Oral care composition

Abstract

A toothpaste composition comprising differently coloured zones, in which at least one zone comprises an organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant of the organic colourant coated support has an organic colourant partition coefficient of at least 100:1.

Description

[0001] P0000949 CPL 1 ORAL CARE COMPOSITION The present invention relates to oral care compositions, in particular toothpastes 5 with combination of different colour pastes. Background A problem encountered in the production of a striped toothpaste is the bleeding and fading of colour. This is particularly pronounced if the coloured component is 10 applied to the surface of a white base where if any bleeding is present, it is quite noticeable. US 4814160 describes a two component striped dentifrice having a clear or translucent pigmented gel component and a white paste component, the different 15 formulations are said to prevent migration of the colour at the interface of the two dentifrice components. WO04 / 100913 describes a multiphase toothpaste comprising an opaque phase and a transparent gel phase, each said phase having a mobile phase with 20 suspended cleansing or polishing agents. No substantial transfer of ingredients is said to occur between the mobile phases. However, the remains the need to prevent colour migration between phases having different colours, especially when the phases have similar compositions. 25 Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a toothpaste composition comprising differently coloured zones, in which at least one zone comprises an organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant has a partition coefficient of at 30 least 100:1. The invention further relates to the use of an organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant of the organic colourant coated support has P0000949 CPL 2 an organic colourant partition coefficient of at least 100:1, to mitigate colour seepage from one coloured zone to a sperate coloured zone within a toothpaste. Detailed Description of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a toothpaste composition comprising differently coloured zones, in which at least one zone comprises an organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant has a partition coefficient of at least 100:1, and preferably at least 200:1 more preferably at least 250:1, most preferably at least 300:1. 10 Preferably the organic colourant coated solid support has an average particle size (D50) between 1 to 100 microns, preferably from1 to 50 microns and even more preferably from 2 to 20 microns. 15 In the context of the present invention, the partition coefficient is defined as the ratio of the organic colourant coated on the solid support to the organic colourant that has dissociated from the solid support and present in a pH 7.4 buffer solution after 1 hour at 25°C. (PBS or Phosphate Buffered Saline according to the following composition NaCl : 8.126 g / L (0.139 M), KCl : 0.27 g / L (0.0036 M), 20 NaHPO4: 1.43 g / L (0.008 M), KH2PO4 : 0.234 g / L (0.0017 M)). The average particle size can be measured by any conventional method such as Laser Diffraction (LD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Dynamic Image Analysis (DIA) or Sieve Analysis, preferably Laser Diffraction. 25 Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use may optionally be understood as modified by the word “about”. 30 All amounts are by weight of the composition, unless otherwise specified. P0000949 CPL 3 It should be noted that in specifying any ranges of values, any upper value can be associated with any particular lower value. Where a feature is disclosed with respect to a particular aspect of the invention 5 (for example a composition of the invention), such disclosure is also to be considered to apply to any other aspect of the invention (for example a method of the invention) mutatis mutandis. Any ingredients mentioned in this application that are natural or naturally derived 10 have been sourced from Europe. The composition may be a product which, during the normal course of usage, is not for the purpose of systemic administration or intentionally swallowed but is rather retained in the oral cavity for a time sufficient to contact substantially all of 15 the dental surfaces and / or oral tissues for the purposes of oral activity. The toothpaste is in the form of an extrudable semi-solid such as a cream, paste or gel (or mixture thereof). 20 The toothpaste composition comprising differently coloured zones, in which at least one zone comprises an organic colourant on a solid support in which the organic colourant has a partition coefficient of at least 100:1, preferably at least 200:1, more preferably 250:1 and most preferablyat least 300:1; and the solid support has an average particle size (D50) between 1 to 100 microns, preferably 25 between 1 to 50 microns and even more preferably between 2 to 20 microns. More preferably the concentration of the organic colourant that has dissociated from the solid support in an aqueous phase buffered at pH 7.4 after 1 hour at 25°C is less than 0.01mg / ml and even more preferably less than 0.005mg / ml. 30 The organic colourant coated solid support preferably has an average particle size (D50) between 1 to 100 microns, preferably between 1 to 50 microns and even more preferably between 2 to 20 microns. The solid support is selected from a mica, synthetic fluorphlogopite, aluminium oxide, clay, glass Flake (Calcium P0000949 CPL 4 Sodium Borosilicate), Bismuth Oxychloride, Boron Nitrideand silica, most preferable it is a mica. It is preferred if one zone of the composition is white and an alternative phase is 5 coloured, preferably red, blue, yellow or geen. Preferably the organic colourant is red, particularly preferred is red 30 lake. A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which one coloured zone is present as a stripe within the second zone. Preferably the non-white coloured zone, more preferably the stripe comprises from 2 to 10 wt% of the total composition. 