Zwitterionic and Taurate Surfactant Oral Care Compositions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oral care compositions that contain zinc and fluoride face challenges in providing effective enamel repair and antimicrobial activity without sodium lauryl sulfate, which can cause skin irritation and interfere with ingredient stability, and often result in product separation and reduced cleaning efficacy.

Innovation Solution

The use of a combination of a zwitterionic surfactant, such as cocamidopropyl betaine, and a taurate surfactant, like sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, replaces sodium lauryl sulfate, enhancing enamel repair and antibacterial activity while maintaining stability and reducing plaque and gingivitis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sodium lauryl sulfate is used as the primary surfactant, then foaming and cleaning efficacy are maintained, but skin irritation and interference with ingredient stability occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes sodium lauryl sulfate from the formulation entirely and replaces it with alternative surfactant systems (amino acid-based surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, or non-ionic surfactants), extracting the harmful component while maintaining the necessary cleaning and foaming functions through different chemical mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by transitioning from anionic sulfates to amino acid-based, zwitterionic, or non-ionic surfactants with different molecular structures and charge properties, thereby altering the formulation's stability profile and reducing skin irritation while preserving cleaning efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If new surfactant combinations are used to replace sodium lauryl sulfate, then skin irritation is reduced, but product separation occurs due to changed ingredient balance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin irritationVSAvoidproduct separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite surfactant systems combining multiple types (amino acid-based surfactants with zwitterionic or non-ionic surfactants) to achieve synergistic effects that maintain formulation stability and prevent phase separation while eliminating the harmful anionic sulfate component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts critical formulation parameters including surfactant concentration ratios, pH levels, and ionic strength to optimize the stability of alternative surfactant combinations, preventing product separation while maintaining the benefits of SLS-free formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If zinc ions are provided at effective levels, then antimicrobial activity is enhanced, but unpleasant astringent mouthfeel occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidmouthfeel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses amino acid-based surfactants as intermediaries that can complex with zinc ions, forming zinc-amino acid complexes that maintain antimicrobial activity while reducing the astringent mouthfeel associated with free zinc ions, thereby mediating between efficacy and sensory acceptance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If zinc ions are provided at effective levels, then antimicrobial activity is enhanced, but zinc fluoride precipitation occurs reducing availability of both zinc and fluoride

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantimicrobial effectivenessVSAvoidzinc and fluoride availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces amino acid-based surfactants as intermediaries that complex with zinc ions, preventing direct precipitation reactions between zinc and fluoride while maintaining both ions in solution at effective concentrations, thereby preserving antimicrobial effectiveness and ingredient availability

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 combination of zwitterionic and taurate surfactants in oral care compositions improves enamel repair and antibacterial activity compared to compositions with sodium lauryl sulfate, providing enhanced stability and efficacy in treating or preventing tooth erosion, plaque, and gingivitis.

Implementation Method 1

a zwitterionic surfactant (e.g., a betaine zwitterionic surfactant) (e.g., cocamidopropyl betaine) and a taurate surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Data Source

PatentUS20230363991A1Oral Care Compositions

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

AI summary

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to oral care compositions comprising a source of zinc, a fluoride source, a zwitterionic surfactant and a taurate surfactant. In one aspect the compositions of the disclosure can be used for the treatment or reduction of erosive tooth demineralization, gingivitis, plaque, and dental caries. In one aspect the oral care composition includes zinc citrate, zinc oxide, arginine, cocamidopropyl betaine and at least one taurate surfactant (e.g., sodium methyl cocoyl taurate).