streptococcus salivarius (beneficial microorganism) and Staphylococcus aureus (infectious microorganism) on hygienic pad with anionic and cationic surfactant using 1.0 %, and 1.5 % prebiotic mixtures after 7 hours of incubation period.

[0014] Figure 5: Growth of Staphylococcus aureus (infectious microorganism) with no prebiotics, no surfactants, and; with 1.0% prebiotic mixtures, no surfactants, and; with 1% prebiotic mixtures, anionic surfactant in PBS after 7 hours of incubation period.

[0015] Detailed Description of Invention

[0016] Present invention is absorbent article comprising a coating composition comprising prebiotic mixture and anionic surfactant for supporting skin flora.

[0017] Absorbent article are hygiene products such as an open type diaper, a pant type diaper, an adult incontinence product, feminine hygiene product, such as a sanitary napkin and a panty liner but not limited to said products.

[0018] Absorbent article has a liquid impermeable backsheet and a liquid permeable topsheet. An absorbent core between liquid impermeable backsheet and liquid permeable topsheet. Absorbent article may comprise an acquisition distribution layer (ADL).

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, absorbent article for supporting skin flora, comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet and an absorbent layer placed between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein liquid permeable topsheet is coated with a coating composition characterizing in that said coating composition comprises an anionic surfactant and a prebiotic mixture of FOS and inulin.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, absorbent article having a nonwoven topsheet comprises 0.5 % to 1.5 % by weight prebiotic mixtures of FOS and inulin.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the coating composition comprises 5 % to 15 % by weight prebiotic mixtures of FOS and inulin. In an embodiment of the present invention, the prebiotic mixture consists of 75 % to 95 % by weight inulin and 25 % to 5 % by weight FOS

[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the nonwoven topsheet comprises 0.2% to 1.0 % by weight anionic surfactant

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the coating composition comprises 2% to 10 % by weight anionic surfactant

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the anionic surfactant comprises 2.5% to 10% by weight Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the coating composition further comprises nonionic surfactant

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the nonionic surfactant is fatty alcohol ethoxylates

[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, nonwoven topsheet is coated using spray and / or kiss roll method.

[0028] Methods:

[0029] For the following examples, materials used and methodology is described and the present invention is not limited to the examples.

[0030] Strains: Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius ATCC 13419 ) (beneficial microorganism) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus ATCC 6538) (infectious microorganism) were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).

[0031] Phosphate buffered saline (PBS): 1 L working concentration contains 3.2 mM Na2HPO4, 0.5 mM KH2PO4, 1.3 mM KC1, 135 mM NaCl, at pH 7.4.

[0032] Vaginal fluid: 1 L contains by weight (g): NaCl, 3.51; KOH, 1.40; Ca(OH) 2,0.222; bovine serum albumin, 0.018; lactic acid, 2.00; acetic acid, 1.00; glycerol, 0.16; urea, 0.4; and glucose, 5.0

[0033] The prebiotic mixture comprises 90% inulin and 10% FOS.

[0034] PHP 32: Mixture of hydrophilic and wetting agents (2.5 -10% by weight Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.)

[0035] PHP 26: Mixture of cationic antistatic agents and cationic siloxanes

[0036] PHP 32 and PHP 26 are obtained from Schill & Seilacher GmbH.

[0037] Application of surfactants improves the coating of the prebiotic mixture on nonwoven. Impact of prebiotic containing sanitary pad was determined using a method based on, ISO 22196 and ISO 20743.

[0038] The hygienic pads and nonwovens are autoclaved for 15 min at 120 °C, before incubation.

[0039] An aliquot (resulting in a moisture content equivalent to 90% of the moisture holding capacity of the sample) of a cell suspension (cells harvested from Plate culture) diluted in simulated vaginal fluid or PBS solution is used to inoculate the samples of the test materials supplied (50mm x 50mm). The inoculated subsamples are then incubated for 7 hours at 37°C under 95% RH. After this contact interval, the individual samples are transferred into an aliquot of a simulated vaginal fluid or PBS solution. These are then agitated vigorously and the resulting suspension is analysed for the number of colony forming units present by dilution plate count using Brain Heart Agar or Trypcase Soya Agar. Plates are then incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C and then the colonies are counted. Figure 1 is the brief illustration of the method described.

[0040] Examples

[0041] A nonwoven sheet and a hygienic pad are used in the examples below, but any hygienic products having a nonwoven topsheet can be used, such as an open type diaper, a pant type diaper, an adult incontinence product, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner but not limited to said products.

[0042] Table 1. Coating solution formulations and dry weight ratios of coating on Nonwoven Coating solutions and resulting dry weight coating on nonwoven are given in Table 1.

