Core-Shell Colorant Particles for Stable Patterning in Liquids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D printing techniques for forming patterns in liquids, such as drinks, face limitations due to continuous contact with a platform or phase separation of immiscible fluids, leading to restricted design flexibility and colorant leakage, making stable pattern formation difficult.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing core-shell particles encapsulating a colorant with an oily core and cationic polymer shell, dispersed in a liquid to form stable patterns without aggregation, allowing for the creation of designs like characters, lines, or pictures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If particles encapsulating colorant in PLGA are used to form patterns in liquid, then pattern formation is enabled, but colorant leakage occurs making stable pattern formation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern formation capabilityVSAvoidpattern stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses core-shell particles with a PLGA core and chitosan shell, creating a composite material structure. The chitosan shell provides enhanced stability and prevents colorant leakage that occurs with PLGA-only particles, while maintaining the pattern formation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The chitosan shell acts as a flexible protective layer around the PLGA core, providing a barrier that prevents colorant leakage while allowing the particles to maintain their structural integrity in liquid environments for stable pattern formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Shape

If polymer structure is formed by depositing polymer material continuously contacting bottom platform, then 3D structure is achieved, but design flexibility is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improve3D structure formationVSAvoidpattern design flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses liquid-phase particle deposition instead of solid platform contact, allowing patterns to form freely in the liquid volume without being constrained by platform contact points, thereby enhancing design flexibility while maintaining 3D structure capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from 2D platform-based deposition to 3D volumetric pattern formation in liquid, allowing patterns to be created throughout the liquid volume rather than being restricted to surface-level platform contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If two immiscible fluids are used to form patterns, then phase separation creates patterns, but design flexibility is restricted due to fluid fusion and phase separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern formation capabilityVSAvoidpattern design flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses solid core-shell particles as an intermediary carrier for colorant, replacing the immiscible fluid system. The particles remain suspended in the liquid without causing phase separation issues, providing greater design flexibility while maintaining pattern formation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 core-shell particles effectively reduce colorant leakage and enable the formation of stable patterns in liquids by maintaining the colorant at the desired location for a prolonged period.

Implementation Method 1

core-shell particles encapsulating a colorant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

the shell containing a cationic polymer, the cationic polymer being edible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Data Source

PatentUS20260060281A1Core-shell particle and production method therefor, dye composition, oral composition, liquid oral composition and production method therefor, and method for forming pattern in liquid

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 SUNTORY HLDG LTD

AI summary

The present invention aims to provide a colorant composition that contains core-shell particles encapsulating a colorant and that can be used for forming a pattern such as a line in a liquid such as a drink, as well as a liquid oral composition containing the colorant composition and a production method therefor, and a method for forming a pattern in a liquid. The present invention relates to a colorant composition containing a first liquid and core-shell particles, the core-shell particles each including a core and a shell that encapsulates the core, the core containing an oily component and a colorant, the shell containing a cationic polymer, the cationic polymer being edible, the core-shell particles being dispersed in the first liquid.