# US 5,700,449 A · Dentifrice composition > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,449 A - Document ID: US5700449A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/544,278 - Filed: 1995-10-17 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1994-10-18 - Assignees: Kao Corporation - Inventors: Yasushi Katayama; Kouji Maeda; Ryozo Nakai; Yoshiyuki Muroi; Takao Okajima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700449A ## CPC - A61K 8/11: Encapsulated compositions - A61K 8/0275: {Containing agglomerated particulates} - A61Q 11/00: Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses - A61K 2800/412: Microsized, i.e. having sizes between 0.1 and 100 microns - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS ## Abstract The dentifrice composition includes capsule particles containing agar as a main component of a coat-forming substance and having an average particle size of from 0.3 to 3 mm, and vehicles for use in oral cavity. It may further contain nonionic surfactants and/or water-insoluble abrasive granules as desired. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capsule, comprising: (i) a coating comprising agar; and (ii) a dentifrice ingredient, encapsulated by said coating, wherein said capsule has an average size of from 0.3 to 3 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said dentifrice ingredient is a medicinal ingredient, a flavoring agent or a pigment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The capsule of claim 2, wherein said medicinal ingredient is a tooth caries preventative, an antibiotic, a vitamin, an enzyme or an anti-inflammatory agent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said coating comprises agar as the main component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said capsule has an average particle size of 0.5 to 3 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said agar has a jelly strength of not less than 500 g/cm.sup.-2. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said agar comprises 1 to 30% by weight of said capsule. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said capsule has a breaking strength of 1 to 20 g. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The capsule of claim 1, wherein said coating further comprises a hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The capsule of claim 9, wherein said hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, sodium alginate, carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, gum arabic, gum guar, gum xanthane, casein, pectin, albumin, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, ethylene glycol distearate, sorbitan tristearate, ceresin, paraffin waxes, polyolefin waxes, beeswaxes and carnauba wax. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The capsule of claim 9, wherein said coating comprises 100 parts by weight of said agar and 1 to 20 parts of said hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer. ### Claim 12 A dentifrice composition, comprising: (a) 0.1 to 10% by weight of capsules, comprising: (i) a coating comprising agar, and (ii) a dentifrice ingredient, encapsulated by said coating, wherein said capsules have an average size of from 0.3 to 3 mm and are easily broken upon brushing teeth; and (b) a dentifrice vehicle, comprising: (i) 1 to 40% by weight of at least one surfactant, and (ii) 1 to 75% by weight of water-insoluble abrasives, wherein said abrasives break said capsules upon brushing teeth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said dentifrice ingredient is a medicinal ingredient, a flavoring agent or a pigment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said medicinal ingredient is a tooth caries preventative, an antibiotic, a vitamin, an enzyme or an anti-inflammatory agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said coating comprises agar as the main component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said capsules have an average particle size of 0.5 to 3 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said agar comprises 1 to 30% by weight of said capsule. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said coating further comprises a hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The composition of claim 18, wherein said hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, sodium alginate, carrageenan, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, gum arabic, gum guar, gum xanthane, casein, pectin, albumin, polyvinyl alcohols, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyacrylic acids, polymethacrylic acids, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, ethylene glycol distearate, sorbitan tristearate, ceresin, paraffin waxes, polyolefin waxes, beeswaxes and carnauba wax. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The composition of claim 18, wherein said coating comprises 100 parts by weight of said agar and 1 to 20 parts of said hydrophilic or lipophilic polymer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sucrose fatty acid esters, alkylglycosides, polyoxyethylene sucrose fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oils. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said abrasives comprise granules having a particle size of 50 to 500 .mu.m. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, having a degree of transparency of not less than 3 mm.