Nonionic Surfactant Oral Care Composition for Reduced Irritation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing toothpastes, particularly those containing surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, cause irritation to sensitive oral mucosa, especially in seniors and cancer patients, and current mild toothpastes are not sufficient for vulnerable populations.

Innovation Solution

An oral care composition using a nonionic surfactant comprising monoglycerides and diglycerides, or a combination thereof, with a concentration ranging from 0.5% to 5% by weight, and being essentially free of anionic surfactants to minimize irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If anionic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate are used in toothpaste, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but tissue irritation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidtissue irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameter of the surfactant from anionic (sodium lauryl sulfate) to nonionic (monoglyceride/diglyceride), fundamentally altering the surfactant type to eliminate tissue irritation while preserving cleaning effectiveness through the mild nonionic surfactant properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful anionic surfactant into a beneficial nonionic surfactant system, where monoglycerides and diglycerides provide both effective cleaning and tissue protection, turning the previous harm into a benefit for sensitive oral mucosa

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mild toothpastes are formulated for sensitive oral mucosa, then tissue irritation is reduced, but cleaning effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue irritationVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining monoglyceride and diglyceride in specific proportions (0.5%-5.0% total concentration), creating a synergistic mixture that achieves both mildness for sensitive tissues and adequate cleaning effectiveness that single surfactants cannot provide

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 composition significantly reduces irritation to oral tissues, as demonstrated by reduced cell hemolysis in red blood cell assays, providing a mild and effective oral care solution.

Implementation Method 1

a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, and a combination thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS12447119B2Oral care composition

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 SUNSTAR AMERICAS INC

AI summary

An oral care composition including a base composition, and a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, and a combination thereof in an amount of about 0.5% to about 5.0% by weight of the oral care composition.