Polysaccharide based gel

• US 20040131645A1
• Filed: 02/11/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chesham Chemicals Limited
• Original Assignee: Chesham Chemicals Limited
• Inventors: Williams, Peter, Mitchell, David, Hickey, Martina
• Granted Patent: US 7,208,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/400
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/594 Mixtures of polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/042 Gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/73 Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/737 Galactomannans, e.g. guar; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0095 Drinks; Beverages; Syrups; Compositions for reconstitution thereof, e.g. powders or tablets to be dispersed in a glass of water; Veterinary drenches A61K9/0007 takes precedence; eatable gels or foams A61K9/0056; oral mucosa adhesive forms A61K9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/205 Polysaccharides, e.g. alginate, gums; Cyclodextrin
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/16 Emollients or protectives, e.g. against radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/02 Preparations containing skin colorants, e.g. pigments preparations in powder form A61Q1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/12 Face or body powders for grooming, adorning or absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 15/00 Anti-perspirants or body deodorants deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/10 Washing or bathing preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/006 Antidandruff preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/02 Preparations for cleaning the hair
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/06 Preparations for styling the hair, e.g. by temporary shaping or colouring
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/12 Preparations containing hair conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/00 Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/14 : Hemicellulose; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

A fluid gel obtainable by a process which comprises subjecting a solution comprising a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans or glucomannans in a solvent to shear while cooling the solution from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the mixture, and recovering the resulting continuous gel. The gel is useful in cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions where it may, for instance, be generated in situ.

Claims

1. A fluid gel obtainable by a process which comprises subjecting a solution comprising a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans and glucomannans in a solvent to shear while cooling the solution from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the mixture, and recovering the resulting continuous gel.

2. A gel according to claim 1 wherein the solution comprises a mixture of xanthan and konjac mannan.

3. A gel according to claim 1 wherein the solution comprises a mixture of xanthan and locust bean gum.

4. A gel according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the xanthan and one said non-gelling polysaccharide are present in a weight ratio of from 1:

10 to 10;

1.

5. A composition comprising a gel as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 and a physiologically tolerable carrier, adjuvant or diluent.

6. A composition according to claim 5 which further comprises one or more of a pigment, a pharmaceutically active compound, a sunscreen active component, a silicone or derivative thereof, an iorganic salt or a solvent.

7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein one or more of the further components is added to the solution before subjecting the solution to shearing.

8. A composition according to claim 5, 6 or 7 which takes the form of a topical, oral or mucosal contact gel or lotion, or a viscous fluid.

20. A gel as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 for use in a method of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body.

21. A gel as claimed in claim 20 wherein the method of diagnosis comprises an ultrasound technique.

22. A gel according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and specifically hereinbefore mentioned.

9. A process for producing a fluid gel, which process comprises subjecting a solution comprising a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans and glucomannans in a solvent to shear while cooling the solution from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the mixture, and recovering the resulting continuous gel.

10. A process according to claim 9 which further comprises the preliminary step of heating the said mixture to a temperature above the gelation temperature of the mixture.

11. A process according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the solution comprises 0.05 to 2% by weight of the mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides.

12. A process according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the solvent is chosen from water, alcohols, ketones and mixtures thereof.

13. A process according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the solution before cooling is at a temperature from just above the gelation temperature of the mixture to 95°

C.

14. A process according to any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the solution is cooled to the gelation temperature of the mixture or below.

15. A process according to any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the solution is cooled to room temperature.

16. A process according to any one of claims 9 to 15 which further comprises, in either order, (i) heating the xanthan and the said one or more non-gelling polysaccharides to a temperature greater than or equal to the gelation temperature of the mixture and (ii) mixing the xanthan and the said one or more non-gelling polysaccharides together.

19. A fluid gel whenever obtained by a process as defined in any one of claims 9 to 16.

24. A process as defined in any one of claims 9 to 16 and 18 and substantially as hereinbefore described in any one of the examples.

17. A cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition obtainable by a process which comprises:

(a) forming an aqueous phase comprising one or more cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants or diluents and a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans and glucomannans;

(b) Subjecting the aqueous phase to shear while cooling it from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the said mixture; and

(c) recovering the resulting cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition.

23. A composition according to any one of claims 5 to 8 and 17 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

18. A process for producing a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition which process comprises:

(a) forming an aqueous phase comprising one or more cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, adjuvants or diluents and a mixture of xanthan and one or more non-gelling polysaccharides selected from galactomannans and glucomannans;

(b) Subjecting the aqueous phase to shear while cooling if from a temperature above the gelation temperature of the said mixture; and

(c) recovering the resulting cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition.