Antimicrobial Perfume Composition for Surfactant Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Perfume ingredients with antimicrobial activity are often hindered by their bioavailability when incorporated into surfactant bases like liquid soaps or shampoos, requiring higher concentrations that are not acceptable due to sensory, cost, and solubility issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of antimicrobial compositions comprising a perfume ingredient with a log P of less than or equal to 3.5 and a bactericidal effect of 5.5 log reduction in an ethanol solution at concentrations of less than or equal to 0.5%, combined with a surfactant and potentially a hydrotrope, to enhance bioavailability and efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If perfume ingredients are incorporated into surfactant micelles in liquid soaps or shampoo, then the composition provides antimicrobial activity, but the bioavailability of the perfume ingredients is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidbioavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific perfume ingredient composition that acts as an intermediary between the surfactant base and the antimicrobial target. This composition includes compounds with specific log P values (0.5-3.5) and equivalent alkane carbon numbers (-30 to -10), which mediate the delivery of antimicrobial activity while maintaining adequate bioavailability despite micelle incorporation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by specifying precise physicochemical parameters for the perfume ingredients: log P between 0.5 and 3.5, and equivalent alkane carbon number between -30 and -10. These parameter constraints optimize the balance between micelle incorporation (for stability in surfactant bases) and bioavailability (for antimicrobial efficacy), resolving the contradiction without requiring higher concentrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If higher concentrations of perfume ingredients are used to overcome reduced bioavailability, then antimicrobial efficacy is maintained, but sensory affect, cost, and solubility issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantimicrobial efficacyVSAvoidsensory acceptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By optimizing the log P and equivalent alkane carbon number parameters of the perfume ingredients, the patent achieves effective antimicrobial activity at lower concentrations (0.01-5.0% in the composition). This parameter optimization ensures that the perfume ingredients remain sufficiently bioavailable even when incorporated into surfactant micelles, avoiding the need for higher concentrations that would compromise sensory acceptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite approach by combining multiple perfume ingredients with specific physicochemical properties (log P 0.5-3.5, equivalent alkane carbon number -30 to -10) in a defined composition. This composite perfume blend works synergistically within the surfactant base to maintain antimicrobial efficacy at acceptable concentration levels, balancing efficacy with sensory properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20230105693A1Antimicrobial compositions
Publication Date: 2023.04.06 FIRMENICH SA

AI summary

The present invention is related to methods and compositions that can be applied to personal cleaning, oral care, deodorant and hard surface cleaning applications, including liquid soap, foaming soap, liquid dishwashing detergent, shower gel, shampoo, emulsified deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste and facial cleanser in order to reduce or eliminate microbes on a surface or body part.