Coacervate Droplet Stabilized Water-in-Water Emulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cosmetic compositions lack a stable water-in-water type emulsion system that effectively utilizes coacervate droplets for metastable emulsion formation, which is crucial for long-term stability and performance.
Innovation Solution
A cosmetic composition comprising a water phase with an oil phase stabilized by coacervate droplets formed from anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes, specifically using strong and weak polyelectrolytes like poly(styrene sulfonate) sodium salt and poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) to create a metastable water-in-water emulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional cosmetic compositions are used, then the formulation is simple, but the emulsion stability and long-term performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes to form coacervate droplets. These composite polyelectrolyte structures create a metastable water-in-water emulsion system that enhances emulsion stability through the synergistic interaction of oppositely charged polymers, resolving the contradiction between stability improvement and formulation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the charge density, molecular weight, and concentration ratios of the polyelectrolytes to optimize coacervate droplet formation. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves metastable emulsion formation that provides long-term stability while maintaining manageable formulation complexity
2Reliability
If coacervate droplets are used to form metastable emulsion, then emulsion stability is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coacervate droplets as intermediary structures that mediate between the water phase and oil phase. These intermediary coacervate droplets stabilize the emulsion by forming a metastable interface, thereby enhancing long-term stability while the droplet structure itself manages the system complexity through self-assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits phase transitions in the polyelectrolyte system to form coacervate droplets. The phase separation between the coacervate phase and the aqueous phase creates a metastable emulsion structure that provides long-term stability. This phase transition mechanism allows the system to achieve reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
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 a stable metastable water-in-water emulsion, enhancing the cosmetic's stability and performance by leveraging the unique properties of coacervate droplets, ensuring long-term effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a coacervate droplet of an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolyte, the coacervate droplet being one which can form a metastable water-in-water type emulsion
Implementation Method 2
the interaction between two oppositely charged species... associative phase separation... driven by an increase of entropy due to the release of the counter-ions initially bound to the PEL backbone chain
Implementation Method 3
if the polymers show net attraction, usually through electrostatic interactions, associative phase separation occurs
Implementation Method 4
complex coacervation... two immiscible (and hence incompatible) liquid phases arise... the bottom phase embody a dense clear liquid phase (coacervate) which is concentrated in macromolecules
Data Source
AI summary
It is to provide a cosmetic composition comprising a coacervate droplet which can form a metastable water-in-water type emulsion. A cosmetic composition of the present invention comprises a water phase as a matrix and an oil phase dispersed therein, and stabilized by a coacervate droplet of an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolyte, the coacervate droplet being one which can form a metastable water-in-water type emulsion.