Coloring composition containing L-DOPA and L-arginine and forming a non-covalent derivatization complex
View Patent ↗A natural coloring composition for coloring materials, and methods of its use. The coloring composition comprises a natural precursor aromatic ring molecule such as L-DOPA that is oxidatively oligomerized or polymerized in the presence of arginine and an activator, such as a salt or an enzyme, wherein the L-DOPA and the amino acid form a specific non-covalent interaction. The natural coloring composition can also include a buffer, colorant, stabilizer, and/or thickening agent, and can comprise one or two inactive solutions that are combined to form an active coloring composition.
1. A coloring composition comprising:
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (“L-DOPA”);
an initiator; and
L-arginine, wherein said L-DOPA is oxidized in the presence of said initiator to form a color polymer, and further wherein said L-DOPA and said L-arginine form a non-covalent interaction.
2. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said L-DOPA is a first solution, and said initiator and said arginine is a second solution.
3. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising an amino acid.
4. The coloring composition of claim 3 , wherein said amino acid is selected from the group consisting of L-cysteine, L-alanine, L-argenine, and combinations thereof.
5. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said initiator is a salt.
6. The coloring composition of claim 5 , wherein said salt is selected from the group consisting of potassium hexacyanoferrate, potassium bicarbonate, and combinations thereof.
7. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said initiator is a protein.
8. The coloring composition of claim 7 , wherein said enzyme is tyrosinase.
9. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a colorant.
10. The coloring composition of claim 9 , wherein said colorant is selected from the group consisting of curcumin, lawsone, emodin, jugalone, plumbagin, L-cysteine, methionine, cystine, glutamine, and combinations thereof.
11. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein said coloring composition comprises organic compounds.
12. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a buffer.
13. The coloring composition of claim 12 , wherein said buffer is a phosphate buffer.
14. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a thickening agent.
15. The coloring composition of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer.
16. The coloring composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is oxidatively stable.
17. A method for dyeing a material, the method comprising the steps:
mixing a first solution comprising L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (“L-DOPA”) with a second composition comprising an initiator and arginine, wherein said L-DOPA and said arginine form a non-covalent derivatization complex; and
contacting said material with the mixture.
18. The method of claim 17 , where said material is a keratin material.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said keratin material is hair.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of leaving said coloring composition in contact with said material for 1 to 60 minutes.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of pre-treating said material with a third solution.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
optionally rinsing said material; and
optionally drying said material.