PEG Spacer Particles for Aggregation-Free Benefit Agent Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deposition systems for benefit agents, such as perfumes, face challenges with aggregation during manufacturing, which renders batches unusable, and lack effectiveness across a range of surfaces without causing aggregation issues.
Innovation Solution
A particle design featuring a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer pre-attached to the particle via a covalent bond, with a deposition aid attached to the end of the spacer, ensuring improved deposition efficiency without aggregation, comprising a core-shell structure with a benefit agent encapsulated in the core and a water-insoluble shell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a deposition aid is added to the particle to increase deposition, then deposition efficiency is improved, but aggregation occurs during manufacture rendering the batch unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The deposition aid molecule is segmented into distinct functional regions: a recognition region (amino acid sequence with affinity for the target surface) and a spacer region (polyethylene glycol chain). This segmentation allows the deposition aid to attach to the particle while the spacer prevents aggregation by maintaining separation between particles, thus resolving the contradiction between improving deposition efficiency and maintaining manufacturing usability.
2Productivity
If a deposition aid with high affinity for target surface is used, then deposition efficiency is improved, but the system lacks effectiveness across a range of surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The deposition aid is designed with a polyethylene glycol spacer that provides universal compatibility across different surfaces. The spacer acts as a universal interface that can attach to various particle types while the recognition region maintains affinity for diverse surfaces, enabling the system to achieve both high deposition efficiency and broad surface adaptability.
3Reliability
If the spacer is attached directly to the particle, then aggregation is prevented, but deposition efficiency may be reduced without optimal spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer length is optimized by selecting polyethylene glycol with specific molecular weights (Mw 3000-40000) to achieve the optimal balance between preventing aggregation and maintaining deposition efficiency. This parameter optimization ensures that the spacer is long enough to prevent particle aggregation but not so long as to reduce deposition efficiency, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 enhances deposition efficiency on various surfaces, including hair and skin, while preventing aggregation, thus maintaining the stability and effectiveness of the benefit agents during use.
Implementation Method 1
a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer which is attached to the particle by means of a covalent bond
Implementation Method 2
a deposition aid... attached to the end of the spacer
Data Source
AI summary
A particle comprising:- (a) a spacer which is a polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain with molecular weight Mw (and therefore the required length) of the spacer extending from the particle from 3000 to 400,000; (b) a deposition aid; and (c) a benefit agent, wherein the spacer is attached directly to the particle and the deposition aid is attached to the end of the spacer.