Cationic Skin Antiseptic Formulations for Low-Irritation Foaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antimicrobial hand wash compositions face challenges in achieving high antimicrobial efficacy while maintaining acceptable skin compatibility and foaming properties, particularly with cationic active ingredients, and they often require high concentrations of harsh compounds like chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) to meet new FDA standards.
Innovation Solution
Formulations comprising benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, or chlorhexidine gluconate as antimicrobial actives, combined with C8-C16 alkanolamides or glucosamides as foaming agents, L-amino acids, and Guerbet alcohol ethoxylates, at specific pH levels between 6 and 9.6, to enhance antimicrobial activity and foam generation without skin irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate are used to achieve desired microbiocidal activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but skin irritation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter of the active ingredient from high (4% CHG) to low (0.01-2% quaternary ammonium compound), and compensates by optimizing other formulation parameters including pH (6-9.6), surfactant types and concentrations, and the presence of specific ingredients like amino acids and Guerbet alcohols that enhance the efficacy of lower active concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite formulation system combining quaternary ammonium compound, specific surfactants (alkanolamides, glucosamides, alcohol ethoxylates), amino acids, and Guerbet alcohols that work synergistically to achieve high microbiocidal activity at low active ingredient concentrations, thereby reducing skin irritation while maintaining efficacy.
2Shape
If amine oxide surfactants are used to provide foaming characteristics, then foam generation is improved, but microbiocidal activity is insufficient without high level active ingredient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration and type of surfactants to enhance the microbiocidal activity of the quaternary ammonium compound. Specific ratios and combinations of alkanolamides, glucosamides, and alcohol ethoxylates are used to create a synergistic effect that boosts antimicrobial efficacy without requiring high levels of active ingredient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces amino acids and Guerbet alcohols as intermediary substances that enhance the interaction between the surfactant system and the quaternary ammonium compound, facilitating improved microbiocidal activity at lower active ingredient concentrations while maintaining acceptable foaming properties.
3Shape
If anionic surfactants are used as foaming agents, then foam height is improved, but compatibility with cationic active ingredients is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using traditional anionic surfactants that are incompatible with cationic actives, the patent inverts the approach by selecting nonionic surfactants with specific molecular structures (alkanolamides, glucosamides) that are chemically compatible with cationic quaternary ammonium compounds while still providing adequate foaming characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite surfactant system combining multiple nonionic surfactant types in specific ratios to achieve both chemical compatibility with cationic actives and sufficient foaming performance, replacing the traditional single-component anionic surfactant approach.
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 compositions provide rapid multiple log reductions in microbial populations within 15 seconds, maintaining dermal compatibility and foaming properties, even at lower active concentrations, surpassing existing products in efficacy and reducing skin irritation.
Implementation Method 1
it has been found that formulating antimicrobial handwash compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium compound as an antimicrobial active with foaming surfactants that do not inhibit the cidal activity of the quaternary ammonium compound is critical to antimicrobial performance
Implementation Method 2
formulating antimicrobial handwash compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium compound as an antimicrobial active with foaming surfactants that do not inhibit the cidal activity of the quaternary ammonium compound
Implementation Method 3
able to achieve multiple Log10 reductions in 15 seconds
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to antimicrobial compositions and their methods of use and manufacture. In particular, the antimicrobial compositions described herein comprise an antimicrobial active, a primary foaming agent, and an L-amino acid to provide rapid antimicrobial efficacy. In a preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial compositions are dermal cleansers. In a most preferred embodiment, the antimicrobial compositions comprise a foam structure enhancing agent.