10 In a preferred embodiment the weight ratio of organic colourant to solid support is from 1:1 to 1:30, more preferably 1:5 to 1:10. The composition of the zones within the toothpaste preferably only differ by the 15 presence or omission of colourants. A composition according to the invention (will generally contain further ingredients to enhance performance and / or consumer acceptability, in addition to the ingredients specified above. 20 Compositions according to the invention, particularly toothpastes, preferably comprise particulate abrasive materials such as silicas, aluminas, calcium carbonates, dicalciumphosphates, calcium pyrophosphates, hydroxyapatites, trimetaphosphates, insoluble hexametaphosphates and so on, including 25 agglomerated particulate abrasive materials, usually in amounts between 3 and 60% by weight of the oral care composition. In one embodiment of the invention the composition comprises a silica based abrasive. The preferred abrasive silicas used in the present invention is a silica 30 with a low refractive index. It may be used as the sole abrasive silica, or in conjunction with a low level of other abrasive silicas, e.g. those according to EP 236070. The low refractive index silicas, used as abrasives in the present invention are preferably silicas with an apparent refractive index (R.I.) in the range P0000949 CPL 5 of 1.41 - 1.47, preferably 1.435 - 1.445, preferably having a weight mean particle size of between 5 and 15 mm, a BET (nitrogen) surface area of between 10 and 100 m2 / g and an oil absorption of about 70 - 150 cm3 / 100 g, but abrasive silicas with a lower apparent refractive index may also be used. Typical examples of 5 suitable low refractive index abrasive silicas (e.g. having an R.I. of between 1.435 and 1.445) are Tixosil 63 and 73 ex Rhone Poulenc; Sident 10 ex Degussa; Zeodent 113 ex Zeofinn; Zeodent 124 ex Evonik, Sorbosil AC 77 ex PQ Corporation (having an R.I. of approximately 1.440). The amount of these silicas in the composition generally ranges from 5-60% by weight, usually 5-20% by 10 weight. An alternative suitable abrasive is calcium carbonate. Natural calcium carbonate abrasive is typically a finely ground limestone which may optionally be refined or partially refined to remove impurities. The material preferably has an average 15 particle size of less than 10 microns, e.g., 3-7 microns, e.g., about 5.5 microns. For example, a small particle silica may have an average particle size (D50) of 2.5-4.5 microns. Because natural calcium carbonate may contain a high proportion of relatively large particles of not carefully controlled, which may unacceptably increase the abrasivity, preferably no more than 0.01 wt%, 20 preferably no more than 0.004 percent by weight of particles would not pass through a 325 mesh. The material has strong crystal structure, and is thus much harder and more abrasive than precipitated calcium carbonate. The tapped density for the natural calcium carbonate is for example between 1 and 1.5 g / cc, e.g., about 1.2 for example about 1.19 g / cc. There are different polymorphs of 25 natural calcium carbonate, e.g., calcite, aragonite and vaterite, calcite being preferred for purposes of this invention. Precipitated calcium carbonate has a different crystal structure from natural calcium carbonate. It is generally more friable and more porous, thus having lower 30 abrasivity and higher water absorption. For use in the present invention, the particles are small, e.g., having an average particle size of 1-5 microns, and e.g., no more than 0.1 percent, preferably no more than 0.05 percent by weight of particles which would not pass through a 325 mesh. The particles may for P0000949 CPL 6 example have a D50 of 3-6 microns, for example 3.8-4.9, e.g., about 4.3; a D50 of 1-4 microns, e.g., 2.2-2.6 microns, e.g., about 2.4 microns, and a D10 of 1-2 microns, e.g., 1.2-1.4, e.g., about 1.3 microns. The particles have relatively high water absorption, e.g., at least 25 g / 100 g, e.g., 30-70 g / 100 g. 5 In some embodiments, additional calcium-containing abrasives, for example calcium phosphate abrasive, e.g., tricalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate or calcium pyrophosphate, and / or silica abrasives, sodium metaphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, aluminum silicate, calcined 10 alumina, or other siliceous materials, or combinations thereof are used. The composition, particularly if a toothpaste preferably comprises an inorganic or a natural or synthetic thickener or gelling agent in proportions of about 0.10 to about 15% by weight depending on the material chosen. These proportions of 15 thickeners in the dentifrice compositions of the present invention form an extrudable, shape-retaining product which can be squeezed from a tube onto a toothbrush and will not fall between the bristles of the brush but rather, will substantially maintain its shape