Patent Picks—Quantifying Hair/Eyelashes, Reinforcing Barrier, Silicone Nail Films and More

Patent Picks are compiled by the editors from publicly available sources and cover recent patents issued, or applied for, in the cosmetic and personal care industries and relevant peripheral markets. This edition features the latest inventions related to an array of topics; ranging from soft hold in hair and improved barrier function in skin, to methods for quantifying hairs and improving nail polish films.

Soft, volumizing, natural finish hair cosmetic
U.S. Patent 8674036
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Kao Corp.

The present invention relates to a hair cosmetic that imparts a soft feeling and natural finish. It is preferably used to provide fluff and volume to a hair style, and prevent fly-away, unwanted curls or kinks. Further, it can maintain a hair style for a long time without being disturbed by external factors; e.g., combing the hair with fingers, wind or vibrations. The composition is obtained by incorporating two types of poly(N-acylalkyleneimine)-modified organopolysiloxanes having specific structures at a specific ratio, provided in detail in the patent.

Peptidic hydrolyzate to reinforce barrier functioning
U.S. Patent 8674072
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: ISP Investments, Inc.

Disclosed in this patent is a peptidic hydrolyzate enriched in bioactive peptide that is capable of reinforcing the skin barrier function and stimulating epidermal differentiation. Additionally, a cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical composition that includes a physiologically acceptable medium and the peptidic hydrolyzate as active principle are described. The composition activates the HMG-CoA reductase in the cutaneous cells, in turn treating the cutaneous signs of aging and photo-aging.

Melanin synthesis and use
U.S. Patent 8673983
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Loyola University Chicago

Melanins have been shown to possess a number of interesting pharmacological properties including immunomodulatory activity, photoprotective activity, metal-binding properties useful as image enhancers in MRI, and the ability to protect against oxidant-induced tissue damage. According to the inventors, it would therefore be desirable to synthetically produce melanins in high yields under reproducible conditions. Further, it would be desirable to produce novel melanins, especially water-soluble melanins, with antiviral activity. This patent thus describes the enzymatic and chemical synthesis of melanins and novel melanins by contacting an oxidase and a phenolic substrate containing at least two hydroxyl groups for a time sufficient to produce a melanin. The method can further comprise any of the following steps: inactivating the oxidase, precipitating the melanin, and/or purifying the melanin.

Silk dope production, application in cosmetics
U.S. Patent 8674077
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

According to these inventors, silks protein fibers are produced by a wide range of insect and spider species. Numerous efforts have been made to clone and express silkworm or spider silks in transgenic systems but the large sizes and highly repetitive sequences of these silk genes make them recalcitrant to expression outside specialized silk glands, and lead to low protein yields. There is therefore a need for methods to produce silk dope from recombinantly expressed coiled-coil silk proteins.

The present invention relates to methods of producing silk dope comprising silk proteins with a coiled-coil structure, such as honeybee silk proteins. The proteins are obtained from cells producing them, solubilized by contacting them with a surfactant or an ionic liquid, and concentrated to produce silk dope. They can be used in a variety of area such as textiles, biomedical products and personal care. Applications may include cosmetics, skin care, hair care and hair coloring; in the coating of particles such as pigments; or: ethoxylation to promote water-oil emulsion enhancement, siloxylation to provide lipophilic compatibility, and esterification to aid in compatibility with soap and detergent compositions.

Device, method for body contouring
U.S. Patent 8676338
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.

This invention relates to methods and devices that enable the delivery of radio frequency energy and cryotherapy applications to adipose tissue for reducing and contouring body fat. The method can target a region in the subject at a frequency that selectively heats fibrous septae in a subcutaneous layer of the target region to a maximum temperature less than a fibrous septae denaturation temperature. Furthermore, the method can include removing heat such that lipid-rich lobules in the subcutaneous layer are affected while non-lipid-rich cells and lipid-rich regions adjacent to the fibrous septae are not substantially affected.

Quantifying fibers, hairs and eyelashes
U.S. Patent 8675919
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Procter & Gamble

Described herein is a method for counting the number of fibers emanating from the surface of a web substrate. Specifically, the substrate is assessed y the parameters of: machine direction, MD; a cross-machine direction, CD; orthogonal and coplanar thereto; and a Z-direction orthogonal to both said machine and cross-machine directions. While intended to assess the softness of tissues and the like, this method also may be used for various household, cosmetic and personal implements, for example, quantifying facial hairs or eyelashes.

Large-area Raman probe with reduced background fluorescence
U.S. Patent 8675190
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Kaiser Optical Systems

Disclosed in this patent is a compact Raman analysis system combining a near-infrared laser source, a two-dimensional array-collecting anti-Stokes Raman spectra, and a probe configured to measure complex solid samples with reduced background fluorescence. The system collects spectra from an area of 1-mm or greater, preferably 3-12 mm or more, facilitating the collection of statistically useful data from nonhomogeneous and laser-sensitive samples. The system can further be used with lower laser energy density by expanding the laser to up to 10 mm or more to analyze skin and the effects of cosmetics on skin without causing damage to skin. The probe conforms to the ANSI standards and is therefore skin safe.

Silicone-containing, film-forming polymers in nail polish applications
U.S. Patent 8674049
Publication date: March 18, 2014
Assignee: Surfatech Corp.

This invention is directed to polymers that are useful in nail polish applications. Film-forming polyester polymers are described that are liquid in solvents such as butyl acetate. They form a uniform film upon application when the solvent evaporates under atmospheric conditions, yet can be removed easily and thoroughly by application of a solvent such as acetone. The polymers of the present invention having a silicone portion contained therein, which provides improved flexibility, tear-resistance and superior aesthetics.

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