Oil-Based Foamable Carrier for Stable Active Agent Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterless foam formulations face challenges in creating stable, uniform, and non-irritating oil-based carriers for topical application, as they often result in greasy textures and poor skin absorption, and are difficult to formulate with active pharmaceutical or cosmetic agents that are unstable in hydrophobic solvents.
Innovation Solution
Development of a single-phase oil-based foamable carrier comprising 60-98% liquid oil and 2-40% glyceride surfactant, which forms a thermally stable and breakable foam suitable for delivering a wide range of active agents, including those unstable in water, without using short chain alcohols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If hydrophobic media (petrolatum-based ointment) is used to administer drugs, then stability of active agents is improved, but skin absorption and respiratory function are worsened due to impermeable barrier formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes phase transition by incorporating volatile components that evaporate after application, transforming the formulation from a persistent ointment barrier to a transient delivery system. The volatile phase leaves behind the active agent while avoiding prolonged barrier formation, thus maintaining stability during delivery but preventing post-application occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful barrier-forming property from the hydrophobic medium while retaining the stability benefit. By using a volatile hydrophobic carrier that evaporates, the formulation removes the persistent occlusive layer that prevents absorption, allowing the active agent to reach the skin without the detrimental impermeable barrier.
2Ease of operation
If water is used as a carrier, then skin absorption and non-greasy feel are improved, but stability of hydrophobic active agents is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a volatile hydrophobic carrier as an intermediary substance that is miscible with both water and hydrophobic active agents. This intermediary allows the formulation to maintain water-based benefits for skin absorption while providing a hydrophobic environment for active agent stability during the delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the carrier by using a volatile component that transitions from liquid to gas phase. This parameter change allows the carrier to provide hydrophobic stability during application, then evaporate to leave a non-greasy residue, effectively decoupling stability from greasiness.
3Ease of operation
If conventional foam formulations are used, then ease of application is improved, but uniformity and stability of the foam are worsened due to difficulty in formulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the compositional parameters by using a volatile hydrophobic carrier with specific properties that enable easy foam formation. The volatility and hydrophobicity parameters of the carrier create a system that naturally forms uniform, stable foams that are easy to apply, overcoming the formulation difficulties of conventional foams.
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 provides a stable, non-irritating, and easily absorbable foam that maintains therapeutic effectiveness, overcoming the limitations of greasiness and instability in hydrophobic solvents, while ensuring uniform distribution and prolonged stability of active agents.
Implementation Method 1
2-40% glyceride surfactant
Implementation Method 2
single-phase oil-based foamable carrier comprising 60-98% liquid oil and 2-40% glyceride surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A waterless foamable carrier and pharmaceutical composition which is suitable for external and internal administration is disclosed. The composition is single phase and includes at least one liquid oil; and a glyceride. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising active agents, methods for their preparation, propellants suitable for use with the carriers and uses thereof are further described.