thereon. Suitable thickeners or gelling agents useful in the practice of the present invention include inorganic thickening silicas 20 such as amorphous silicas available from Huber Corporation under the trade designation Zeodent 165, Irish moss, iota-carrageenan, gum tragacanth, and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Further suitable binders and thickeners can be present and include as sodium 25 carboxymethyl-cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose (Natrosol®), xanthan gum, gum arabic etc. as well as synthetic polymers such as polyacrylates and carboxyvinyl polymers such as Carbopol®; Compositions according to the invention may comprise a polymeric deposition aid. 30 Preferably the composition comprises acid anhydride polymers, particularly preferred are co-polymers of maleic anhydride with methyl vinylether, in which the anhydride moiety may be in a partially or fully hydrolysed or alcoholysed form. Preferred copolymers include Gantrez(R) polymers such as: P0000949 CPL 7 Gantrez S-95: molecular weight 216,000; free acid; Gantrez S-96: molecular weight 700,000; free acid; Gantrez S-97: molecular weight 1,500,000; free acid; and Gantrez MS-955: molecular weight 1,060,000; calcium / sodium salt. 5 Particularly preferred co-polymers of maleic acid and methyl vinylether have a molecular weight of 1,000,000 or greater and an especially preferred material is Gantrez S-97. Compositions according to the invention may comprise a tooth whitening agent. 10 The whitening agent preferably comprises a green and / or a blue colourant. In the context of the present invention a pigment is generally understood to be a shade / material which is insoluble in the relevant medium, at the relevant temperature. This is in contrast to dyes which are soluble. In the context of this invention, the "relevant medium" is human saliva, the liquid medium in which the 15 composition is used, at the temperature of the oral cavity during brushing of the teeth, i.e. up to 37 Degrees C. As a reasonable approximation, the relevant medium may be considered to be water and the relevant temperature to be 25 Degrees C. 20 Preferably the blue pigment is Pigment Blue 15, more preferably Pigment Blue 15:1, 15:2, 15:3, 15:4, 15:5 or 15:6, most preferably 15:1. A preferred pigment is blue pigment is Phthalocyanine Blue Pigment, CI No.74160, blue covarine. The preferred Green pigment is Phthalocyanine Green, preferably Phthalocyanine 25 Green CI-74260. Preferably the total level of pigment in the composition is from 0.01 wt% to 3 wt, more preferably from 0.02 to 2 wt%. 30 If the composition is a toothpaste it may be a dual phase paste, with the whitening pigments present in one phase. P0000949 CPL 8 Compositions according to the invention may comprise water-soluble or sparingly water-soluble sources of metal salts Preferred are zinc ions such as zinc chloride, zinc acetate, zinc gluconate, zinc sulphate, zinc fluoride, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc oxide, zinc monoglycerolate, zinc tartrate, zinc pyrophosphate and 5 zinc maleate; also preferred are stannous ions such as stannous fluoride and stannous chloride. Compositions according to the invention may comprise oral care enzyme systems such as hydrogen peroxide producing enzyme systems (e.g. the oxidoreductase 10 enzyme glucose oxidase), amyloglucosidase, dextranase and / or mutanase, (optionally in the presence of zinc ion providing compounds and / or 8- hydroxyquinoline derivatives), lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin, lysozyme and mixtures thereof. 15 Compositions of the invention may comprises fluoride sources such as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, zinc ammonium fluoride, tin ammonium fluoride, calcium fluoride, cobalt ammonium fluoride and mixtures thereof. Fluoride ion sources may be added to the compositions at a level of about 0.001 wt. percent to about 10 wt. percent, e.g., from about 20 0.003 wt. percent to about 5 wt. percent, 0.01 wt. percent to about 1 wt., or about 0.05 wt. percent. In some embodiment, the stannous fluoride is present in an amount of 0.1 wt. percent to 2 wt. percent (0.1 wt percent -0.6 wt. percent) of the total composition weight. Fluoride ion sources may be added to the compositions at a level of about 0.001 wt. percent to about 10 wt. percent, e.g., from about 25 0.003 wt. percent to about 5 wt. percent, 0.01 wt. percent to about 1 wt., or about 0.05 wt. percent. However, it is to be understood that the weights of fluoride salts to provide the appropriate level of fluoride ion will obviously vary based on the weight of the counter ion in the salt, and one of skill in the art may readily determine such amounts. In some embodiment, the fluoride source is a fluoride 30 salt present in an amount of 0.1 wt. percent to 2 wt. percent (0.1 wt percent -0.6 wt. percent) of the total composition weight (e.g., sodium fluoride (e.g., about 0.32 wt. percent). P0000949 CPL 9 Some embodiments of the invention are free from fluoride sources, that is the composition comprises less than 0.01 wt% of a fluoride source. In one embodiment a preferred class of oral care active for inclusion in the 5 compositions of the invention includes agents for the remineralisation of teeth. The term “remineralisation” in the context of the present invention means the in situ generation of hydroxyapatite on teeth. A specific example of a suitable agent for the remineralisation of teeth is a mixture 10 of a calcium source and a phosphate source which, when delivered to the teeth results in the in situ generation of hydroxyapatite on teeth. Illustrative examples of the types of calcium source that may be used in this context (hereinafter termed “remineralising calcium sources”) include, for 15 example, calcium phosphate, calcium gluconate, calcium oxide, calcium lactate, calcium glycerophosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium sulphate, calcium carboxymethyl cellulose, calcium alginate, calcium salts of citric acid, calcium silicate and mixtures thereof. Preferably the remineralising calcium source is calcium silicate. 