Antibacterial Composition with Quaternary Ammonium and Alkamine Oxide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Quaternary ammonium compounds used in antibacterial cleansing compositions often cause irritation to mammalian skin and eye tissue, and existing mitigants do not adequately address this issue while maintaining effective antibacterial efficacy.

Innovation Solution

An antibacterial composition comprising a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkamine oxide, and a nonionic material, with specific weight ratios that reduce eye irritancy as measured by the Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability assay, while maintaining antibacterial effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If quaternary ammonium compounds are used as antibacterial agents, then antibacterial effectiveness is improved, but irritation to skin and eye tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibacterial effectivenessVSAvoidirritation to skin and eye tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces amine oxide surfactants and nonionic materials as intermediary substances that mediate between the quaternary ammonium compound and mammalian tissue. These intermediaries reduce the direct contact and harmful interaction between the antibacterial agent and skin/eye tissue, thereby maintaining antibacterial effectiveness while reducing irritation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite antibacterial system by combining quaternary ammonium compounds with amine oxide surfactants and nonionic materials in specific formulations. This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both strong antibacterial properties and reduced irritation, as the different components work synergistically to balance efficacy and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If mitigants are added to reduce irritation of quaternary ammonium compounds, then irritation potential is reduced, but antibacterial efficacy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveirritation potentialVSAvoidantibacterial efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of quaternary ammonium compounds, amine oxide surfactants, and nonionic materials to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling the amounts of each component within specific ranges, the formulation maintains sufficient antibacterial activity while reducing irritation potential through the mitigating effects of the surfactants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8193136B2Antibacterial compositions comprising quaternary ammonium germicides and alkamine oxides having reduced irritation potential

Publication Date: 2012.06.05 HENKEL KGAA

AI summary

Antibacterial compositions having antibacterial effectiveness and reduced eye irritation potential are disclosed. The antibacterial compositions contain a quaternary ammonium compound, an alkamine oxide, a nonionic compound, optional adjuvant materials known in the art, and water. The eye irritation is decreased by decreasing the amount, by weight, of alkamine oxide present in the composition and alternatively, or in combination therewith, increasing the ratio of nonionic material to alkamine oxide present in the composition.