Processes Of Making Oral Compositions Containing Gel Networks

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a process for making oral compositions comprising gel networks. The gel networks are formed from a fatty amphiphile dispersion and swelling surfactant. The fatty amphiphile dispersion comprises one or more fatty amphiphiles, one or more dispersing surfactants, and one or more solvents. A gel network is formed when the fatty amphiphile dispersion is combined with the swelling surfactant. A method of preparing the fatty amphiphile dispersion and oral composition is included.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing an oral composition comprising the steps of:
 a) preparing a fatty amphiphile dispersion comprising the steps of:
 i) providing a fatty amphiphile having a chain melt temperature, a dispersing surfactant, and solvent; 
 ii) heating fatty amphiphile to a temperature sufficient to allow emulsification of said fatty amphiphile to form a fatty amphiphile dispersion with the dispersing surfactant and solvent; 
 and 
   b) adding said fatty amphiphile dispersion to a swelling surfactant to form a gel network, and   c) adding oral carrier materials in step a), after step a) in step b) and/or after step b).   
     
     
         2 . The process for preparing an oral composition according to  claim 1  wherein a gel network is not formed in the fatty amphiphile dispersion until after said swelling surfactant is added. 
     
     
         3 . A process for preparing an oral composition according to  claim 1  wherein the fatty amphiphile dispersion is cooled below the chain melt temperature of said fatty amphiphile before it is mixed with the swelling surfactant in step b). 
     
     
         4 . The process for preparing an oral composition according to  claim 1  wherein some oral carriers are combined with said fatty amphiphile dispersion prior to adding said swelling surfactant to said fatty amphiphile dispersion. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein some oral carriers are added after step a). 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein a suppressing material is added to the fatty amphiphile dispersion. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  wherein after said fatty amphiphile dispersion is prepared, no additional heating occurs during making of said oral composition.