VISTO.BIO–COMERCIO DE PERFUMES
Inventor: SERRANO, Renan, Nacco, Galindo & CALLEWAERT, Chris
Patent number: WO2021/207803 A1


 

Liquid softener and spray that protects clothing for 60 days against fungi, bacteria and viruses, proven in-vitro and in-vivo

Visto.bio’s vision on scientific publications and patents:

Our technologies go beyond bad smell. We have chosen not to publish scientific articles, as this makes it impossible to patent and have a competitive advantage so that Brazilian science can advance without being cannibalized, contributing to a fair income distribution.
Our scientific approach is different, because instead of publishing scientific research (yes, we have some like this in Nature.com), and wait for the patent to be published and then try to put the solution on the market, we scientifically prove, file the patent and make it public, accelerating the access of technology for the population from 10 years to just 6 months.


The problem

Clothing textiles protect the human body against external factors, such as UV, chemicals, cold and heat. Since these textiles are in close contact with the skin, the microorganisms of the skin can easily be transferred to the textiles. Textiles are not sterile and can contain high amounts of bacteria, particularly on warm and moist areas of the body (e.g. underarm and groin). In some cases, textiles can create a warm and often moist environment on the skin creating an excess of bacteria. Moisture, lipids, and amino acids will breakdown products from skin keratinocytes and others will help growing a bacterial biomass. In some cases, the bacteria growth on textiles leads to unpleasant odors, staining, fabric deterioration and even physical irritation.

The best-known problem is textile malodor, particularly in the underarm region. Research showed that polyester and synthetic clothes smelled significantly less pleasant as compared to cotton clothes (Chris Callewaert, De Maeseneire, et al. 2014).

Most microbiota living on the skin and textiles are harmless. A handful of bacteria are known to be linked with production of malodors. Treatment is usually done with deodorant, which are aimed to be used on skin.

To date there is no long-lasting solution focusing on malodor generation on clothes.

Deodorants contain perfumes, to mask the malodor production. They also contain antimicrobial compounds to limit the bacterial growth. Comùonly used compounds with an antimicrobial and/or antifungal function are triclosan, triclocarban, quaternary ammonium compounds, metal salts, aliphatic alcohols, glycols and other fragrances (Makin and Lowry 1999) (Boonme and Songkro 2010). These compounds are from chemical and synthetic origin and can have a vast, persistent and detrimental effect on the skin microbiome and metabolome (Bouslimani et al. 2019). Many of these synthetic and cosmetic ingredients lead to a microbial shock on the skin and clothes and lead to an increase in microbial diversity (Chris Callewaert, Hutapea, et al. 2014). 

Synthetic antimicrobials and antibiotics have long and widely been used in medicine and for topical and cosmetic purposes. A big drawback is the growing antimicrobial resistance which makes the treatments less effective (Schelz, Molnar, and Hohmann 2006). 

Solution

Alternative, natural and mixed active ingredients have gained much attention for use as cosmetic application. Plants and other natural sources have been shown to provide a great range of complex and structurally diverse compounds. Plant extracts and essential oils were shown to possess antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties and have been screened on a global scale as potential sources of novel antimicrobial compounds, agents promoting food preservation, and alternatives to treat infectious diseases (Safaei-Ghomi, J., & Ahd, A. A. 2010).

Various essential oils of different plants such as thyme, oregano, mint, cinnamon, cumin, salvia, clove, and eucalyptus have been observed to possess strong antimicrobial properties (Sienkiewicz et al. 2014). Additionally, these essential oils have a natural fragrance, containing a wide mixture of natural scents. In addition, a wide range of essential oils possess antioxidant properties. For this purpose, we proposed the use of natural essential oils that have the capability to release a good fragrance, as well as have a bacteriostatic effect on the microbiome.

Some of these essential oils have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (Yang et al. 2013). Many tests have shown the potency of essential oils to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus proteus, Shigella dysenteriae, Typhoid bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus), as well as pathogenic fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Candida).

Essential oils are a complex natural mixture and may consist of up to 60 components at different concentrations. Essential oils usually consist of two or three major components being present at high concentrations (20-70%) and several other components that may be present in trace amounts. The amount of the different components of essential oils varies amongst different plant parts and different plant species as they are chemically derived from terpenes and their oxygenated derivatives i.e., terpenoids that are aromatic and aliphatic acid esters and phenolic compounds. An important characteristic of essential oils and its components is their hydrophobicity, which enables them to partition with the lipids present in the cell membrane of bacteria and mitochondria, rendering them more permeable by disturbing the cell structures (Devi, K.P. et al. 2010).

Advantages

  • The present invention relates to the field of reducing laundry malodor due to bacterial conversion of molecules which are present in sweat. The invention discloses micro-encapsulated essential oils that reduces malodor on clothes in a durable way. The compounds can thus be used in clothing sprays, clothing finishing agents, deodorants, washing powders, or in any method to reduce malodor. This method has excellent cosmetic properties and aesthetics, reduced or no skin irritation and no fabric damage.
  • The invention provides the use of at least one essential oil to reduce or to prevent malodor in fabrics, textiles or clothing. At least one essential oil is in the form of microparticles, one essential oil is in the form of nanoparticles, one essential oil is contained in nano capsules.
  • The essential oil is a combination of two or more essential oils (synergistic effect), selected from Melaleuca alternifolia oil, Lavandula officinalis oil, Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil, Eugenia caryophyllus oil, Cymbopogon flexuosus oil, Juniperus virginiana oil, Thymus vulgaris oil, Eugenia caryophyllus oil, Cordia curassavica oil, Varronia curassavica oil, Cordia Verbenacea oil, linalool, limonene, geraniol, citral, eugenol, or combinations thereof.
  • The formulation further comprises a fragrance.
  • The invention provides a method of reducing or inhibiting malodor in fabrics, textiles or clothing, comprising applying the formulation described above directly to a fabric, textile or clothing prior to use.
  • Nano-capsules have two compartments; a polymeric wall and a core, which is commonly oily. Nano-spheres are matrix systems. In these systems, the essential oil may be conjugated with the polymeric matrix or wall or it may be in the oily core.