Chitosan Nanoparticles for Non-Sticky Skin Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cosmetic and dermatological preparations with chitosan often cause an unpleasant sticky feeling on the skin and have suboptimal transport properties and release kinetics of active ingredients, failing to effectively improve skin barrier properties and maintain skin health.

Innovation Solution

Development of cosmetic or dermatological preparations using a carrier material comprising chitosan in combination with bioabsorbable and biodegradable polymers like polylactide, polyglycolide, and polylactide-glycolide, formulated as nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10 to 1000 nm, which provide improved adhesion, transport, and controlled release of active ingredients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If chitosan is used as carrier material in cosmetic preparations, then adhesion to skin and hair is improved, but an unpleasant sticky feeling occurs on the skin

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadhesionVSAvoidsticky feeling
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of chitosan by forming nanoparticles with controlled size (10-1000 nm), which fundamentally alters the sensory properties while maintaining adhesion. The nanoparticle form reduces the sticky feeling by distributing the material more uniformly and reducing surface contact area, while the core adhesion mechanism remains intact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite nanoparticle system combining chitosan with other materials to achieve both adhesion and non-sticky properties. The composite structure allows chitosan to provide adhesion while the overall nanoparticle formulation controls the tactile sensation, resolving the contradiction between sticky feeling and adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If chitosan is used as carrier material, then bioabsorbability and biodegradability are achieved, but transport properties and release kinetics of active ingredients are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebioabsorbabilityVSAvoidtransport properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the size parameter of the carrier material to the nanoscale (10-1000 nm), which dramatically improves transport properties through enhanced penetration and distribution. This parameter change maintains the bioabsorbability of chitosan while adding the productivity benefit of superior active ingredient delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the active ingredient into nanoparticle-sized units, which enhances transport through the skin and hair structures. The segmented nanoparticle form allows for better penetration and distribution compared to bulk chitosan, while the bioabsorbability is preserved through the biodegradable nature of the nanoparticle material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If conventional preparations are used, then simple formulation is achieved, but skin barrier properties and skin health maintenance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformulation complexityVSAvoidskin protection efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite nanoparticle materials that combine multiple functional properties into a single formulation unit. This composite approach enhances skin protection efficacy through improved adhesion, transport, and controlled release, while the nanoparticle nature allows for relatively simple formulation integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the size parameter to nanoscale, which fundamentally improves skin penetration and barrier property enhancement. This parameter change delivers superior skin health maintenance while the nanoparticle formulation can be incorporated into existing cosmetic preparation types without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 use of nanoparticles with chitosan and biodegradable polymers enhances adhesion to the skin, improves the distribution and stability of active ingredients, and allows for precise control over release kinetics, preventing an unpleasant sticky sensation while maintaining skin health and protection.

Implementation Method 1

Chitosan and its derivatives have good adhesion to the skin and hair

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

Such substances can be absorbed by the human body, for example through the skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

They can be broken down in the body, for example by the body's own metabolic processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentEP2120845B1Nanoparticles for use in cosmetic and dermatological formulations
Publication Date: 2012.10.24 ROVI COSMETICS INT
  • EP2120845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2120845B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2120845B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to cosmetic or dermatological formulations comprising an active ingredient for protection or for treatment of the skin and/or of the hair. These formulations comprise a carrier material having a proportion of chitosan. The active ingredient is bonded within or on the carrier material or the active ingredient is associated on the carrier material. In order to achieve the effect that such formulations have very good attachment performance on skin and/or hair without causing an unpleasant feeling of tackiness, and in order to provide biologically absorbable or biodegradable formulations which have improved transport properties and improved release kinetics as compared with conventional formulations, the invention provides formulations in which the carrier material has a proportion of polylactide, polyglycolide and/or polylactide-glycolide or derivatives thereof, wherein the carrier material is present in the form of particles having a mean particle size of from 10 to 1000 nm.