Electrospun Dry Cream Mats for Controlled Topical Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for more effective dry creams and topical delivery systems that can efficiently deliver bioactives and pharmaceuticals, addressing issues such as weight, bulk, environmental sustainability, preservative use, and shelf-life, while providing controlled delivery to specific sites.
Innovation Solution
A dry cream and topical delivery system comprising a mat of electrospun hydrophilic polymeric fibers with minimal water content and controlled oil and polymer ratios, designed to retain shape on application and disintegrate into a cream or gel upon mechanical agitation, enhancing delivery and adherence to the skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional creams are used, then moisture content provides creaminess and ease of application, but weight and bulk increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the water content parameter from traditional high levels (typically 60-80% in conventional creams) to minimal levels (less than 2.0 wt%), transforming the product from a wet cream to a dry cream that is activated by water during use. This parameter change reduces weight while maintaining application properties through controlled rehydration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cream is prepared in a dry, stable state before use, with all necessary components (oils, polymers, bioactives) pre-formulated and stabilized without water. The rehydration and emulsification process occurs preliminarily during application by the user adding water, thus preparing the cream in its active state at the point of use rather than in advance.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If water content is reduced to eliminate preservatives, then shelf-life and sustainability improve, but cream stability and formulation complexity are challenged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the traditional cream formulation, removing the medium that requires preservatives and enables microbial growth. By formulating the cream as an anhydrous or minimal-water system, the need for preservatives is eliminated, extending shelf-life without compromising stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dry cream uses a composite formulation combining hydrophilic polymers, oils, and bioactives in a water-free or minimal-water matrix. This composite structure provides stability to the formulation without water, maintaining cream integrity while enabling preservative-free storage.
3Reliability
If electrospun polymeric fibers are used to deliver oils, then controlled delivery and adherence improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electrospun polymeric fibers that create a porous or fibrous matrix structure capable of holding and slowly releasing oils. This porous structure provides controlled delivery of bioactives and oils to the skin, enhancing reliability of the delivery system while the electrospinning process, though advanced, produces consistent results.
4Loss of energy
If dry cream formulation is used, then transportation cost and packaging reduce, but emulsification and absorption require user action
Solution Approach 1:
The dry cream is designed to be self-activating through the user's natural actions. When the user applies water (such as from the skin's natural moisture or by adding water during application), the dry cream automatically emulsifies and transforms into a spreadable cream without requiring additional energy input, mixing devices, or complex activation steps. The system serves itself through the inherent interaction between the dry cream components and water.
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 system offers reduced weight and bulk, improved environmental sustainability, extended shelf-life, and controlled delivery of bioactives, with enhanced adherence and uniform application, eliminating the need for preservatives and simplifying storage.
Implementation Method 1
the presence of the polymeric fibers prepared using electrospinning in conjunction with the oil(s) in the dry cream suppresses the dry cream from undergoing phase separation and/or sedimentation
Implementation Method 2
a mat of electrospun hydrophilic polymeric fibers containing said oil(s)
Implementation Method 3
emulsification under mixing with water, whereby the cream may become fully absorbed after rubbing into skin
Implementation Method 4
designed to retain shape on application and disintegrate into a cream or gel upon mechanical agitation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to highly absorbable nanofibrous and microfibrous polymeric materials effective in delivering bioactives or pharmaceutical active ingredients topically, for both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.