DEET Sunscreen Composition with Polymeric Binder Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sunscreen and insect repellant compositions often suffer from instability and clumping issues, which affect their consistency and effectiveness in providing broad-spectrum skin protection and insect repellency.
Innovation Solution
The development of compositions combining diethyl toluamide (DEET) or dihydronepetalactones with UV ray absorbers and a polymeric binder system, including C10-30 alkyl acrylate and C12-22 alkyl methacrylate polymers, to create a stable and consistent formulation that can be applied to the skin for both sun protection and insect repellency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sunscreen components and insect repellant components are combined in a single composition, then broad spectrum skin protection and insect repellency are achieved, but the composition becomes unstable and forms clumps or agglomerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a polymeric binder system as an intermediary component that mediates between the sunscreen components (e.g., avobenzone, octocrylene) and insect repellant components (e.g., DEET, dihydronepetalactone). This binder system prevents direct incompatibility interactions between the active ingredients, thereby maintaining composition stability while enabling the combined protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite formulation by combining multiple functional components (sunscreen agents, insect repellants, and polymeric binders) into a unified stable composition. The composite structure allows each component to maintain its functional properties while the overall system achieves storage stability through the synergistic interaction of its constituents.
2Reliability
If high concentrations of insect repellant (DEET or dihydronepetalactone) and sunscreen components are used, then effective protection is achieved, but the composition becomes unstable and develops clumping issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of active ingredients within specific ranges (DEET: 10-50%, dihydronepetalactone: 5-40%, sunscreen components: 5-30%) rather than using maximum concentrations. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient protection effectiveness while preventing the composition from becoming unstable due to excessive concentrations of incompatible components.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric binder system serves as a stabilizing intermediary that allows higher concentrations of active ingredients to be incorporated without causing clumping. The binder matrix distributes and stabilizes the high concentrations of DEET/dihydronepetalactone and sunscreen components, preventing phase separation and agglomeration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a polymeric binder system is added to stabilize the composition, then storage stability and consistency are improved, but the formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses specific types of polymeric binders with particular properties (C10-30 alkyl acrylate polymers and C12-22 alkyl methacrylate polymers in controlled amounts) rather than generic binders. This selective use of binders with appropriate local qualities (molecular weight, hydrophobicity, binding strength) provides effective stabilization while avoiding unnecessary complexity from using inappropriate or excessive binder types.
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 solution results in a storage-stable composition that effectively protects the skin from damaging sunlight and repels insects, maintaining a desirable consistency without clumps or agglomerates, thereby enhancing user experience and protection.
Implementation Method 1
a polymeric binder system comprising: from greater than 0 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of one or more C10-30 alkyl acrylate polymers or co-polymers; and from greater than 0 wt % to about 5.0 wt % of one or more C12-22 alkyl methacrylate polymers or co-polymers
Implementation Method 2
at least 15 wt % of one or more sunscreen components, each of said one or more sunscreen components being capable of absorbing ultraviolet light rays
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to combination sunscreen and insect repellant compositions. The combination sunscreen and insect repellant compositions contain (i) diethyl toluamide (or N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide or DEET), (ii) one or more sunscreen components, with each sunscreen component being capable of absorbing ultraviolet light rays, and (iii) a polymeric binder system. The combination sunscreen and insect repellant compositions may contain additional composition components such as butyloctyl salicylate, a crosslinked polyacrylate polymer, and deionized water. The present invention is also directed to methods of making and using combination sunscreen and insect repellant compositions.