Adhesive Surface Powder Loading for Stable Active Agent Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adhesive compositions face challenges in efficiently and controllably releasing active agents, such as chlorhexidine gluconate, to a region of interest while maintaining adequate bonding strength and avoiding adverse effects on adhesive properties, including increased costs and instability at processing temperatures.

Innovation Solution

The active agent is applied as a dry powder on the substrate contacting surface of the adhesive layer, separate from adhesive processing, allowing for efficient delivery and reduced adhesive coating weight, thereby maintaining bonding strength and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If active agent is incorporated into adhesive composition, then active agent delivery to substrate is achieved, but bonding strength of adhesive is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive agent deliveryVSAvoidbonding strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is segmented into two separate layers: a adhesive layer providing bonding strength and a separate active agent layer providing antimicrobial activity. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its function independently without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between active agent delivery and bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The active agent is concentrated at the substrate contacting surface where it is most needed for preventing microbial growth, rather than being uniformly distributed throughout the adhesive. This local concentration maximizes delivery effectiveness while minimizing interference with adhesive bonding properties in the bulk material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If active agent is incorporated into adhesive composition, then active agent delivery to substrate is achieved, but significant portion of active agent remains in adhesive instead of transferring to skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive agent transfer to substrateVSAvoidactive agent remaining in adhesive

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The active agent is pre-positioned on the substrate contacting surface of the adhesive layer before final assembly. This preliminary placement ensures that when the adhesive is applied to the substrate, the active agent is already in the optimal position for immediate transfer and delivery, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate contacting surface of the adhesive layer serves as an intermediary interface that facilitates efficient transfer of the active agent from the adhesive to the substrate. This intermediate surface optimizes the transfer mechanism, ensuring maximum active agent delivery while minimizing retention in the adhesive bulk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If active agent is incorporated into adhesive composition, then active agent delivery to substrate is achieved, but adhesive processing temperature causes instability of active agent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive agent deliveryVSAvoidactive agent stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is segmented into two separate layers: a adhesive layer processed at elevated temperatures for optimal bonding and a separate active agent layer applied afterward. This segmentation allows the adhesive to be processed at high temperatures without exposing the temperature-sensitive active agent to thermal degradation, resolving the contradiction between processing stability and active agent stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The active agent is applied to the adhesive layer after the adhesive has been processed and prepared, rather than being incorporated during the processing stage. This preliminary sequencing ensures the active agent is exposed to processing temperatures for minimal time, maintaining its stability while still achieving effective delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enhances the efficacy of active agent delivery to the region of interest, reduces material costs, and maintains adhesive properties by ensuring the active agent remains stable and is delivered efficiently without degrading.

Implementation Method 1

bringing the release liner into contact with the adhesive layer such that the active agent is positioned between the substrate contacting surface of the adhesive layer and the release liner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3789014B1Articles with active agent concentrated at the substrate contacting surface and related methods

Publication Date: 2026.04.22 AVERY DENNISON CORP

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of incorporating an active agent to an adhesive article for delivery of the active agent to a substrate, the adhesive article including an adhesive layer defining a substrate contacting surface adapted to adhere the adhesive article to the substrate, the method comprising: applying an active agent to the substrate contacting surface such that the active agent is disposed between the substrate and the adhesive layer when the adhesive article is adhered to the substrate, wherein the active agent is applied to the substrate contacting surface of the adhesive as a dry powder.