Anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprising homogeneously distributed encapsulated therapeutic agents

Abstract

Anhydrous hydrocolloid matrices contain one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents, including an acne agent and/or skin conditioning agent. The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrices are used as acne treatment dressings alone or in a laminate with a water-impermeable or semi-water impermeable backing and a release liner. The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrices are made using a premix of viscosity modifiers and hydrocarbon emollients and the one or more therapeutic agents, which are mixed via high shear mixing to form the premix. The resulting anhydrous hydrocolloid matrices include the one or more therapeutic agents which are encapsulated and homogeneously distributed therein.

I claim/We claim: 
     
         1 . An anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprising one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents, wherein:
 (a) each of the one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents is encapsulated by: 
 i encapsulating agents comprising: 
 1) a viscosity modifier, 
 2) a hydrocarbon emollient; and 
 
 ii bulk components of the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix; 
   (b) the one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents are homogeneously distributed in the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is configured to:
 (a) absorb acne exudate; and   (b) release the one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents.   
     
     
         3 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprise an acne agent, and the acne agent consists of salicylic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The anhydrous hydrocollsoid matrix of  claim 3 , wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix is Substantially Free of one or more cyclodextrins. 
     
     
         5 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprises by weight percentage of the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix:
 (a) from about 1% to about 5% of the viscosity modifier,   (b) from about 3% to about 8% of the hydrocarbon emollient, and   (c) from about 0.5% to about 16% of the one or more therapeutic agents.   
     
     
         6 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more therapeutic agents comprise an acne agent, and the acne agent consists of salicylic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 5 , wherein the salicylic acid is present in the hydrocolloid matrix at from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix. 
     
     
         8 . The anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix of  claim 7 , wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix is substantially free of one or more cyclodextrins. 
     
     
         9 . An acne treatment dressing comprising a laminate of:
 (a) a water impermeable or semi-water impermeable backing;   (b) a release liner; and   (c) the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix according to  claim 8 ; 
 wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix is disposed between the backing and the release liner. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making an anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix premix, the method comprising:
 (a) mixing together to form a mixture: 
 i encapsulating agents comprising viscosity modifiers and hydrocarbon emollients, and 
 ii at least one or more therapeutic agents selected from: an acne agent; a skin conditioning agent; and combinations thereof; and 
   (b) high shear mixing the mixture to form the premix; 
wherein the premix comprises the at least one or more therapeutic agents homogenously distributed therein. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from: salicylic acid; sulfur; resorcinal; resorcinol monoacetate; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutic agent further comprises one or more skin conditioning agents selected from: emollients; keratolytic agents; anti-inflammatory agents; antibacterial agents; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the viscosity modifier is selected from: natural hydrophilic polymers; synthetic hydrophilic polymers; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the viscosity modifier is a natural hydrophilic polymer selected from: cellulose; gums; chitosan; alginates; agars; gelatin; pectin; resins; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the viscosity modifier is a synthetic hydrophilic polymer selected from: polyisobutylene; styrene-olefin-styrene copolymers; styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymers; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon emollient is selected from: liquid paraffin; dodecane; isododecane; isohexadecane; isoeicosane; petrolatum; microcrystalline wax; polyethylene; squalene, squalane; aliphatic hydrocarbons with monocarboxylic acid groups; sunflower oil; safflower oil; palm oil; jojoba oil; castor oil; terpenes; cyclohexasiloxane; cyclopentasiloxane; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method of making an anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprising:
 (a) making a premix comprising the at least one or more therapeutic agents encapsulated and homogeneously distributed therein, using the method of  claim 10 ;   (b) mixing the premix with bulk components of an anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix until an anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprising the at least one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents are homogeneously distributed therein.   
     
     
         18 . An acne treatment dressing comprising a laminate of:
 (a) a water impermeable or semi-water impermeable backing;   (b) a release liner; and   (c) an anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprising one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents, wherein: 
 i each of the one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents is encapsulated by: 
 A encapsulating agents comprising: 
 (1) a viscosity modifier, and 
 (2) a hydrocarbon emollient; and 
 B bulk components of the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix; 
 
 ii the one or more encapsulated therapeutic agents are homogeneously distributed in the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix; 
 
wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix is disposed between the backing and the release liner. 
     
     
         19 . The acne treatment dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix comprises an acne agent, and the acne agent consists of salicylic acid. 
     
     
         20 . The acne treatment dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix wherein the anhydrous hydrocolloid matrix is Substantially Free of one or more cyclodextrins.