[0043] 1.0 % prebiotic coating refers to 1.0 % inulin + FOS in dry weight, and 10 % inulin + FOS in the coating solution.

[0044] 1.5 % prebiotic coating refers to 1.5 % inulin + FOS in dry weight, and 15 % inulin + FOS in the coating solution.

[0045] The coating composition is applied to the nonwoven web using kiss roll method.

[0046] First, the growth of the S. salivarius, beneficial microorganism, is measured where prebiotic mixture, (FOS+ inulin) applied on nonwoven sheet with the 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 % dilution ratios. Anionic surfactant, PHP32 is also applied to nonwoven sheet. Nonwoven samples are incubated for 7 hours (T7) in PBS solution.

[0047] Table 2. Growth of S. salivarius at T7, nonwoven coated with hydrophilic anionic surfactant.

[0048] Table 2 and Figure 2 disclose that S. Salivarius, beneficial microorganism, grows more using 1.0 % and 1.5 % prebiotic mixtures, FOS and inulin, than without any prebiotic agent in PBS solution.

[0049] After testing growth of S. Salivarius, beneficial microorganism, on a simplified nonwoven case in PBS, growth of S. Salivarius on a more complex, Hygienic pad, is carried using again 0.0, 1.0, 1.5 % prebiotic mixtures, FOS and inulin, in simulated vaginal fluid. Anionic surfactant, PHP32 is also present in the coating solution.

[0050] Table 3. Growth rate of S. salivarius at T7, control hygienic pad coated with hydrophilic anionic surfactant.

[0051] Table 3 and figure 3 disclose that S.Salivarius, beneficial microorganism, grows on hygienic pad more using 1.0 % and 1.5 % prebiotic mixtures, FOS and inulin, than without any prebiotic agent in simulated vaginal fluid. Growth rate is around 10-15 times higher when 1.0 % and 1.5 % prebiotic mixture is added.

[0052] Next, the antimicrobial effects of the surfactants are investigated. In the Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (2019, 22: 1119-1127), Falk has reviewed the antimicrobial properties of four major classes of surfactants (cationic, anionic, amphoteric, and nonionic). Falk concludes that four major classes of surfactants have demonstrated antimicrobial properties but antimicrobial efficacy vary with formulation variables.

[0053] Table 4. Growth of S. aureus at Ti, hygienic pad coated with cationic (PHP26) and anionic surfactant (PHP32).

[0054] Table 4 and figure 4 disclose that S. aureus, infectious microorganism, grows on hygienic pad less using anionic surfactant, PHP32, than cationic surfactant PHP26 in simulated vaginal fluid. In the present invention, surprisingly anionic surfactant, PHP32 has demonstrated better antimicrobial properties than cationic surfactant PHP26 as show in table 4 and figure 4. As a means to more simply demonstrate antimicrobial efficacy of anionic surfactant, S. aureus, infectious microorganism, is incubated with using no prebiotic mixture, no surfactant; 1.0% prebiotic mixture, no surfactant; and 1.0 % prebiotic mixture, anionic surfactant, PHP32 in PBS solution. Table 5. Growth of S. aureus at T7, in PBS solution with no prebiotics, no surfactant; 1.0 % prebiotic mixture, no surfactant; and 1.0% prebiotic mixture, anionic surfactant (PHP32).

[0055] Table 5 and figure 5 disclose that Growth of S. aureus, infectious microorganism is significantly reduced by using 1.0 % prebiotic mixture and anionic surfactant, PHP32.

Claims

1. An absorbent article for maintaining skin microflora, comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and an absorbent layer located between said top sheet and said back sheet, wherein the liquid-permeable top sheet is coated with a coating composition, characterized in that said coating composition includes an anionic surfactant and a prebiotic mixture of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin.

2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said top sheet contains 0.5-1.5 wt.% of prebiotic mixtures of FOS and inulin.

3. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said coating composition contains 5-15 wt.% of prebiotic mixtures of FOS and inulin.

4. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said prebiotic mixture consists of 75-95% by weight of inulin and 25-5% by weight of FOS.

5. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said top sheet contains 0.2-1.0 wt.% of an anionic surfactant.

6. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said coating composition contains 2-10 wt.% of an anionic surfactant.

7. An absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein said anionic surfactant contains 2.5-10% by weight of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate.

8. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said coating composition further comprises a non-ionic surfactant.

9. The absorbent article according to claim 8, wherein said non-ionic surfactant is fatty alcohol ethoxylates.

10. The absorbent article of claim 1, wherein said topsheet is coated using a spray and / or low pressure roller coating method.