Powdered Glutamic Acid Polymer Thickener for Salt-Stable Topicals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current topical pharmaceutical compositions rely on petrochemical-based polymers for thickening, which are not sustainable and require complex implementation, making it difficult to use naturally derived polymers effectively in polar media.
Innovation Solution
A process for preparing a topical pharmaceutical composition using 100% powdered solid polymers derived from partially or totally salified glutamic acid, crosslinked with agents bearing glycidyl groups, and spray-dried at specific temperatures to enhance thickening properties in aqueous phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If petrochemical-based polymers are used as thickening agents, then high viscosity and rheology modification are achieved, but sustainability and environmental friendliness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical origin parameter from petrochemical to renewable resources (glutamic acid, glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, mannose, ribose, glucuronic acid, amino acids). This parameter change maintains the thickening function while improving environmental sustainability by using biodegradable, renewable monomers that can be produced through fermentation or natural extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite polymer structures by combining multiple monomer types (e.g., glutamic acid with crosslinking agents, or sugar-derived monomers with amino acid monomers). These composite polymers achieve enhanced thickening performance and rheology modification while maintaining biodegradability and sustainability through their natural monomer composition.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If naturally derived polymers are used, then sustainability is improved, but thickening performance and viscosity increase are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary chemical modification of naturally derived monomers through crosslinking reactions before polymer formation. By pre-functionalizing the monomers with crosslinking agents (e.g., polyepoxide derivatives, isocyanates, or silane compounds), the resulting polymer network achieves enhanced thickening performance and viscosity while maintaining the sustainable, biodegradable nature of the original monomers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines naturally derived monomers (glutamic acid, sugar derivatives, amino acids) with crosslinking agents to create composite polymer networks. This composite approach leverages the sustainability of natural monomers while the crosslinked network structure provides enhanced thickening performance and rheology modification, resolving the performance-deficiency of simple natural polymers.
3Reliability
If crosslinking reactions are performed to enhance thickening, then viscosity and gel formation are improved, but process complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates crosslinking functionality into the monomer design itself, performing the crosslinking action during polymerization rather than as a separate subsequent step. By using monomers that contain both polymerization and crosslinking functional groups, the process achieves gel formation and enhanced thickening in a single integrated reaction, reducing process complexity and implementation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces crosslinking agents as intermediaries that facilitate the formation of polymer networks under mild conditions. These intermediaries (such as polyepoxide derivatives or silane compounds) enable crosslinking reactions to proceed efficiently with simple mixing and heating, avoiding complex multi-step procedures while achieving the desired gel formation and thickening performance.
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 process results in a composition that easily thickens aqueous phases, achieving high viscosities even in the presence of salts, providing a sustainable and efficient alternative to petrochemical-based polymers.
Implementation Method 1
The crosslinking of polymer chains aims to link several polymer chains together, which, when added to a polar phase, and more specifically to water, form a three-dimensional network that is insoluble in water but swells in water, thus leading to the formation of a chemical gel.
Implementation Method 2
form a three-dimensional network that is insoluble in water but swells in water, thus leading to the formation of a chemical gel
Implementation Method 3
c) spray-drying the polar phase from step (b)
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition (F) for topical use, comprising at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient and, as thickening agent, a polymer (P) in the form of a pulverulent solid consisting of monomeric units derived from partially or totally salified glutamic acid (GA), and monomer units of at least one crosslinking agent (AR) having at least two glycidyl functions.