Aqueous Oleanolic Acid Oral Care Composition Without Ethanol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Oleanolic acid, with its antibacterial and hemostatic properties, is difficult to incorporate into oral care compositions due to its hydrophobic nature, often requiring solvents like ethanol or DMSO, which are undesirable in many oral care products.

Innovation Solution

Development of an aqueous oleanolic acid solution using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) as a solubility agent, with water as the solvent, eliminating ethanol and DMSO, to create oral care compositions that include oleanolic acid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If oleanolic acid is dissolved in ethanol or DMSO to facilitate its use, then solubility is improved, but the composition contains undesirable solvents that limit incorporation into oral care products

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolubility of oleanolic acidVSAvoidincorporation into oral care compositions

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the solvent system parameters by using water as the primary solvent instead of ethanol or DMSO, and adjusts the concentration of solubility agents (sodium lauryl sulfate at 20-40% w/w, polyethylene glycol at 5-20% w/w) to achieve adequate solubility of oleanolic acid while maintaining compatibility with oral care product formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces solubility agents (sodium lauryl sulfate and polyethylene glycol) as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrophobic oleanolic acid and the aqueous environment, enabling dissolution without requiring ethanol or DMSO

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If oleanolic acid is used in its natural hydrophobic form, then purity is maintained, but it cannot be effectively incorporated into aqueous oral care compositions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial and hemostatic propertiesVSAvoidincorporation into aqueous compositions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite aqueous solution system comprising water, solubility agents (sodium lauryl sulfate, polyethylene glycol), and oleanolic acid, where the combination of components achieves both solubility and maintains the biological activity of oleanolic acid for use in oral care compositions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enables the effective incorporation of oleanolic acid into oral care products without the use of ethanol or DMSO, maintaining its antibacterial and hemostatic properties.

Implementation Method 1

due to its hydrophobic properties, oleanolic acid is often dissolved in solvents... However, the use of such solvents limits the incorporation of oleanolic acid in oral care compositions... aqueous oleanolic acid solution including... solubility agent including sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolubility enhancement by surfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS12508215B2Method to incorporate oleanolic acid into oral care compositions and oral care compositions based thereof

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

An aqueous oleanolic acid solution, including from about 0.10 to 2.5 weight % oleanolic acid, from about 60 to 90 weight % solvent, and from about 20 to 40 weight % solubility agent, wherein the solvent includes water, the solubility agent includes sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and the aqueous oleanolic acid solution is substantially free of ethanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).