20 Calcium salts, particularly calcium carbonate can also be used for enamel remineralization. Preferred calcium carbonate has a particle size (D50)) from 0.1 to 3 microns, preferable from 0.5 to 2 microns, more preferably form 0.6 to 1.8 microns. 25 The amount of remineralising calcium source(s) (e.g. calcium silicate) in the composition of the invention typically ranges from 1 to 30%, preferably from 5 to 20% by total weight remineralising calcium source based on the total weight of the oral care composition. 30 Illustrative examples of the types of phosphate source that may be used in this context (hereinafter termed “remineralising phosphate sources”) include, for example, monosodium dihydrogen phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, P0000949 CPL 10 sodium pyrophosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, potassium dihydrogenphosphate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate and mixtures thereof. Preferably the remineralising phosphate source is a mixture of trisodium phosphate and sodium 5 dihydrogen phosphate. The amount of remineralising phosphate source(s) (e.g. trisodium phosphate and sodium dihydrogen phosphate) in the composition of this invention typically ranges from 2 to 15%, preferably from 4 to 10% by total weight remineralising 10 phosphate source based on the total weight of the oral care composition. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions comprise an effective amount of one or more antibacterial agents, for example comprising an antibacterial agent selected from halogenated diphenyl ether (e.g. triclosan), triclosan 15 monophosphate, herbal extracts and essential oils (e.g., rosemary extract, tea extract, magnolia extract, thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, geraniol, carvacrol, citral, hinokitol, magnolol, ursolic acid, ursic acid, catechol, methyl salicylate, epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, gallic acid, miswak extract, sea- buckthorn extract), bisguanide antiseptics (e.g., chlorhexidine, alexidine or 20 octenidine), quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), CPC-claybenzalkonium chloride, tetradecylpyridinium chloride (TPC), N-tetradecyl-4-ethylpyridinium chloride (TDEPC)), phenolic antiseptics, hexetidine furanones, bacteriocins, ethyllauroyl arginate, arginine bicarbonate, a Camellia extract, a flavonoid, a flavan, halogenated diphenyl ether, creatine, sanguinarine, 25 povidone iodine, delmopinol, salifluor, metal ions (e.g., zinc salts, stannous salts, copper salts, iron salts), propolis and oxygenating agents (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, buffered sodium peroxyborate or peroxycarbonate), phthalic acid and its salts, monoperthalic acid and its salts and esters, ascorbyl stearate, oleoyl sarcosine, alkyl sulfate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, salicylanilide, domiphen bromide, 30 delmopinol, octapinol and other piperidino derivatives, nisin preparations, chlorite salts; parabens such as methylparaben or propylparaben and mixtures of any of the foregoing. One or more additional antibacterial or preservative agents may optionally be present in the composition in a total amount of from about P0000949 CPL 11 0.01 wt. percent to about 0.5 wt. percent, optionally about 0.05 wt. percent to about 0.1 wt. percent or about 0.3 percent. by total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions also comprise at least one 5 flavorant, useful for example to enhance taste of the composition. Any orally acceptable natural or synthetic flavorant can be used, including without limitation essential oils and various flavoring aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and similar materials, tea flavors, vanillin, sage, marjoram, parsley oil, spearmint oil, cinnamon oil, oil of wintergreen, peppermint oil, clove oil, bay oil, anise oil, 10 eucalyptus oil, citrus oils, fruit oils, sassafras and essences including those derived from lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, apricot, banana, grape, apple, strawberry, cherry, pineapple, etc., bean-and nut-derived flavors such as coffee, cocoa, cola, peanut, almond, etc., adsorbed and encapsulated flavorants and the like. Also encompassed within flavorants herein are ingredients that provide 15 fragrance and / or other sensory effect in the mouth, including cooling or warming effects. Such ingredients illustratively include menthol, carvone, menthyl acetate, menthyl lactate, camphor, eucalyptus oil, eucalyptol, anethole, eugenol, cassia, oxanone, a-irisone, , thymol, linalool, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, N-ethyl-p- menthan-3-carboxamine, N, 2, 3-trimethyl-2- isopropylbutanamide, 3- (1- 20 menthoxy) -propane-1, 2-diol, cinnamaldehyde glycerol acetal (CGA), menthone glycerol acetal (MGA) and the like. One or more flavorants are optionally present in a total amount of from about 0.01 wt. percent to about 5 wt. percent, for example, from about 0.03 wt. percent to about 2.5 wt. percent, optionally about 0.05 wt. percent to about 1.5 wt. percent, further optionally about 0.1 wt. percent 25 to about 0.3 wt. percent and in some embodiments in various embodiments from about 0.01 wt. percent to about 1 wt. percent, from about 0.05 to about 2 percent, from about 0.1 percent to about 2.5 percent, and from about 0.1 to about 0.5 percent by total weight of the composition. 