Wood-Derived Antimicrobial Composition Reducing Cytotoxicity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current antimicrobial agents used in cosmetic and food industry compositions are often cytotoxic, skin irritative, and decompose into harmful free radicals upon sunlight exposure, necessitating the development of natural, low-cytotoxic alternatives that effectively inhibit microbial growth across a wide range of microorganisms.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a compound mixture obtained by pulverizing or extracting wood material, containing lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, betulin, and their derivatives, which provides broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with minimal cytotoxicity and skin irritation, using a carrier agent and surface active agents as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic antimicrobial agents (e.g., phenoxyethanol) are used to inhibit microbial growth on a wide scale, then broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity is achieved, but physiological toxicity, skin irritation, and free radical formation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidcytotoxicity and skin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing synthetic antimicrobial agents with natural wood-derived compounds (lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, betulin). This parameter change maintains broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity while reducing cytotoxicity and skin irritation, as the natural compounds have different biochemical properties that are less harmful to mammalian cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses readily available wood material as a renewable, cost-effective source of antimicrobial compounds. The extraction process produces affordable natural antimicrobial agents that can be easily replaced and regenerated from sustainable wood sources, eliminating the need for expensive synthetic chemical production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If synthetic antimicrobial agents are used to ensure wide-scale microbial growth inhibition, then effective preservation is achieved, but production complexity and environmental harm increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial growth inhibitionVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts antimicrobial compounds directly from wood material using simple extraction processes. This takes out the active ingredients (lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, betulin) from their natural source and applies them as antimicrobial agents, eliminating the need for complex synthetic chemical manufacturing processes while maintaining effective microbial growth inhibition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses wood material that serves multiple functions: it is a renewable resource, a source of multiple active antimicrobial compounds (lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, betulin), and an environmentally sustainable material. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall production system by consolidating multiple roles into a single raw material source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If natural wood-derived compounds are used to reduce cytotoxicity, then skin safety is improved, but antimicrobial effectiveness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecytotoxicityVSAvoidantimicrobial effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite mixture of four different natural wood-derived compounds (lignans, stilbenes, flavonoids, and betulin). This composite approach combines the benefits of each individual compound, achieving broad-spectrum antimicrobial effectiveness while maintaining low cytotoxicity, as the compounds work synergistically to cover different microbial targets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in cosmetic compositions, then microbial preservation is achieved, but skin irritation and allergenicity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation effectVSAvoidskin irritation and allergenicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces phenoxyethanol with naturally occurring wood-derived compounds that are safer for skin contact. These natural compounds can be sourced sustainably and provide effective preservation with minimal skin irritation and allergenicity, making them suitable for cosmetic applications where skin safety is paramount

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS8431170B2Antimicrobial composition with low cytotoxicity

Publication Date: 2013.04.30 OY GRANULA AB LTD

AI summary

A composition having antimicrobial activity is provided. The composition includes a compound mixture obtained from pulverized and/or extracted wood material that contains polyphenols (i) lignans, (ii) stilbenes and (iii) oligomers of lignans, stilbenes juvabiones or flavonoids. The cytotoxicity of the polyphenols in the compound mixture is at least ten times lower compared to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and does not irritate the skin in a so-called single patch test at 0.1 wt %. The composition further includes an antimicrobial agent such as betulin, betulonic acid, betulinic acid, betuloinic acid, resveratrol or ethylhexyl glyceryl. The composition can be used in cosmetic and hair care products.