Vaginal Lubricant Composition With Stable Viscosity at Low pH
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal care products, particularly vaginal lubricants, often disrupt the natural pH and osmolality of the vagina, leading to damage of the vaginal microbiome and increased susceptibility to infections due to the use of hyperosmolal and high-pH formulations that are not bio-matched to the vaginal environment.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising succinoglycan, brassicyl valinate esylate, and cetearyl alcohol, or optionally acemannan, which maintains high viscosity and stability across various pH levels, including acidic, neutral, and basic, ensuring compatibility with vaginal fluid osmolality and ion concentrations, thereby preventing disruption of the vaginal microbiome.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional base compositions are used in personal care products, then viscosity and texture can be adjusted, but the compositions are not stable in low pH and cannot support low-pH ingredients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the base composition by using succinoglycan and acemannan instead of traditional thickeners. These polysaccharides maintain their viscosity and structural integrity across a wide pH range (2-10), enabling stability in low-pH environments while supporting acidic ingredients like lactic acid and glycolic acid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite base composition combining succinoglycan, acemannan, and specific electrolyte combinations (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride). This composite material provides both pH stability and the ability to support low-pH active ingredients, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
2Reliability
If hyperosmolal formulations are used in vaginal products, then product stability is improved, but the vaginal microbiome is disrupted and susceptibility to infections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the osmolality parameter to match physiological vaginal fluid (280-320 mOsm/kg) rather than using hyperosmolal formulations. This parameter change maintains product stability while eliminating microbiome disruption, as the isotonic formulation does not cause osmotic stress to beneficial bacteria.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses naturally occurring, biocompatible polysaccharides (succinoglycan and acemannan) that are rapidly metabolized by vaginal flora, providing temporary viscosity enhancement without long-term disruption to the microbiome ecosystem.
3Stability of the object's composition
If high-pH formulations are used in personal care products, then manufacturing and storage stability is improved, but the natural vaginal pH balance is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the formulation to match physiological vaginal pH (3.5-4.5) while using succinoglycan and acemannan as thickening agents. These polysaccharides provide adequate viscosity at low pH without requiring high-pH conditions, enabling both formulation stability and pH balance maintenance simultaneously.
4Shape
If conventional thickeners are used to achieve suitable viscosity, then product texture is improved, but the thickeners disintegrate in acidic pH conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite of succinoglycan and acemannan, two polysaccharides with complementary properties. Succinoglycan provides initial viscosity, while acemannan reinforces the gel structure in acidic conditions. This composite material maintains shape and viscosity stability in pH 2-10, resolving the disintegration problem of conventional thickeners.
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 stable, non-disintegrating gels with suitable viscosity for personal care products, including vaginal lubricants, that are safe and effective over time, maintaining the vaginal microbiome and reducing the risk of infections.
Implementation Method 1
the two polysaccharides, succinoglycan and acemannan, unexpectedly form stable gels with high viscosity that do not disintegrate when stored in sealed containers at any pH, including acidic, neutral, or basic pH
Implementation Method 2
The composition for personal care products has osmolality from 250 to 450 mOsm/kg
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for personal care products comprises succinoglycan, brassicyl valinate esylate, cetearyl alcohol, and optionally acemannan. Another composition for personal care products comprises acemannan and has a prebiotic effect for vaginal bacteria. The composition for personal care products has suitable viscosity to be used as a base of personal care products such as a cream, a lotion, a lubricant, an ointment, a syrup, a gel, or the like and does not include harmful components. The composition for personal care products is stable under various pH, including acidic, neutral, and basic pH, and the viscosity does not deteriorate over storage. The composition for personal care products is compatible with wide ranges of salt and electrolyte concentrations, pH, and osmolality found in human body.