IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,521,336
Granted Patent B2
US 12,521,336 · App. 17/869,215 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Oral care compositions

Inventors: Dennis Zhang (Piscataway, NJ); Luciana Rinaudi Marron (Somerset, NJ); Stacey Lavender (Chesterfield, NJ); Alice Ng (Livingston, NJ); Qichao Ruan (Hillsborough, NJ)
Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
A61K8/731A61K8/24A61Q11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,521,336
App. No.
17/869,215
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are oral care compositions comprising hydroxyapatite and hydroxyethylcellulose as well as methods of reducing or inhibiting enamel erosion, repairing enamel erosion damage, and/or increasing enamel microcrack resistance using these compositions.

Claims (15)

1 . An oral care composition comprising from about 1% to 10% of hydroxyapatite by weight of the composition and from about 0.1% to 5% hydroxyethylcellulose by weight of the composition, wherein the hydroxyapatite (HAP) is selected from the group consisting of a micro-hydroxyapatite (m-HAP) and a nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP)), wherein mean diameter of the m-HAP ranges from about 1 to about 100 μm, wherein the composition increases enamel microscratch resistance, wherein the composition when applied to an enamel sample in a treatment and acid challenge regimen, provides at least a 50% reduction in a change in microscratch volume as compared to an identical composition that is free from the m-HAP or n-HAP.

2 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a fluoride ion source.

3 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a basic amino acid.

4 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a zinc ion source.

5 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a potassium ion source.

6 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises an abrasive.

7 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a humectant.

8 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises hydroxyapatite (HAP) in an amount of from 5% to 8% by weight of the composition and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) in an amount of from 3.5% to 4.5% by weight of the composition.

9 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is a toothpaste, gel, serum, mouth spray, or mouthwash.

10 . A method of reducing or inhibiting enamel erosion, repairing enamel erosion damage, increasing enamel microcrack resistance and/or increasing enamel microscratch resistance, comprising applying an oral care composition comprising from about 1% to 10% of hydroxyapatite by weight of the composition and from about 0.1% to 5% hydroxyethylcellulose by weight of the composition to the oral cavity, wherein the hydroxyapatite (HAP) is selected from the group consisting of a micro-hydroxyapatite (m-HAP) and a nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAP)), wherein mean diameter of the m-HAP ranges from about 1 to about 100 μm, wherein the composition when applied to an enamel sample in a treatment and acid challenge regimen, provides at least a 50% reduction in a change in microscratch volume as compared to an identical composition that is free from the m-HAP or n-HAP.

11 . The method of increasing enamel microcrack resistance and/or increasing enamel microscratch resistance according to claim 10 , comprising applying an oral care composition comprising hydroxyapatite and hydroxyethylcellulose to the oral cavity.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the oral care composition is applied to the oral cavity of a subject who is at risk of enamel microcracks or has enamel microcracks.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the oral care composition is applied to the oral cavity of a subject who is at risk of enamel microscratches or has enamel microscratches.

14 . The oral care composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyapatite is a functionalized HAP and wherein the functionalized HAP is HAP CaCO 3 .

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the hydroxyapatite is a functionalized HAP and wherein the functionalized HAP is HAP CaCO 3 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2025
From: ZHANG, DENNIS; RINAUDI MARRON, LUCIANA; LAVENDER, STACEY; NG, ALICE; RUAN, QICHAO
To: COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 072503/0581 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63223720 · Jul 20, 2021
Related Publication 20230038764A1 · Feb 9, 2023
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