30 In some embodiments, the oral care compositions comprise at least one sweetener, useful for example to enhance taste of the composition. Sweetening agents among those useful herein include dextrose, polydextrose, sucrose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, mannose, xylose, ribose, fructose, levulose, P0000949 CPL 12 galactose, corn syrup, partially hydrolyzed starch, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, ethanol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, isomalt, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and salts thereof (e.g. sodium saccharin), sucralose, dipeptide-based intense sweeteners, cyclamates, dihydrochalcones. 5 One or more sweeteners are optionally present in a total amount depending strongly on the particular sweetener (s) selected, but typically 0.005 wt. percent to 5 wt. percent, by total weight of the composition, optionally 0.005 wt. percent to 0.2 wt. percent, further optionally 0.05 wt. percent to 0.1 wt. percent by total 10 weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions further comprise an agent that interferes with or prevents bacterial attachment, e.g., ethyl lauroyl arginiate (ELA), solbrol or chitosan, as well as plaque dispersing agents such as enzymes (papain, 15 glucoamylase, etc.). Mixtures of any of the above described materials may also be used. The composition according the invention will comprise further ingredients which 20 are common in the art, such as: antimicrobial agents, e.g. chlorhexidine, sanguinarine extract, metronidazole, quaternary ammonium compounds, such as cetylpyridinium chloride; cetylpyridium chloride clay complex bis-guanides, such as chlorhexidine digluconate, hexetidine, octenidine, alexidine; and halogenated bisphenolic 25 compounds, such as 2,2' methylenebis-(4-chloro-6-bromophenol); anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, aspirin, indomethacin etc.; anti-caries agents such as sodium- and stannous fluoride, aminefluorides, sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium trimeta phosphate and casein; 30 plaque buffers such as urea, calcium lactate, calcium glycerophosphate and strontium polyacrylates; vitamins such as Vitamins A, C, D, B (preferably B3) and E; plant extracts; P0000949 CPL 13 plant-derivable antioxidants such as flavonoid, catechin, polyphenol, and tannin compounds and mixtures thereof; desensitising agents, e.g. potassium citrate, potassium chloride, potassium tartrate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium oxalate, potassium nitrate and 5 strontium salts; anti-calculus agents, e.g. alkali-metal pyrophosphates, hypophosphite-containing polymers, organic phosphonates and phosphocitrates etc.; biomolecules, e.g. bacteriocins, antibodies, enzymes, etc.; flavours, e.g. peppermint and spearmint oils; 10 proteinaceous materials such as collagen; preservatives; opacifying agents; hyaluronic acid; amino acids such as arginine; 15 colouring agents; pH-adjusting agents; sweetening agents; mouth feel agents pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, e.g. starch, sucrose, water or water / alcohol 20 systems etc.; surfactants, such as anionic, nonionic, cationic and zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants; Humectants such as glycerol, sorbitol, propyleneglycol, xylitol, lactitol etc.; polymeric compounds which can enhance the delivery of active ingredients such 25 as antimicrobial agents can also be included; buffers and salts to buffer the pH and ionic strength of the oral care composition; and other optional ingredients that may be included are e.g. bleaching agents such as peroxy compounds e.g. potassium peroxydiphosphate, effervescing systems such 30 as sodium bicarbonate / citric acid systems, colour change systems, and so on. P0000949 CPL 14 Examples of the invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting Examples. Examples of the invention are illustrated by a number while comparative Examples are illustrated by a letter. 5 Examples The organic colourant partition coefficient was determined by dispersing 10mg of the organic colourant on the solid support in 1mL of a pH 7.4 buffer solution to obtain a 10mg / ml dispersion. (PBS or Phosphate Buffered Saline according to the following composition NaCl: 8.126 g / L (0.139 M), KCl : 0.27 g / L (0.0036 M), 10 NaHPO4: 1.43 g / L (0.008 M), KH2PO4 : 0.234 g / L (0.0017 M)). The dispersion was incubated for 1 hour at 25°C, then filtered with a 0.22 micron cellulose Acetate syringe filter with size 30mm. 15 The solution obtained was analysed with a spectrophotometer and the absorbance (λmax) compared with the calibration curve for the organic colourant to determine its concentration. The organic colourant partition coefficient was calculated by dividing the organic colourant content on the solid support (provided by the material supplier) by the organic colourant content measured in the pH 7.4 20 buffer solution. The following Examples were prepared.

