Personalized Microbial Composition for Skin Malodor Degradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for treating skin malodor often inhibit the growth of all skin microbes non-specifically, leading to the destruction of both commensal and pathogenic bacteria, and cannot be personalized to address individual types of malodorants effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for designing a personalized composition that involves collecting a biological sample, determining metabolites, identifying malodorants, selecting non-pathogenic microbes capable of degrading these malodorants, genetically engineering them if necessary, and formulating a topical composition to counteract skin malodor without harming beneficial skin microbiota.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibacterial compounds are used to treat skin malodor, then malodorant degradation is improved, but skin microbiota is destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemalodorant degradationVSAvoidskin microbiota destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the broad-spectrum antibacterial approach into targeted, specific treatments. Instead of using compounds that affect all bacteria, the patent identifies and treats specific malodor-causing bacteria (such as Staphylococcus epidermidis) while preserving beneficial skin microbiota. This segmentation allows selective elimination of harmful agents without damaging the overall microbial ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by creating personalized compositions tailored to an individual's specific skin microbiome profile. The treatment composition is customized based on the specific malodorants present in that person's axillary secretions, allowing targeted intervention at the local level rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach that would harm beneficial bacteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional techniques are used to treat specific malodorants, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but personalization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpersonalization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by first characterizing an individual's specific skin microbiome profile and identifying the particular malodorants they produce before designing the treatment composition. This preliminary characterization enables the subsequent personalization of the treatment to match the individual's unique microbial profile, combining effective targeted treatment with full personalization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes parameter changes by adjusting the composition of the treatment based on measured parameters of the individual's skin microbiome. By analyzing specific malodorant concentrations and microbial profiles, the treatment composition is customized with appropriate concentrations of antibacterial compounds that effectively address that person's specific malodorants while preserving their unique microbiome balance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 personalized composition effectively degrades specific malodorants on an individual's skin while preserving the natural skin microbiome, providing targeted and personalized treatment for skin malodor.

Implementation Method 1

identifying a combination of one or more microbes, using a microbe-malodorant microbial knowledge base, that (i) have a metabolic capability to degrade the one or more identified malodorants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMetabolic degradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

genetically engineering one or more skin-colonizing and non-pathogenic microbes with the identified subset of pathways, to obtain one or more genetically engineered microbes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGenetic engineering:

Implementation Method 3

possess a capability of colonizing on the skin of the subject

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColonization:

Data Source

PatentUS20230154564A1Designing a personalized composition for counteracting skin malodor

Publication Date: 2023.05.18 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD

AI summary

This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for designing a personalized composition that can counteract or reduce skin malodor. Conventional techniques that prepare compositions to treat specific malodorants are limited and such compositions cannot be personalized to an individual according to the type of malodorant produced on skin of the individual. The present disclosure provides a method for designing a personalized composition for degrading the malodorant present in skin of the subject. First, a biological sample from the subject is collected, and metabolite composition of the sample is determined. next, one or more malodorant in the sample are identified based on the metabolite composition. Further, a combination of bacteria capable of degrading the identified malodorant are identified using the microbe-malodorant microbial knowledge base and lastly the personalized composition of the identified bacteria is designed using the combination of bacteria.