Biodegradable Microcapsule Preservation Against Microbial Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Biodegradable microcapsule compositions are susceptible to microbial growth and premature leakage due to biodegradable encapsulating materials serving as a food source for microorganisms, which is problematic during manufacturing, distribution, and storage, and conventional anti-microbial preservation agents fail to effectively prevent this issue.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of an anti-microbial preservation system comprising non-partitioning agents such as carboxylic acids, hydroxy esters, alcohols, phenols, formaldehyde releasers, nitrogen-containing compounds, surfactants, and quaternized amines in the aqueous phase to maintain effective concentrations and prevent microbial degradation and leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If biodegradable encapsulating materials are used in microcapsule compositions, then environmental sustainability and biodegradability are improved, but microbial growth and premature leakage increase due to the materials serving as food sources for microorganisms

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidmicrobial stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces preservation agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the biodegradable encapsulating material and microorganisms. These agents create a protective barrier or toxic environment that prevents microbial degradation of the biodegradable material, allowing the material to maintain its environmental benefits while resisting microbial attack during storage and distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical or physical parameters of the microcapsule composition by adding preservation agents that change the microenvironment. This could involve altering pH, adding biocides, or creating conditions that inhibit microbial growth while preserving the biodegradable nature of the encapsulating material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If anti-microbial preservation agents are added to prevent microbial growth, then microbial stability is improved, but the complexity of the composition increases and functional material leakage may occur due to premature degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial stabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the preservation function from the encapsulating material by using separate preservation agents that can be independently optimized. This allows the biodegradable material to maintain its structural integrity for encapsulation while the preservation agents handle the microbial protection function, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If conventional anti-microbial preservation agents are used, then microbial growth is suppressed, but the agents partition into the microcapsule phase reducing their effectiveness and allowing microbial degradation to proceed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial preservationVSAvoidpreservation agent concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and uses preservation agents that act as effective intermediaries between the aqueous phase and microorganisms, preventing partitioning into the microcapsule phase. These agents remain in the external environment where they can effectively inhibit microbial growth without being sequestered by the encapsulating material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 non-partitioning agents effectively reduce microbial contamination and premature leakage, ensuring long-term preservation and stability of biodegradable microcapsule compositions, passing microbial challenge tests and maintaining functional material integrity.

Implementation Method 1

an anti-microbial preservation system comprising non-partitioning agents such as carboxylic acids, hydroxy esters, alcohols, phenols, formaldehyde releasers, nitrogen-containing compounds, surfactants, and quaternized amines in the aqueous phase to maintain effective concentrations and prevent microbial degradation and leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnti-microbial preservation: Preservative

Implementation Method 2

conventional anti-microbial preservation agents fail to effectively prevent this issue... Incorporation of an anti-microbial preservation system comprising non-partitioning agents... to maintain effective concentrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPartitioning:

Data Source

PatentUS20250387771A1Composition comprising biodegradable microcapsules

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 GIVAUDAN SA

AI summary

A microcapsule composition comprising a plurality of microcapsules comprising a biodegradable encapsulating material for delivery of functional materials is provided, comprising an anti-microbial preservation system comprising at least one non-partitioning preservation agent. The composition is resistant to microbial growth, as well as micro-organism-mediated premature leakage of the functional material during manufacture, distribution and storage, but which when incorporated into a consumer product can deliver functional material in a desirable manner.