Retinol Formulation with Mixed Tocopherol and Apolar Solvent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing formulations for retinol in personal care products face challenges in achieving high retinol concentration while maintaining stability and avoiding the use of banned antioxidants like BHT and BHA.
Innovation Solution
A formulation comprising 40-75 weight-% retinol, 20-55 weight-% of an apolar lipophilic hydrocarbon solvent without an alcohol or ester group, and 0.1-5 weight-% mixed tocopherol, with a defined cis/trans ratio of retinol isomers less than 0.01, which is stable and does not include prohibited antioxidants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high retinol concentration is used in formulation, then the effectiveness of the formulation is improved, but the stability of the formulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by specifying precise retinol concentration ranges (40-75 wt%), solvent composition (apolar lipophilic hydrocarbon without alcohol or ester groups), and antioxidant content (0.1-5 wt% mixed tocopherol). These parameter changes enable high retinol concentration while maintaining stability through controlled chemical environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation combines multiple components in specific proportions: retinol (40-75 wt%), apolar lipophilic hydrocarbon solvent (20-55 wt%), and mixed tocopherol antioxidant (0.1-5 wt%). This composite approach creates a synergistic system where each component contributes to both high concentration capability and stability maintenance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If banned antioxidants like BHT or BHA are used to maintain stability, then the stability of the formulation is improved, but the legality and safety of the formulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful component (banned antioxidants BHT/BHA) from the formulation system. Instead, it uses only permitted ingredients - specifically mixed tocopherol (0.1-5 wt%) as the antioxidant, which provides the necessary stability without legal or safety issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and problematic antioxidants with a more economical and safe alternative - mixed tocopherol at lower concentrations (0.1-5 wt%). This substitution maintains stability functionality while avoiding the harmful and illegal characteristics of BHT/BHA.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple ingredients and solvents are used to achieve high retinol concentration, then the concentration of retinol is improved, but the complexity of the formulation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The apolar lipophilic hydrocarbon solvent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the medium for dissolving retinol, provides the appropriate chemical environment for stability, and enables high concentration without requiring additional complex additives. This multi-functionality reduces overall formulation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the parameters of the solvent system (using apolar lipophilic hydrocarbon without alcohol or ester groups) and retinol concentration (40-75 wt%), the formulation achieves high concentration with minimal ingredients, thereby reducing complexity rather than increasing it.
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 formulation achieves high retinol concentration with improved stability, allowing for a wide range of applications in personal care products without using banned antioxidants.
Implementation Method 1
The solvent, wherein the retinol, which has a defined mixtures of cis and trans isomers, is solved must not comprise any alcohol group
Implementation Method 2
in the presence of mixed tocopherol... mixed tocopherol (as antioxidant)... 0.1-5 wt-%, based on the total weight of the formulation, of mixed tocopherol
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a new formulation, which comprises a high amount of retinol, which has a defined mixture of cis and trans isomers, in a specific solvent and in the presence of mixed tocopherol.