Ceramide Oil-in-Water Emulsion with Fine-Particle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cosmetics formulations with ceramides struggle with stability due to their high crystallinity and melting point, leading to insufficient smoothness and moist feeling on the skin, and preservation stability issues.
Innovation Solution
An oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising ceramide, a liquid oil agent, and a nonionic surfactant with HLB less than 10, stabilized with a specific particle size, is produced by emulsifying the oil phase with an aqueous phase to create fine particles, enhancing stability and skin benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid fat such as ceramides is formulated into cosmetics, then the stratum corneum state can be improved, but the formulation stability deteriorates due to high crystallinity and high melting point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of ceramide from solid to liquid by controlling the melting point through molecular structure modification. The ceramide is designed with a melting point of 30°C or lower, transforming it from a crystalline solid that causes formulation instability into a liquid state that ensures stability while maintaining skin benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining ceramide with specific oil components (total 5-20 mass%) and surfactants. This composite approach allows the ceramide to be stabilized in liquid form within the formulation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining ceramide functionality and achieving formulation stability.
2Reliability
If ceramide is supplemented externally, then the stratum corneum state is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to difficulty in stabilizing solid fat
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the melting point parameter of ceramide to 30°C or lower, the material becomes easier to handle and formulate during manufacturing. The liquid state at room temperature eliminates the need for complex stabilization techniques required for solid fats, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining stratum corneum improvement benefits.
3Stability of the object's composition
If emulsion particle size is reduced to 100-300 nm, then time-dependent stability is improved, but the device complexity increases for achieving precise particle size control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the particle size parameter to a specific range of 0.1-3 μm (100-3000 nm), which is slightly larger than conventional emulsions but still provides excellent time-dependent stability. This parameter optimization balances stability requirements with simpler emulsion preparation processes, avoiding the need for complex nanoscale particle size control equipment.
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 achieves improved preservation stability, smoothness, and excellent moist feeling on the skin by stabilizing ceramide particles, addressing the formulation challenges of high crystallinity and melting point.
Implementation Method 1
a nonionic surfactant having HLB of less than 10
Implementation Method 2
an oil-in-water emulsion composition comprising the following components (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) a ceramide, (B) an oil agent in a liquid state at 25°C, (C) a nonionic surfactant having HLB of less than 10, and (D) water
Data Source
AI summary
An oil-in-water emulsion composition including the following components (A), (B), (C), and (D): (A) a ceramide, (B) an oil agent in a liquid state at 25°C, (C) a nonionic surfactant having HLB of less than 10, and (D) water, wherein a Z-average particle size of emulsion particles is from 0.05 to 0.3 um.