Scalp Care Composition Solvent Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current anti-dandruff leave-on treatments lack the efficacy and scalp benefits that can replace or complement rinse-off products, with soluble anti-dandruff actives often experiencing decreased solubility and stability issues due to insufficient solvent concentrations, leading to reduced anti-fungal activity.

Innovation Solution

A scalp care composition containing 0.3% to 2% anti-dandruff active, with climbazole soluble in a mixture of butylene glycol and benzyl alcohol solvents, along with additional hair growth stimulating agents and rheology modifiers, to enhance solubility and stability, thereby increasing anti-fungal potency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If soluble anti-dandruff actives are used in leave-on treatments, then anti-dandruff efficacy is improved, but solubility and stability decrease due to insufficient solvent concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-dandruff efficacyVSAvoidsolubility and stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of organic solvents from insufficient levels to optimized ranges (butylene glycol: 0.1-10%, benzyl alcohol: 0.1-5%). This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing enough solvent to maintain climbazole solubility and stability while preserving anti-fungal efficacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite solvent system combining butylene glycol and benzyl alcohol with climbazole active ingredient. This composite formulation achieves both solubility enhancement and stability improvement, resolving the technical contradiction between efficacy and compositional stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If higher concentrations of organic solvents are used to improve solubility, then solubility increases, but formulation complexity and potential irritation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes solvent concentration parameters to effective minimal levels (butylene glycol: 0.1-10%, benzyl alcohol: 0.1-5%) rather than using high concentrations. This resolves the contradiction by achieving sufficient solubility without excessive formulation complexity or potential irritation from high solvent loads.

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 composition demonstrates a 10.5% increase in anti-fungal activity and improved solubility of climbazole, maintaining effective delivery and stability, as shown by zone of inhibition data, providing enhanced scalp benefits and efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

the soluble anti-dandruff active comprises climbazole from 0.1 to 25 weight % of one or more organic solvents by weight of the total composition, wherein the organic solvent comprises butylene glycol and benzyl alcohol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

the incorporation of certain formulation solvents can increase the anti-fungal potency of a given composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPenetration enhancement:

Data Source

PatentEP3134064B1Scalp care composition
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP3134064B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A scalp care composition directed to a scalp care composition comprising from about 0.05% to about 5% of an anti-dandruff active, from about 0.1% to about 25% of one or more organic solvents, from about 1% to about 99% of a volatile carrier wherein the anti-dandruff active is soluble in the scalp care composition.