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

By: Rachel Grabenhofer

Posted: June 14, 2011

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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.