Antimicrobial Peptide Detergent for Low-Temperature Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergents and cleaning agents face challenges in achieving sufficient cleaning performance, especially on stubborn stains, due to trends towards low-temperature programs and compact formulations. Additionally, they fail to effectively kill microorganisms on textiles and hard surfaces, leading to hygiene issues and bad odors.

Innovation Solution

The use of antimicrobially active peptides in detergents and cleaning agents, which have a length of 10 to 50 amino acids, a net charge of +2 to +8, and are specifically formulated to enhance cleaning performance and hygiene by inhibiting microbial growth and reducing bad odors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If low-temperature programs are used for washing and cleaning, then energy consumption is reduced, but microorganisms are not sufficiently killed and cleaning performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces antimicrobial peptides as a new active ingredient that changes the chemical composition parameter of the detergent formulation. These peptides remain effective at low temperatures, enabling the washing process to maintain low energy consumption while achieving sufficient cleaning and antimicrobial performance that previously required high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If compact formulations are used for detergents, then storage and transport efficiency is improved, but cleaning performance on stubborn stains becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation concentrationVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite detergent formulation that combines antimicrobial peptides with surfactants and other cleaning agents. This composite approach allows the compact formulation to maintain high cleaning performance on stubborn stains while achieving space and weight efficiency in storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If bleach-free detergents are used to protect textiles, then fabric damage is reduced, but antimicrobial effectiveness and hygiene performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefabric integrityVSAvoidantimicrobial effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of bleach (oxidation) with a biological mechanism (antimicrobial peptides that disrupt microbial cell membranes). This substitution maintains fabric integrity by avoiding the harsh oxidizing action of bleach while achieving effective antimicrobial protection and hygiene performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If conventional detergents are used without antimicrobial agents, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but hygiene performance and odor control become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformulation complexityVSAvoidhygiene performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antimicrobial peptides serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide antimicrobial protection, control bad odors, and enhance overall cleaning performance. This multi-functionality allows the detergent formulation to achieve superior hygiene performance without proportionally increasing formulation complexity, as one ingredient addresses multiple problem areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The antimicrobial peptides significantly improve the cleaning performance of detergents and cleaning agents, effectively removing stubborn stains and eliminating microbial growth and bad odors on textiles and hard surfaces, even at low temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

The term 'antimicrobially active' or 'antimicrobial activity', as used herein, means that living microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi or viruses, are put into a state in which they are inhibited in their growth or killed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntimicrobial activity:

Data Source

PatentUS20250171715A1Detergent and cleaning agent containing antimicrobial peptide

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of detergents and cleaning agents, in particular peptide-containing detergents and cleaning agents, and relates to the use of a peptide, in particular an antimicrobially active peptide, in a detergent and cleaning agent for cleaning textiles and/or hard surfaces, in particular dishes, and/or household surfaces. The detergent and cleaning agent according to the invention preferably comprises an antimicrobially active peptide, at least one surfactant, a builder system, and optionally at least one enzyme. Furthermore, the invention relates to corresponding agents and methods.