ALCOHOL-FREE SLIGHTLY-ALCOHOLIC ORAL CARE COMPOSITION AND A PROCESS FOR PREPARING SAME

1 . An aqueous, stable, non-alcoholic or slightly-alcoholic microemulsion based antibacterial mouthwash composition with improved antimicrobial efficacy comprising:

i. a water-soluble matrix composite made of (a) a water-soluble polymer, and (b) a water-soluble surfactant;

ii. at least one water-immiscible or water-insoluble antibacterial agent; and

iii. optionally, a preservative or preservative system, a weak carboxylic acid, a coloring agent and other additives.

2 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is stable for at least six months at room temperature or stable for at least 3 freeze/thaw cycles wherein the temperature is cycled from 50° C. to −24° C. in every 24 hours or stable for at least 2 weeks at about 50° C.

3 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 , wherein the slightly-alcoholic composition comprises about 0.1% wt to about 20% wt alcohol based on the total composition.

4 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble matrix is a complex of (a) and (b) having a lower critical micelle concentration (cmc) than a composition without the water-soluble polymer.

5 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of acids, esters, amides or salts of olefinic polymers, lactam/pyrrolidone based polymers, pyrrolidone co-polymers, α-olefin maleic acid/ester co-polymers, α-olefin polymers, carbohydrate based polymers, natural polymers, natural gums and combinations thereof.

6 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, non-ionic, amphoteric, cationic surfactants and combinations thereof.

7 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 6 , wherein said water-soluble surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, phosphonates, amine oxides, ammonium carboxylates, ammonium sulfonates, polysorbates, polyalkoxylated alkanols, polyalkoxylated alkylphenols, polyalkoxylated esters, EO/PO copolymers, poloxamers, alkyl polyglucosides, naturally occurring surface active compositions, phospholipids, fatty acid based surfactants, surface active homo or copolymers of polyamines, polyimines, polyalkyleneimines, alkyl/aryl amine alkoxylates, alkyl/aryl/arylalkyl amine oxides, alkoxylated ethylene diamine derivatives, and combinations thereof.

8 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water insoluble antibacterial agent is an essential oil based antibacterial agent and is selected from the group consisting of triclosan, thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, carvacrol, limonene, terpinene, phellandrene, pinene, citral, methylheptenone, citronellal, geraniol, linalool, β-pinene, limonene, anethole, safrol, eugenol, eugenyl acetate, caryophyllene, citronellol, borneol, bornyl esters, camphor, geraniol, linalyl acetate, camphene, menthyl esters, carvone, pinene, safrole, acetaldehyde, camphor, myrcene, chavicol, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, cineole, α-thujone, β-thujone, fenchone, natural available disinfecting plant products/extracts like neem, turmeric, and combinations thereof.

9 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said preservative is selected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, phenylcarbinol, benzalkonium chloride, thimerosal, and combinations thereof.

10 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an additive or activating agent selected from the group consisting of stabilized peroxide, fluorides, alkali salts, and combinations thereof.

11 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a weak carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, benzoic acid, and combinations thereof.

12 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a coloring agent selected from F, D & C dyes, naturally-derived colors, and combinations thereof.

13 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the composition is optically clear.

14 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of antibacterial agent to water-soluble polymer is about 1:10 to 5:0.5.

15 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of antibacterial agent to water-soluble polymer is about 1:2 to 1:0.5.

16 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of antibacterial agent to water-soluble surfactant is about 1:10 to 5:1.

17 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of antibacterial agent to water-soluble surfactant is about 1:3 to 2:1.

18 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is about 20:1 to 1:20.

19 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of (a):(b) is about 5:1 to 1:5.

20 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said antibacterial agent is present in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 20% by weight of the composition.

21 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein the composition is capable of inhibiting or killing gram (−) and/or gram (+) bacterial strains.

22 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of flavors, thickeners, defoamers, buffers, sweeteners, humectants, softeners, astringents, and combinations thereof.

23 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble polymer comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in the range of about 0.01% wt to about 1% wt based on the total composition.

24 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble surfactant comprises sodium lauryl sulfate in the range of about 0.1% wt to 5.0%.

25 . The mouthwash composition according claim 24 , wherein said sodium lauryl sulfate is in the range of about 2% wt of the total composition.

26 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water insoluble antibacterial agent comprises thymol in the range of about 0.01% wt to about 1.0% wt of the total composition.

27 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water insoluble antibacterial agent comprises menthol in the range of about 0.01% wt to about 1.0% wt of the total composition.

28 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water insoluble antibacterial agent comprises eucalyptol in the range of about 0.01% wt to about 1.0% wt of the total composition.

29 . The mouthwash composition according claim 1 , wherein said water insoluble antibacterial agent comprises methyl salicylate in the range of about 0.01% wt to about 1.0% wt of the total composition.

30 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 1 in the form of an oral disinfecting liquid, oral disinfecting solid, oral gargling composition, solid dosage forms, controlled release forms and/or sustained release forms.

31 . The mouthwash composition according to claim 30 , wherein said composition is in the form of an oral disinfecting solid dosage form which is an effervescent matrix with a sodium bicarbonate solid base and citric acid.

32 . A process for preparing an aqueous, stable, non-alcoholic or slightly-alcoholic microemulsion based antibacterial mouthwash composition comprising the steps of:

i. preparing a mixture of (a) a water-soluble matrix composite and (b) an essential oil based antibacterial agent;

ii. dissolving the mixture of step (i) in an aqueous medium, optionally comprising an effective amount of alcohol to yield a clear microemulsion; and

iii. optionally incorporating a preservative, weak carboxylic acid, coloring agent and/or other additives to the microemulsion of step (ii) and vigorously mixing the composition to result in a stable, homogenous, optically clear mouthwash composition.

33 . An aqueous, stable, non-alcoholic microemulsion based antibacterial mouthwash composition comprising:

i. a water-soluble complex made from (a) about 0.10% wt of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP); and (b) about 0.5% wt of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS);

ii. a mixture of (a) about 0.064% wt of thymol; (b) about 0.042% wt of menthol; (c) about 0.092% wt of eucalyptol; and (d) about 0.060% wt of methyl salicylate;

iii. about 0.15% wt of sodium benzoate;

iv. about 0.15% wt of benzoic acid; and

v. about 1.0% wt of natural caramel.

34 . An aqueous, stable, slightly-alcoholic microemulsion based antibacterial mouthwash composition comprising:

i. a water-soluble complex made from (a) about 0.10% wt of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and (b) about 0.5% wt of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS);

ii. a mixture of (a) about 0.064% wt of thymol; (b) about 0.042% wt of menthol; (c) about 0.092% wt of eucalyptol; and (d) about 0.060% wt of methyl salicylate;

iii. about 0.15% wt of sodium benzoate;

iv. about 0.15% wt of benzoic acid;

v. about 1.0% wt of natural caramel; and

vi. about 3.0% wt to about 10% wt of alcohol based on the total composition.