Calcium Orthophosphate Fluoride Carrier for Non-Aqueous Toothpaste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluoride ions in aqueous toothpastes react with calcium and phosphate, forming fluorapatite or fluorite, reducing available fluoride concentrations and requiring expensive bioactive glasses for sustained release, which is costly and inefficient for anti-caries toothpastes.
Innovation Solution
A composition combining a higher fluorine content bioactive glass with a calcium orthophosphate, such as tricalcium phosphate, to achieve a sustained release of fluoride and phosphate ions in a non-aqueous toothpaste, reducing the need for expensive bioactive glass and enhancing fluoride availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fluoride ions are added to aqueous toothpastes, then fluoride concentration is available for caries prevention, but fluoride reacts with calcium and phosphate to form fluorapatite or fluorite, reducing available fluoride concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses amorphous calcium phosphate as an intermediary carrier to hold fluoride ions. Instead of adding free fluoride ions that react with calcium and phosphate, the fluoride is bound to amorphous calcium phosphate particles. This intermediary structure prevents premature reaction while allowing controlled release of fluoride to the tooth surface, maintaining stable fluoride availability throughout the day.
2Quantity of substance
If soluble fluorides like NaF are used in toothpastes, then high fluoride concentration is achieved, but salivary fluoride concentration decays rapidly below therapeutic value in under 90 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having fluoride ions pre-bound to amorphous calcium phosphate particles in the toothpaste formulation. This pre-prepared complex allows for controlled, sustained release of fluoride over time. The amorphous calcium phosphate acts as a reservoir that gradually releases fluoride ions to maintain therapeutic concentrations in saliva throughout the day, rather than having an initial high concentration that rapidly decays.
3Duration of action of moving object
If fluorine containing bioactive glass is used for sustained fluoride release, then therapeutic fluoride concentration is maintained longer, but the cost of the toothpaste increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive fluorine-containing bioactive glass with a more cost-effective formulation using amorphous calcium phosphate as the fluoride carrier. While amorphous calcium phosphate may have shorter inherent stability, the formulation is designed to provide sufficient sustained release for therapeutic benefit at a lower manufacturing cost, making the product accessible for regular use rather than as a premium occasional treatment.
4Ease of manufacture
If amorphous calcium phosphate is used as fluoride carrier, then cost is reduced compared to bioactive glass, but fluoride ions may still react to form fluorapatite reducing free fluoride availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the chemical environment and formulation parameters of the amorphous calcium phosphate system. By adjusting pH, ionic strength, and the specific composition of the amorphous calcium phosphate particles, the formulation optimizes the balance between maintaining bound fluoride (to prevent premature reaction) and releasing free fluoride ions (to provide therapeutic benefit). This parameter optimization ensures sufficient free fluoride availability while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising a mixture of a calcium orthophosphate and a bioactive glass comprising fluorine is useful in a non-aqueous toothpaste.