Patent Picks—Multipurpose Polymers, Improving Foam, Surfactant-containing Films and More

Chosen biweekly for their relevance to personal care by Rachel Grabenhofer, editor of Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features patents related to surfactant technologies and applications.

Hydrolytically stable multipurpose polymers
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/068837
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc.; K Tamareselvy, Y Zhang, and DS Filla

This invention relates to hydrolytically stable, multipurpose polymers that are polymerized from a monomer mixture comprising at least one amino-substituted meth(acrylate) monomer or salt thereof; and at least one nonionic vinyl monomer, wherein the monomer mixture optionally comprises one or more of at least one vinyl associative monomer; at least one vinyl surfactant monomer; and/or at least one polymerizable silicone macromer; and wherein the monomer mixture further optionally comprises one or more of at least one crosslinking monomer; at least one chain transfer agent; and/or at least one polymeric stabilizer.

The described polymers can also be prepared from monomer mixtures containing chain transfer agents or other functional components commonly utilized in polymerization process. In one embodiment, the multi-purpose polymers of the described invention are hydrolytically stable over long periods of time (e.g., in excess of six months or more); provide surprisingly beneficial rheological properties in acidic aqueous compositions; and are compatible with cationic materials. These polymers are reportedly useful in a variety of products including personal care, health care, household care, institutional and industrial care.

Dissolvable films containing high concentrations of nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates to enhance high solid loadings
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/068513
Publication date: June 6, 2011
Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company, M Martinetti and R Jabbal

Disclosed in this patent is an oral care composition and method in which the composition includes a film or a plurality of film fragments containing a high concentration of nonionic surfactants and entrained in a carrier. Both the composition and method provide benefits including higher active material loading in the film formula for improved efficacy and a reduced amount of film needed in a product, while at the same time delivering comparable or improved efficacy with lower loading of the film in the composition. This application specifically relates to such oral care compositions as dentifrices as their aesthetic appeal is important and can have significant effects on consumer acceptance and use.

Linear and cyclic siloxanes and cosmetic compositions made thereof
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/068250
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd.; A Hayashi; T Iimura; H Furukawa; and H Kondo

The present invention describes a novel organopolysiloxane having a specified structure and a cosmetic containing it. The organopolysiloxane is volatile, possesses stability at low temperatures, provides superior glossiness and has a superior property with respect to miscibility with UV absorbers. In addition, it is useful as a replacement for octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, or methyltrimethicone. The cosmetic incorporating the organopolysiloxane can reportedly provide superior feeling to the touch during use and a superior outer appearance. It also provides an increased degree of freedom in blending various components such as UV absorbers into the cosmetic. Further, cosmetics of the present invention can incorporate combinations of dispersants, emulsifiers, cleansers, surface-treatment agents of other components, and one or more surfactants selected from anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and semi-polar surfactants.

In vitro method for testing toxicity and efficacy of a test material to an ocular surface
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/067384
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: Novagali Pharma S.A.; J-S Garrigue; P Daull; C Baudouin; F Brignole-Baudouin; and H Liang

This patent describes an in vitro method and kit for testing toxicity through the characterization of the healing efficacy of a test material. The test method includes: a) performing a monolayered or multilayered culture of epithelial corneal or conjunctival cells including quiescent and dividing cells, with said culture being obtained by cultivating cells to confluence followed by the scraping of the cell layer(s) resulting into a cleft; b) applying the test material onto said culture; and c) measuring cell viability and closure of the cleft with the same culture treated with a reference solution, such as a saline solution. 

The test method is appropriate for testing ingredients such as preservatives, osmotic agents, surfactants, buffer, etc; they may also comprise any emulsion, solution or suspension including active ingredients or formulations that can be applied on the eye surface, such as eye drops, ointments, creams, etc.

Polyetheramide compositions
US Patent Application 20110136989
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.

This invention describes ethanol-soluble or ethanol-dispersible polyetheramide polymers that have a percent elongation to break of less than 100%. The polymers are formed from a reaction mixture comprising at least one or more poly(alkyleneoxy) diamines and one or more diacids. The mixture also can optionally include one or more aliphatic diamines in addition to the one or more poly(alkyleneoxy) diamines.

