Coated Particles for Oral Adhesion via Polymer Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective solutions for delivering actives to the oral cavity surfaces to provide benefits such as antimicrobial action, biofilm disruption, and oral health improvement, as existing products often have limited adherence and retention on tooth surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Development of amino acid and polymer-coated particles that can bind to oral cavity surfaces, utilizing substrate particles like PLGA and coatings like chitosan, xanthan gum, and essential oils to form strong interactions, allowing for the delivery of actives like antimicrobial agents and biofilm disruptors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional oral care products are used, then basic cleaning function is provided, but adherence and retention on tooth surfaces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite particles consisting of a core material (such as calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite, or silica) coated with adhesive polymers (such as polyacrylic acid, carboxymethyl cellulose, or chitosan). This composite structure combines the cleaning efficacy of the core material with the adhesive properties of the coating, enabling strong binding to oral surfaces and sustained release of active ingredients over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties of particles by controlling the molecular weight, concentration, and composition of adhesive polymers in the coating. By adjusting these parameters, the particles achieve optimal adherence to tooth surfaces and gingiva, significantly improving retention time and duration of action compared to conventional non-adhesive oral care products.
2Reliability
If particles are coated with adhesive materials to improve retention, then adherence increases, but particle size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes thin film coatings of adhesive polymers (typically 1-10 micrometers thick) on particle cores. These thin adhesive shells provide sufficient adherence to oral surfaces while maintaining particle integrity and minimizing structural complexity. The flexible polymer films conform to the particle core surface, creating a simple yet effective composite structure that enhances retention without significant complexity increase.
3Productivity
If coated particles are used to deliver actives, then delivery efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates active ingredients (such as antimicrobial agents, fluoride, or therapeutic compounds) into the particle core or adsorbs them onto the adhesive coating during the manufacturing process. This preliminary incorporation ensures that actives are pre-positioned for efficient delivery upon application to oral surfaces, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing activation steps and simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the delivery system into discrete coated particles, each containing or carrying specific active ingredients. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual particles that can be produced through conventional processes such as spray drying, fluidized bed coating, or extrusion, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high delivery efficiency through the controlled release from numerous individual particles.
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 coated particles effectively adhere to and retain actives on oral surfaces, providing sustained benefits including antimicrobial activity, biofilm disruption, and improved oral health by forming strong interactions with mucosal surfaces, enhancing the delivery of healthcare benefits.
Implementation Method 1
substrate particles comprise materials having carboxyl groups on the surface which can be used to react with amino groups on coating materials/polymers to form covalent bonds
Implementation Method 2
the coated particles are formed by adsorbing coating materials to the substrate
Implementation Method 3
these moieties would include functionalities that enable ionic interactions and/or hydrogen bonding
Implementation Method 4
these moieties would include functionalities that enable ionic interactions and/or hydrogen bonding
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are coated particles and methods of their use for providing healthcare benefits. More specifically, the present invention provides amino acid and/or polymer-coated particles, or particles coated with other materials, for binding to, or otherwise associating with, surfaces of the oral cavity.