Cationic Polymer Mediator for Zinc Pyrithione Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maximizing the deposition of antimicrobial active ingredients like zinc pyrithione during shampoo application is challenging due to the design of personal cleansing compositions, which often carry away particulates from the skin or hair, and incorporating additional zinc salts can impair product attributes such as flocculation behavior.
Innovation Solution
An antimicrobial personal cleansing composition comprising an aqueous continuous phase with anionic cleansing surfactants, dispersed particles of zinc pyrithione combined with additional zinc salts, a cationic deposition polymer, an anionic polymeric rheology modifier, and a nonionic polymeric rheology modifier, specifically cationic polygalactomannans and carboxylic acid polymers, and nonionic cellulose ethers, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional zinc salts are incorporated to boost antimicrobial efficacy, then the antimicrobial activity is improved, but the flocculation behavior and product attributes are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cationic deposition polymer as an intermediary component that mediates between the zinc salts and the antimicrobial active ingredient. This polymer facilitates the deposition of zinc pyrithione onto hair and scalp surfaces while maintaining proper flocculation behavior, allowing the zinc salts to boost antimicrobial efficacy without disrupting product stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of multiple components including zinc pyrithione (0.01-5%), zinc salts (0.1-5%), and cationic deposition polymer (0.01-1%) to achieve the desired balance between antimicrobial efficacy and flocculation behavior. By carefully controlling these compositional parameters, the formulation maintains stability while enhancing antimicrobial activity
2Productivity
If the composition is designed to carry away particulates from skin or hair, then cleansing effectiveness is improved, but the deposition of antimicrobial active ingredients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cationic deposition polymer serves as a mediator that enables simultaneous cleansing and deposition functions. While the surfactant system removes particulates from skin and hair, the cationic polymer binds to the negatively charged surfaces of hair and scalp, facilitating the deposition of zinc pyrithione particles onto these surfaces rather than allowing them to be rinsed away
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional composition where the same formulation simultaneously performs cleansing (removing particulates) and deposition (delivering antimicrobial actives). The cationic deposition polymer enables this dual functionality by providing a mechanism for active ingredient retention while the surfactants provide cleansing action
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 composition effectively enhances the deposition of zinc pyrithione on hair and scalp surfaces, maintaining product attributes like flocculation behavior, thereby improving antimicrobial efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer interacts with the surfactant system to form a complex which precipitates out of the shampoo upon use (dilution with water) and deposits the water insoluble active onto hair and scalp surfaces
Implementation Method 2
deposits the water insoluble active onto hair and scalp surfaces
Implementation Method 3
dispersed particles of the ZPT are suspended in the shampoo, which is then applied to the hair to deposit the ZPT particles on the hair and scalp
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention provides an antimicrobial personal cleansing composition comprising: (i) an aqueous continuous phase including one or more anionic cleansing surfactants, (ii) a dispersed phase including dispersed particles of zinc pyrithione (ZPT) in combination with one or more additional zinc salts; (iii) a cationic deposition polymer selected from one or more cationic polygalactomannans having an average molecular weight (Mw) of from 1 million to 3 million g/mol and a cationic degree of substitution of from 0.13 to 0.3; (iv) an anionic polymeric rheology modifier selected from one or more carboxylic acid polymers, and (v) a nonionic polymeric rheology modifier selected from one or more nonionic cellulose ethers.