Sunscreen Composition Using Encapsulation and Film Formation for High SPF

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunscreen compositions require high amounts of UV actives and boosters to achieve high SPF values, leading to increased cost and technical challenges in application and performance.

Innovation Solution

A sunscreen composition comprising a sunscreen active, an amphiphile monolayer carrier, and a film former polymer, where the carrier encapsulates at least part of the sunscreen active, and the film former polymer forms a structured film, allowing for enhanced photoprotection with lower concentrations of ingredients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high amounts of UV actives and boosters are used to achieve high SPF values, then photoprotection performance is improved, but cost increases and technical challenges in application and performance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotoprotection performanceVSAvoidamount of UV actives and boosters

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple UV active ingredients (avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate) with specific film former polymers and carriers to create a composite sunscreen composition. This composite approach allows synergistic interactions between ingredients, achieving high SPF 50+ protection while using optimized concentrations of each component rather than simply increasing the amount of single UV actives or boosters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise concentration ranges for each ingredient (e.g., avobenzone at 3-15 wt%, octocrylene at 5-20 wt%, film formers at 1-10 wt%) to optimize photoprotection performance. By carefully controlling the parameters of ingredient concentrations and their ratios, the formulation achieves SPF 50+ with minimized total ingredient amounts while avoiding the need for excessive boosters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high amounts of UV actives are used to achieve high SPF values, then photoprotection is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSPF valueVSAvoidamount of UV actives

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges four different UV active ingredients with complementary protection profiles (avobenzone for UVA, octocrylene for UVB and UVA, homosalate for UVB, octisalate for UVB) into a single formulation. This combination allows the composition to achieve broad-spectrum protection and high SPF 50+ values through synergistic effects, reducing the need to use excessively high amounts of any single UV active ingredient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If high amounts of boosters are used to provide high SPF values, then photoprotection is improved, but technical challenges in application and performance worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSPF valueVSAvoidapplication and performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces film former polymers (acrylates copolymer, carbomer, xanthan gum) as intermediary components that facilitate the even distribution and stable performance of UV active ingredients on the skin. These film formers create a protective matrix that enhances the application properties and performance consistency of the sunscreen, reducing technical challenges associated with using high amounts of boosters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides enhanced photoprotection with reduced amounts of sunscreen actives and carriers, achieving SPF values of ≥50 without the need for additional boosters, thereby minimizing cost and application challenges.

Implementation Method 1

the carrier may include an amphiphile monolayer to encapsulate at least a portion of the total amount of the sunscreen active

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

the film former polymer forms a structured film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilm formation: Thin Films

Implementation Method 3

sunscreen compositions are available to protect keratinous substrates, such as skin and hair, from UV radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12576017B2Sunscreen composition with enhanced photoprotection

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE BRANDS LLC

AI summary

A sunscreen composition includes a sunscreen active, a carrier, and a film former polymer. The sunscreen active may be selected from organic sunscreen actives. The carrier may include an amphiphile monolayer to encapsulate a least a portion of the total amount of the sunscreen active. The film former polymer may include an acrylic film former polymer selected from C1-C30 alkyl (meth)acrylates copolymer. Notably, the sunscreen active may provide enhanced photoprotection at relatively low concentration levels when present with the carrier, including the amphiphile monolayer, and the acrylic film former polymer.