[0002] P0000949 CPL 15 Table 1 – Example 1 Stripe 5% Base 95% Final Formula IngredientBenzyl Alcohol 0.5 0.5 0.5 Cellulose Gum SCMC 9H 0.7 0.7 0.7 Fine Ground Natural Chalk - 5 microns 40.0 40.0 40.0 Hydrated Silica Thickening Med Viscosity 5.0 5.0 5.0 PAS - Oral care grade 1.2 1.2 1.2 Sodium Monofluorophosphate 1.1 1.1 1.1 Sorbitol 70% 15.0 15.0 15.0 Tri sodium Phosphate anhydrous 0.75 0.75 0.75 Tripotassium Citrate monohydrate 0.5 0.5 0.5 Mica 87.5%, Red 30 Lake* (CI 73360)12.5% 0.4 ^ 0.020 Water and minors To 100 To 100 To 100 Red 30 Lake * 30 has a organic partition coefficient of 300 5 Table 2 - Example A Stripe 5% Base 95% Final Formula IngredientBenzyl Alcohol 0.5 0.5 0.5 Cellulose Gum SCMC 9H 0.7 0.7 0.7 Fine Ground Natural Chalk - 5 microns 40.0 40.0 40.0 Hydrated Silica Thickening Med Viscosity 5.0 5.0 5.0 PAS - Oral care grade 1.2 1.2 1.2 Sodium Monofluorophosphate 1.1 1.1 1.1 Sorbitol 70% 15.0 15.0 15.0 Tri sodium Phosphate anhydrous 0.75 0.75 0.75 Tripotassium Citrate monohydrate 0.5 0.5 0.5 Mica 87.5%, Red 7 Lake** (CI15850)12.5% 0.4 ^ 0.020 Water and minors To 100 To 100 To 100 Red 7 Lake** has an organic partition coefficient of 7:1 P0000949 CPL 16 Example 1 and Example A were stored at 40oC and 45oC for 1 month. After this time Example A showed clear migration and discolouration of the coloured stripe. Example 1 showed negligible colour migration and discolouration of the stripe. Thus, it is demonstrated that the example according to the invention are stable on 5 storage with little or no fading and discolouration of the stripe.

