Photolabile Microcapsules for Light-Triggered Fragrance Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The perfume industry faces challenges with the rapid loss of olfactive benefits due to volatility and instability of fragrance compounds, leading to incomplete fragrance release and limited shelf-life in consumer products, as existing microcapsule systems either require mechanical breaking or unreliable leakage mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Development of non-diffusive microcapsules with a photolabile compound that generates a gas upon light exposure, causing the microcapsule to break and release the oil phase, thereby extending the fragrance release without mechanical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If microcapsules are used to encapsulate fragrance compounds, then fragrance loss due to volatility is reduced, but fragrance release becomes unreliable without mechanical intervention
Solution Approach 1:
A photolabile compound is pre-loaded inside the microcapsule that will decompose upon light exposure to generate gas and trigger capsule breaking. This preliminary placement of the triggering mechanism ensures reliable fragrance release when light is applied, without requiring mechanical scratching or hoping for spontaneous leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcapsule system uses the light energy from the environment to automatically trigger the fragrance release through photodecomposition of the internal compound. The system serves itself by converting light energy into mechanical breaking force, eliminating the need for external mechanical intervention while maintaining reliable release.
2Loss of substance
If microcapsules are designed to be non-diffusive to prevent fragrance loss, then fragrance stability is improved, but fragrance release control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical scratching or pressure-based release mechanisms with a photochemical system. Light energy triggers photodecomposition of the internal compound, which generates gas pressure to break the capsule. This substitution provides easier and more precise control over the release timing and location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and pressure parameters inside the microcapsule upon light exposure. The photolabile compound decomposes to generate gas, rapidly increasing internal pressure and changing the mechanical state of the capsule contents, which forces the shell to break and release the fragrance.
3Reliability
If photolabile compounds are used to generate gas inside microcapsules, then spontaneous breaking is achieved, but shell transparency to light becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a broad-spectrum photolabile compound that can be activated by various types of light (UV, visible, or near-IR depending on the specific compound chosen). This multi-functionality in light absorption allows the system to work with different shell materials and transparency levels, reducing the stringency of the transparency requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The photolabile compound acts as an intermediary that converts light energy into chemical change and then into mechanical breaking force. This intermediary mechanism allows the shell to be less transparent while still enabling sufficient light transmission at specific wavelengths to trigger the photodecomposition, as the compound can be selected to match the transmission characteristics of the shell material.
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 microcapsules effectively prolong the fragrance release by increasing the internal pressure upon light exposure, allowing for controlled and sustained release of the encapsulated oil phase, enhancing the olfactive experience and product shelf-life.
Implementation Method 1
a) a core comprising, or even consisting of: an oil phase; at least one photolabile compound capable of generating, upon exposure to light at a wavelength comprised between 900 and 300 nm, a gas selected among the group consisting of CO, CO2, N2 and C2-C4 alkenes
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to water-dispersible microcapsules that include an oil phase, e.g. a perfume, containing a photolabile compound capable of generating a gas upon exposure to light. The gas is able to cause an extension or the breaking of the microcapsule allowing the release of the oil phase and thus increasing the long-lastingness of the odor perception. The present invention concerns also the use of such microcapsules in perfumery as well as the perfuming compositions or perfumed articles that include such microcapsules therein to provide a prolonged release of fragrant molecules.