Silicone Elastomer Entrapment for UV Filter Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal care compositions, such as sunscreens, face challenges in maintaining active stability and sensory benefits due to interactions between ingredients, leading to reduced UV filter activity during storage and application.
Innovation Solution
The method involves in-situ entrapment of hydrophobic skin actives within a silicone elastomer during polymerization, using hydride and vinyl functionalized silicone precursors, resulting in a cross-linked elastomer with molecularly dispersed actives, enhancing stability and sensory benefits in end-use compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional batch techniques are used to add actives to personal care compositions, then the formulation process is simple, but the active stability and SPF performance deteriorate during storage and application
Solution Approach 1:
The active ingredient is incorporated into the elastomer matrix during the polymerization process itself, before the final product is formulated. This preliminary entrapment ensures the active is protected from degradation and interactions from the outset, maintaining stability during storage and application without requiring complex post-processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The active ingredient is nested within the elastomer matrix at the molecular level, creating a core-shell like structure where the elastomer acts as a protective carrier. This nested configuration shields the active from harmful interactions while maintaining its functionality, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and stability.
2Ease of operation
If conventional batch techniques are used to add actives, then formulation is straightforward, but droplet formation occurs and sensory benefits are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The polymerization process inherently produces a homogeneous distribution of the active ingredient throughout the elastomer matrix at the molecular level. This homogeneity eliminates droplet formation and ensures uniform sensory benefits, while the process itself remains straightforward requiring only standard polymerization procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional sunscreens are used, then UV protection is provided, but interactions with other ingredients reduce UV filter activity during storage and application
Solution Approach 1:
The active ingredient is extracted from the bulk formulation and individually entrapped within the elastomer matrix. This separation isolates the UV filter from interactions with other formulation ingredients that would otherwise degrade its activity, maintaining stable UV protection throughout storage and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer matrix acts as an intermediary carrier between the active ingredient and the external environment. This intermediary structure protects the UV filter from harmful interactions while allowing it to maintain its protective function, resolving the contradiction between providing UV protection and maintaining composition stability.
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 silicone elastomer with entrapped actives demonstrates superior stability and efficacy, maintaining active performance and sensory benefits for extended periods, especially when compared to traditional batch techniques, with improved SPF stability and reduced droplet formation.
Implementation Method 1
polymerization of the precursors to form a cross-linked silicone elastomer
Implementation Method 2
in-situ entrapment of hydrophobic skin actives within the resulting elastomer... the actives are molecularly dispersed within the elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing silicone elastomers containing hydrophobic skin actives with excellent characteristics is described. The elastomer shows enhanced efficacy with respect to the skin actives compared to skin care compositions formulated with individual elastomer and active(s) components. Skin care compositions containing the inventive silicone elastomers and methods of skin treatment are also described.