Chitosan Liquid Composition for Skin Microbiome Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cosmetic products using chitosan struggle to maintain skin health by promoting a balanced microbiome and providing a long-lasting, invisible membrane that supports skin integrity without causing irritation or optical disturbances, especially for skin conditions like severe burns or minor disturbances due to mechanical or environmental stress.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cosmetic composition containing chitosan with a degree of acetylation of 20% or less, combined with glycolic and lactic acids, forms a membrane on the skin that differentially promotes the growth of beneficial microbial taxa while inhibiting pathogenic ones, offering a stable support for conventional makeup and improving skin health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chitosan is applied in a dissolved form to the skin, then it can provide cosmetic benefits, but it may precipitate and form a film covering the skin which is not ideal for skin care applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the chitosan composition to be between 3.0 and 6.2, which is below the precipitation pH of chitosan (above 6.3). This parameter change allows the chitosan to remain in solution at the time of application while still providing cosmetic benefits, and prevents unwanted film formation on the skin surface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If chitosan composition has pH above 6.3, then chitosan precipitates to form a film, but this precipitating film is not ideal for skin care applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter of the chitosan composition to range from 3.0 to 6.2, keeping it below the precipitation threshold of chitosan (pH > 6.3). This prevents the formation of precipitating films that could irritate the skin, while still maintaining the cosmetic and protective benefits of chitosan in solution.
3Reliability
If a membrane is formed on the skin to support skin integrity, then skin protection is improved, but it may cause optical disturbances and irritation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent formulates chitosan compositions with pH between 3.0 and 6.2, which prevents precipitation and film formation on the skin. This parameter change allows the chitosan to provide skin protection and support integrity through its biochemical properties while remaining transparent and non-irritating, avoiding the optical disturbances associated with precipitating films.
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 forms a thin, stable membrane that supports skin health by promoting beneficial microbiota, reducing skin irritation, and allowing for bidirectional transport of nutrients and gases, while preventing pathogenic growth, thus addressing skin issues like burns, acne, and dryness without optical impact.
Implementation Method 1
Chitosan usually precipitates at a pH of above 6.3 and depends much on the integrity and surface conditions of the skin
Implementation Method 2
allowing for bidirectional transport of nutrients and gases
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid compositions are used to differentially promote the growth of the microbiome. The liquid composition forms a membrane when applied to the skin of a subject. The liquid composition as well as the membrane comprise chitosan or a salt thereof with a degree of acetylation of 20% or less and at least one additional agent. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions for use in the prevention or reduction of skin irritation, allergy and/or an infectious disease.