Bioactive Glass Gel Antimicrobial Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial agents face challenges such as slow biodegradation, environmental impact on sewage systems, and the development of resistant strains, while bioactive glass particles are difficult to use due to size issues that lead to discomfort and crystalline growth when exposed to water.
Innovation Solution
A gel is created by combining anhydrous suspensions of bioactive glass particles with a mean size of less than 20 µm and triglyceride esters, which are then gelled with a controlled amount of water, allowing for the production of a stable, antimicrobial, and environmentally friendly product suitable for cosmetics, food, and coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If bioactive glass particles are ground in aqueous media, then particle size is reduced, but crystalline growth occurs leading to larger particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses anhydrous media (vegetable oils, esters, alcohols) as an intermediary substance during the grinding process. This intermediary medium prevents water from being present during particle size reduction, thereby avoiding crystalline growth while still enabling effective milling to achieve the desired particle size of less than or equal to 20 µm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameter of the grinding medium from aqueous to anhydrous. By eliminating water from the system during processing and only introducing it in controlled amounts after grinding, the patent maintains particle size precision while achieving the required size reduction.
2Ease of manufacture
If large bioactive glass particles are used, then manufacturing is easier, but user comfort deteriorates due to detectable particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs particle size reduction in advance during the manufacturing process, grinding the bioactive glass to less than or equal to 20 µm before final product formulation. This preliminary action ensures that particles are too small to be detected by users while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through batch processing.
3Reliability
If conventional antimicrobial agents are used, then antimicrobial efficacy is maintained, but environmental harm increases due to slow biodegradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by using bioactive glass with specific compositions (containing elements like Ag, Zn, P, Ca) that provide antimicrobial activity. These compositional changes enable the material to maintain efficacy while being biodegradable, as the glass can be formulated to dissolve at controlled rates, releasing antimicrobial ions without persisting in the environment like synthetic preservatives.
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 resulting gel provides effective antimicrobial activity, stability, and comfort in applications, preventing crystalline growth and maintaining efficacy while being environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
gelling the obtained anhydrous suspension by adding water to the suspension
Implementation Method 2
as glass particles dissolve in water, crystalline growth occurs, leading to larger particles than intended in the final product
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an anhydrous suspension comprising a) particles of bioactive glass wherein the mean particle size of the particles is less than or equal to 20 µm; and b) an ester and/or amide with a molecular weight of less than or equal to 100000, and/or alcohol. The present invention further relates to a gel obtainable by contacting the anhydrous suspension according to invention with water. The present invention further relates to applications of the suspension and gel of the invention.