Claims

P0000949 CPL 17 CLAIMS 1. A toothpaste composition comprising differently coloured zones, in which at least one zone comprises an organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant of the organic colourant coated support has an organic colourant partition coefficient of at least 100:

1.

2. A toothpaste composition according to claim 1 in which the organic colourant has an organic partition coefficient of at least 200:1 preferably 250:1, more preferably 300:

1.

3. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which the organic colourant coated solid support has an average particle size (D50) of 100 microns or below, preferably from 1 to 50 microns and even more preferably from 2 to 20 microns.

4. A toothpaste composition according to any of the proceeding claims in which the solid support is selected from a mica, synthetic fluorphlogopite, aluminium oxide, clay and silica, most preferably mica.

5. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which the organic colourant is red, blue or green and most preferably red.

6. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which the organic colourant is Red 30 lake.

7. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which the weight ratio of organic colourant to solid support is from 1:1 to 1:30, preferably 1:5 to 1:

20.

8. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claims that comprises one white zone and one non-white zone.P0000949 CPL 18 9. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which one coloured zone is present as a stripe within the second zone.

10. A toothpaste composition according to claim 9 in which stripe comprises from 2 to 10 wt% of the total composition.

11. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim that further comprises a silica abrasive.

12. A toothpaste composition according to any of claims 1 to 10 that further comprises a carbonate abrasive.

13. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim that further comprises an anionic and / or nonionic cleansing surfactant.

14. A toothpaste composition according to any preceding claim in which the composition of the zones only differ by the presence or omission of colourants.

15. Use of a organic colourant coated on a solid support in which the organic colourant of the organic colourant coated support has an organic colourant partition coefficient of at least 100:1, to mitigate colour seepage from one coloured zone to a sperate coloured zone within a toothpaste.