Live Cutibacterium acnes Skin Care Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin care products containing live bacteria, such as Cutibacterium acnes strains, face challenges in maintaining bacterial viability during storage and growth after application due to interference from common excipients, leading to ineffective treatment of acne.
Innovation Solution
A skin care composition comprising lyophilized or spray-dried live Cutibacterium acnes strains combined with specific excipients like dicaprylyl carbonate, Chondrus crispus extract, tocopherol, and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, which support bacterial viability and reactivation upon application, without interfering with their growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If common excipients are used in skin care products containing live bacteria, then the product formulation is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but bacterial viability during storage and growth after application is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates harmful excipients from the formulation by identifying specific substances that interfere with bacterial viability. The composition specifies particular excipients to be excluded, thereby removing the harmful elements while maintaining product manufacturability with compatible alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary substances that are compatible with live bacteria as excipients. These intermediary excipients serve as mediators between the bacterial component and the formulation system, enabling product stability and manufacturability without compromising bacterial viability during storage and after application.
2Productivity
If antibiotics are used to treat acne, then bacterial reduction is achieved, but side effects and high relapse rates occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using antibiotics to kill C. acnes bacteria, the patent inverts the approach by administering live C. acnes bacteria to restore microbiome balance. This inversion transforms the harmful bacteria into a therapeutic agent that competes with pathogenic strains and restores ecological equilibrium on the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful C. acnes bacteria into a beneficial therapeutic agent. By administering specific strains of C. acnes, the treatment harnesses these bacteria to restore microbiome balance, outcompete pathogenic organisms, and provide long-lasting acne relief without the side effects associated with antibiotic therapy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to the field of skin care. More particularly, the invention relates to a cosmetic or therapeutic skin care composition comprising live bacteria of at least one Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) strain in combination with an excipient that specifically supports their viability during storage and/or their ability to replicate after application to the skin. Preferably, the cosmetic or therapeutic skin care composition comprises bacteria of at least one C. acnes strain selected from the group consisting of D1, A5, C1, C3, H1, H2, H3, K1, K2, K4, K6, K8, K9, L1, and F4. The invention also provides a method for treating or preventing acne by applying the skin care composition of the invention to a skin area in need of treatment. The invention also relates to the use of a skin care composition of the invention for treating or preventing acne.