The polyetheramide polymers reportedly exhibit good performance and aesthetic results while meeting environmental and regulatory requirements. They may be applied in personal care applications such as hair fixative compositions such as hair spray. Performance benefits include a smooth and soft feel, humidity resistance, low tack, easy combing, low flake, moderate pH and easy removal by shampooing.

O/W emulsion containing a hydrophilic polymer and a semi-crystalline polymer (to reduce surfactant use)
US Patent Application 20110136920
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: L'Oréal

The invention relates to a composition for topical application in the form of an o/w emulsion containing at least one crosslinked 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid polymer comprising at least one hydrophobic unit and at least one semi-crystalline polymer. The composition obtained reportedly has good stability and good cosmetic properties. The invention also relates to uses of the composition in cosmetics and dermatology, especially to care for, protect and/or make up facial or bodily skin and/or the lips, and/or for skin care, especially for treating dry and/or sensitive skin and for treating the signs of aging of the skin.

The applicant has discovered that the use of a combination of particular hydrophilic polymers and of particular lipophilic polymers makes it possible to obtain a stable o/w emulsion that has good cosmetic properties, even in the presence of fatty substances such as waxes, and that may be advantageously free of emulsifying surfactant conventionally used in o/w emulsions or contain only a very small amount thereof, and thus be well-tolerated by any skin type.

Solid oral film dosage forms and methods for making same
US Patent Application 20110136815
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Inventors: H  Zerbe, N Paiement, A Angusti and . Long

The current invention relates to improved pharmaceutical solid oral film dosage forms for the buccal and/or sublingual delivery of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or cosmetic ingredients that are endowed with instant hydration potential and complete dissolution, potentially enabling the active ingredient to become immediately available for enhanced buccal and/or sublingual absorption and/or reduced absorption through the gastrointestinal route. The improved delivery systems for solubilizing and stabilizing pharmaceutically active ingredients exhibit enhanced stability by the use of a combination of crystallization inhibitors, which together can maintain the active ingredient in a desired plurality of particles in an effective size range within a polymeric film matrix.

Novel method for improving the foaming properties of cleansing and/or foaming formulations for topical use
US Patent Application 20110136716 h
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Assignee: Societe D'exploitation De Produits Pour Les Industries Chimiques Seppic (Paris, FR)

This patent describes methods for improving the foaming properties of cleansing and foaming formulations for topical use. The methods comprise including in the formulation an effective amount of a polyol glycoside or a mixture of polyol glycosides of formula (I) R1—O-(G)x-H, in which x is a decimal number between 1 and 5, G is a reducing sugar and R1 is a radical of formula (A) —CH2—(CHOH)n—CH2—OH, in which n is an integer equal to 2, 3 or 4, or R1 is a radical of the formula (B) —(CH2—CHOH—CH2—O)m—H, in which m is an integer equal to 1, 2 or 3. Compositions containing compounds of the described formula and methods of preparing the compositions are also presented. The methods and compositions can be applied to cosmetics and dermapharmaceuticals.

Synthesis of fatty alcohol esters of alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids and their use as percutaneous absorption enhancers
US Patent Application 20110136188
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Inventors: GS Jones, Jr.; S. Goodrich and JP St. Laurent

The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids. In one form of the invention, the target fatty alcohol ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid is produced by converting a lower alkyl ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid into a fatty alcohol ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid via alcoholysis (i.e., transesterification). The transesterification process is an equilibrium reaction, catalyzed chemically (i.e., with acids or bases) or enzymatically, that is shifted in the desired direction to produce the desired product. One preferred way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by reducing the concentration of one of the products (e.g., distillation of a lower-boiling alcohol as soon as it is formed). Another preferred way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by increasing the concentration of one of the reactants (e.g., adding more of the starting ester).

Method for assessing the damage of keratin fibers
US Patent Application 20110136134
Publication date: June 9, 2011
Inventors: H Kudo, Hiroyuki

Disclosed in this patent is a method for assessing damages of keratin fibers using a cationic fluorescent compound comprising a cationic ammonium group and being free of carboxyl and/or sulfonyl groups, and a method for comparing the damages of different keratin fibers using said cationic fluorescent compound. The described methods are useful for quantitatively and/or qualitatively assessing the degree of damages of keratin fibers and also to compare the damages of fibers of different origin, different portions of fibers and/or fibers treated with different cosmetic, chemical and/or mechanical treatments. These methods are also useful for supporting advertising claims about the superiority of a composition and/or a treatment versus others.

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