Oral Care Composition Phase Transition for Dentinal Hypersensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for dentine hypersensitivity lack effective alternatives that can address the pain and fluid movement issues in exposed dentine tubules, with existing occluding agents either forming gels at body temperature or not adequately reducing fluid movement.
Innovation Solution
A water-soluble non-ionic polymer, specifically hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), is used in an oral care composition with a cloud point below body temperature, combined with salts and humectants to form a liquid at room temperature that transitions to a cloudy two-phase system at body temperature, reducing viscosity and occluding dentine tubules without gel formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing occluding agents are used to block dentine tubules, then fluid movement is reduced, but the agents either form gels at body temperature or do not adequately reduce fluid movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the polymer by selecting a non-ionic polymer with specific molecular weight (10,000-1,000,000) and cloud point (0-50°C) characteristics. This parameter selection allows the polymer to remain soluble at room temperature for application but precipitate at body temperature to occlude tubules, avoiding gel formation while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of the non-ionic polymer from dissolved state at room temperature to precipitated state at body temperature (above cloud point). This phase change enables the polymer to effectively occlude dentine tubules in situ without requiring the composition to form a gel, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and unwanted gel formation.
2Reliability
If a water-soluble polymer with cloud point at or below oral cavity temperature is used, then the composition transitions from liquid to cloudy two-phase system at body temperature, but this may affect application ease
Solution Approach 1:
The composition is designed to be in liquid form at room temperature, allowing easy application to the dentine surface before the phase transition occurs. The preliminary liquid state facilitates proper spreading and contact with the target area, while the subsequent phase transition at body temperature ensures effective tubule occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
By carefully selecting polymers with cloud points between 0-50°C (optimally 20-40°C), the invention ensures the phase transition occurs at or near body temperature. This parameter optimization maintains liquid state during application (ease of operation) while ensuring precipitation and tubule occlusion effectiveness at oral temperature.
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 effectively reduces hydraulic conductance through dentine, providing significant relief from hypersensitivity by occluding dentine tubules and reducing fluid movement, as demonstrated by viscosity and hydraulic conductance tests.
Implementation Method 1
a water-soluble non-ionic polymer wherein the polymer has a cloud point in the composition at or below a temperature encountered in the oral cavity
Implementation Method 2
transitions to a cloudy two-phase system at body temperature
Implementation Method 3
occluding dentine tubules and reducing fluid movement
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care composition which is a liquid at or below room temperature and which forms a two-phase cloudy system at body temperature and wherein the composition comprises a water-soluble non-ionic polymer, such as HPC, having a cloud point in the composition at a temperature no higher than about 38°C, for combating (i.e. helping to prevent, inhibit and/or treat) dentinal hypersensitivity.