Regio-Specific Glycerin Polymers for Cosmetic Skin Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Natural triglycerides lack the desired aesthetics for widespread use in cosmetics, and existing technologies fail to provide polymers with regio-specific substitution patterns, unique physical properties, and skin penetration due to high molecular weight, as well as the combination of liquid and solid domain groups critical for advanced formulations.
Innovation Solution
The development of regio-specific glycerin-based polymers synthesized through polycondensation polymerization using mono-functional monomers to control the placement of alkyl groups, creating high-definition polymers with structured liquid and solid domains, and incorporating silicone for enhanced solubility and surface activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If natural triglycerides are used directly, then they provide energy storage and basic physical properties, but they lack desired aesthetics and have limited performance variation for cosmetic applications
Solution Approach 1:
The triglyceride molecule is segmented into distinct functional regions through regio-specific substitution. Different alkyl groups (R1, R2, R3) are placed at specific positions (sn-1, sn-2, sn-3) on the glycerin backbone, creating segregated domains of solid and liquid characteristics within the single molecule. This segmentation enables independent optimization of each region's properties.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the polymer molecule are assigned different local qualities through controlled substitution patterns. For example, solid-domain promoting groups may be placed at terminal positions while liquid-domain groups are placed internally, creating localized regions with distinct physical properties within the overall molecule.
2Manufacturing precision
If polymeric triglyceride mimics are synthesized to improve performance, then properties can be controlled through polymerization, but existing technologies fail to achieve regio-specific substitution patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The polymerization process is designed with preliminary actions that guide substitution to specific regions. By pre-configuring the polymerization conditions, catalysts, and monomer addition sequences, the process naturally directs substitution to terminal or internal positions before the reaction completes, achieving regio-specific patterns without complex post-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymerization process utilizes dynamic control of reaction conditions during synthesis. Parameters such as temperature, catalyst concentration, and monomer feed rate are dynamically adjusted to favor substitution at specific positions at different stages of polymerization, enabling regio-specific substitution patterns to emerge from the dynamic process.
3Reliability
If high molecular weight polymers are used to achieve skin penetration control, then performance is improved, but unique physical properties and skin feels are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer structure incorporates local quality variations through regio-specific substitution, creating distinct domains within the high molecular weight chain. These local domains with different physical properties (solid vs. liquid characteristics) provide unique skin feels while the overall high molecular weight maintains controlled skin penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer functions as a composite material at the molecular level, combining different alkyl group types (solid-domain and liquid-domain groups) within a single high molecular weight structure. This molecular composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of high molecular weight benefits and diverse physical property expression.
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
These polymers offer superior skin feels and unique physical properties, including controlled melt points, crystallinity, and solubility, making them suitable for advanced cosmetic applications with improved aesthetics and performance.
Implementation Method 1
regio-specific glycerin-based polymers synthesized through polycondensation polymerization
Implementation Method 2
Triglycerides are esters that are the reaction product of glycerin and fatty acids
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a series of functionalized glycerin based polymers that have been designed to have very specific substitution patterns, herein referred to as regio-specific substitution (RSS). The properties of these polymers can be controlled and tuned by judicial control of the polymerization conditions, specifically by employing the use of mono-functional monomers. This polymer will has “compartments” of solid and liquid pendant group domains if the proper pendant groups are chosen. This unique multi-dimensional, high definition polymer will have very unique physical properties, including unique shear and flow behaviors. These polymers will provide outstanding and unique skin feels when used in cosmetic applications.