Hydrophobically-Modified Chitosan for Use in Cosmetics and Personal Care Applications

1 . A cosmetic or personal care article, comprising:

a hydrophobically-modified biopolymer, and

a composition suitable for cosmetic or personal care.

2 . The cosmetic article of claim 1 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of mascara, moisturizing creams, moisturizing lotions, facial cleansers, wrinkle-reducing gels/creams/lotions, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, deodorants, acne treatment, dry-skin treatment, blemish concealers, coloring make-up, and controlled molecular release matrices for fragrances.

3 . The cosmetic article of claim 2 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobically-modified chitosan, hydrophobically-modified alginate, and hydrophobically-modified cellulosic.

4 . The cosmetic article of claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer comprises a plurality of hydrophobic substituents covalently attached to the polymer and wherein the hydrophobic substituents comprise linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon groups, which optionally have from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms.

5 . The cosmetic article of claim 4 , wherein the hydrophobic substituents on the biopolymer occupy up to 50% of available functional groups of the biopolymer.

6 . The cosmetic article of claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer has a concentration of about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight.

7 . The cosmetic article of claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified chitosan is selected from the group consisting of chitosan salts: chitosan lactate, chitosan salicylate, chitosan pyrrolidone carboxylate, chitosan itaconate, chitosan niacinate, chitosan formate, chitosan acetate, chitosan gallate, chitosan glutamate, chitosan maleate, chitosan aspartate, chitosan glycolate and quaternary amine substituted chitosan and salts thereof.

8 . The cosmetic article of claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified alginate is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, magnesium alginate, calcium alginate, and aluminum alginate.

9 . The cosmetic article of claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified cellulosic is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and hydroethyl methyl cellulose.

10 . The cosmetic article of claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer is present in a concentration of about 0.1% to about 5%% by weight.

11 . A method, comprising:

applying the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer composition of any one of claims 1 to 10 to the skin.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is applied for wrinkle-reduction, acne reduction, or treatment of atopic dermatitis.

13 . The method of claim 11 or 12 , wherein the biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of chitosans, alginates, and cellulosics.

14 . The method of any one of claims 11 to 13 , wherein the hydrophobic moieties comprise 8 to 18 hydro-carbon residues.

15 . The method of any one of claims 11 to 14 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer solution has a concentration of about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight relative to the total weight of the solution of the biopolymer.

16 . The method of any one of claims 11 to 15 , wherein the hydrophobic moieties are covalently attached to as many as 50% of available amines of chitosan.

17 . The method of any one of claims 11 to 16 , wherein the hydrophobically-modified biopolymer composition is applied as one of a liquid spray, cream, lotion, gel, or foam.