USE OF N,N<1>-BIS(2-HYDROXYETHYL)NONANDIAMIDE AS A COSMETIC AGENT

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of N,N<1>-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)nonandiamide, the common international name of which is adelmidrol, as a cosmetic agent for use on skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or are subject to acute irritation, in man and in animals. The present invention also relates to a method for the preparaion of N,N<1>-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)nonandiamide, comprising the reaction of azelaic acid or of a diester thereof with ethanolamine in an inert atmosphere, possibly on the presence of an inert solvent. This method enables adelmidrol to be produced in a particularly pure form suitable for its use in the cosmetic field.

Description: USE OF N,N X -BIS (2 -HYDROXYETHYL) NONANDIAMIDE AS A COSMETIC AGENT The present invention relates to the use of NjN 1 - bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide, the common international name of which is adelmidrol, as a cosmetic agent for use on skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or are subject to acute irritation, m man and m animals . The term "cosmetic products" means all preparations which can protect or keep in good condition the external surfaces of the human or animal body such as the epidermis, the piliferous system and the hair, the nails, the lips, the external genital organs, and the mucous membranes of the mouth. The basic role of the skin and of the mucous membranes is to protect the underlying tissues from potentially harmful environmental agents and to prevent excessive loss of fluids from the body. The barrier function of the tegumentary tissues is due mainly to the protemaceous and, above all, to the lipid characteristics of their multi-layered epithelia (Gmadecha M. et al . , 1998, J. Inv. Dermatol . 110: 393- 398) The most superficial epidermal and/or epithelial layers in fact protect against loss of water and provide an effective barrier which resists the entry of microorganisms (Elias P.M., 1988. Drug. Dev. Res. 13: 97-105). It is known that this barrier function depends to a large extent on the proliferative and differentiational processes of the epidermal keratinocytes of the skin and of the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes (Brod J., 1991, Int. J. Dermatol., 30: 84-90). It is known that the hydration state of the skin is a parameter which can easily be measured by non- invasive methods applied to the skin surface (Thune P., 1989, Acta Derm. Venereol . , suppl . 144: 133-135). The quantitative measurement of the hydration state of the skin utilizes basically two measurements: transepidermal evaporation of water (TE L) and skin capacitance. TE L, which is measured by an instrument known as an atmometer, expresses, in g/m 2 /hour, the gradient of diffusion of water vapour through the epidermal tissue, given the known tendency of this gas to diffuse in accordance with the concentration gradient (Pinnagoda J. et al . , 1990, Contact Dermatitis, 22: 164-178). The water content of the stratus corneum, on the other hand, is expressed by electrical capacitance measured by the application of a corneometer which records the water content on the surface of the skin, since water has the highest dielectric constant of all the skin components. An increase m skin water content brings about an increase m capacitance values which are expressed m arbitrary units by the corneometer (Werner Y., 1986, Acta Derm. Venereol . , 66: 281-284). It is known that the determination of the skin hydration level by measurement of the TEWL enables subjects with skin which is normally reactive to very diverse stimuli to be distinguished from subjects characterized by an irritable skin (Tupker R.A. , 1990, Br. J. Dermatol . , 123: 199-205). It has been shown that the skin of atopic subjects is irritable m response to exogenous stimuli applied at skin level; m these subjects, the skin tends to appear dry (Tupker R.A. et al . 1990, Br . J. Dermatol., 123: 199- 205) . These characteristic behaviours correspond to an altered barrier function and to an increase m TEWL values (Seidenaπ S. et al . , 1995, Acta Derm. Venereol., 75:429-433; Gollhausen R., 1991, m Ruzicka T. et al . , eds . , Handbook of Atopic Eczema, Springer Verlag, pp. 306-318; Thune P., 1989, Acta Derm. Venereol., suppl . 144: 133-135; Werner Y. et al . , 1985, Acta Derm. Venereol., 65: 102-105; Berardesca E. et al . , 1990, Acta Derm. Venereol., 70: 400-404). It has been shown that, m subjects with irritable skin, the TEWL is increased m comparison with normally responsive subjects. It is also known that this parameter increases further as a result of exposure of the irritable skin to hyper-reactive stimuli and that tnis phenomenon is frequently associated with the development of superficial skin reactions which alter epidermal appearance (Di Nardo A. et al . , 1998, Acta Derm. Venereol., 78: 27 -30) . It is also known that, m these conditions, a mechanical rubbing action, or the supeπmposition of several stimuli such as, for example, the hyper-reactive amplification produced by contact with allergenic substances used m daily hygiene, both m man and m animals, bring about progression towards epidermal lesions which -are easily infected. Even m normal conditions, irritable skin has clear unsightly effects which are generally recognizable m the form of dryness (Di Nardo A. et al . , 1998, Acta Derm. Venereol., 78: 27-30) or of thinning of the skin which easily predispose to the development of loss of epithelium. Irritable skin has therefore been defined as the epidermal functional state which characterizes a population of predominantly healthy subjects m certain paraphysiological situations (ageing, pregnancy, menopausal states, pre-menstrual and post-menstrual situations, etc.) . Irritable skin and/or mucous membrane is a tissue which is easily predisposed to hyper-reactive symptoms m response 10 a diversified set of exogenous stimuli. As a result of stimuli of a neurogenic, lmmunogenic, physical (for example, radiation) , chemical (for example, detergents, solvents, dyes, etc.), mechanical and/or traumatic nature, irritable skin easily develops clear signs of irritation with consequent unsightly effects (Ansel J.C., 1996, J. Invest. Dermatol., 106: 198-204). It is also known that, precisely because of the altered barrier function and of the altered proliferative and differentiational process, whether it be epidermal or mucosal, irritable skin is predisposed to the development and progression of microbial infections both fungal and bacterial (Leibovici V. et al . , 1995, Clin, Exp . Dermatol., 20: 390-394). It is also known that the altered cutaneous and mucosal barrier function explains a large proportion of recurrent and relapsing hyper- reactive episodes m the course of - or as a result of - microbial infections with particular reference to the palmar and plantar skin locations as well as the vulvar and preputial locations. In the presence of irritable skin and/or mucous membrane, the identification of molecules which reestablish the TEWL values which are functional m keeping the cutaneous and/or mucosal barrier m good condition, offering a modification and a protection from unsightly effects associated with irritable cutaneous and/or mucosal states, is therefore of considerable interest for the production of preparations for cosmetic use which are free of potential hyper-reactive stimulation effects and consequently do not result m adverse reactions due to contact . It has surprisingly been found that adelmidrol (N, (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide) can lower abnormally raised TEWL values m subjects (human or animal) with skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or subject to acute irritation. It is therefore clear that adelmidrol can advantageously be used as a cosmetic agent or additive for the preparation of cosmetic compositions suitable for subjects with skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or subject to acute irritation. The cosmetic effectiveness of adelmidrol is demonstrated by the following example. EXAMPLE A TEWL was measured with the use of atmometer model EP1 (ServoMed - Sweden) which is based on estimation of the water-vapour gradient. All of the TEWL measurements were taken m accordance with the method described m Pmnagoda J. et al . , 1990, Contact Dermatitis, 22: 164- 178. The measurements were taken on two groups of volunteer subjects, divided into: - n=10 subjects aged between 25 and 29 years, who were normally reactive from a cutaneous point of view, without previous medical history of adverse reactions due to contact, or of atopia; n=10 subjects aged between 65 and 70 years, without previous medical history of dermatitis due to contact, or of atopia. The areas of topical application of the experimental preparations and of TEWL measurement corresponded to circular areas of skin approximately 2 cm m diameter located m the medial volar region of the right forearm and spaced at least 2 cm apart . The corresponding areas of skin of the medial volar region of the left forearm were used as non-treated controls, upon each analysis. The various preparations were applied in accordance with the following scheme: (a) excipients alone (Example 1 of cosmetic preparations) (b) complete preparation (Example 1 of cosmetic preparations containing 2% of adelmidrol) (c) sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) 5% as irritant (d) 5% SLS + (a) (e) 5% SLS + (b) Preparations (a) - (e) were applied for 10 consecutive days. After application, each individual area treated was covered with a plaster. The TEWL measurements were taken on day 1 and on day 10, 1 hour after topical application of the preparations, after the plaster had been removed and the area had been cleaned with absorbent paper. The data, expressed as Mean ± SEM are summarized m the following table. TABLE - TEWL values determined in young and elderly subjects (irritable skin) with and without treatment with adelmidrol It is clear from the data shown m the table that adelmidrol can practically normalize TEWL values m subjects with irritable skin (elderly patients), bringing the TEWL from a base value of 7.50 (± 1.15) which is abnormally high, to a value of 5.20 (± 0.86) which is close to normality. Moreover, adelmidrol brought about a clear reduction m TEWL values m both patients with normal skin (young patients) and patients with irritable skin (elderly patients) , whose skin had been irritated acutely by contact with 5% SLS. As stated above, a reduction m TEWL values enables the unsightly effects associated with an irritated and/or irritable skin (dry skin, reddening) to be resisted. Adelmidrol can consequently be used advantageously as a cosmetic agent m the treatment of skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or are subject to acute irritation. EXAMPLES OF COSMETIC PREPARATIONS In all of the following examples, the initials OE mean "oxyethylenate" . Example 1 - Face and body cream 100 g contains : N^-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 2.0 g Vitamin E acetate 4.0 g sodium hyaluronate 0.04 g bronopol 0.005 g hydrogenated castor oil 40 (OE) 1.5 g noveon AA1 1.6 g o-phenylphenol 0.18 g aroma 0.15 g water to make up to 100 g Example 2 - body milk 100 g contains: N, (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 1.4 g glycerol 5.0 g Vaseline oil 3.0 g silicone oil 1.0 g gliceryl monostearate 1.4 g cetostearyl alcohol 2.8 g stearic acid 2.8 g polyethylene glycol-soya sterols 6.0 g carbomer 0.12 g bronopol 0.05 g aroma 0.05 g water to make up to 100 g Example 3 - gel for oral use 100 g contains: N, N x -bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 1.0 g glycerol 10.0 g glycolic extract of echmacea purpurea 12 . 0 g sodium algmate 2 . 5 g sodium hyaluronate 0 . 04 g bronopol 0.1 g tπclosan 0.3 g water to make up to 100 g Example 4 - lotion for tricholog cal use 100 g contains : N, N x -bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 0,2 g sodium hyaluronate 0,01 g biotm 0 , 03 g ethyl alcohol 30,0 g aroma 0,02 g water to make up to 100 g Example 5 - vaginal gel 100 g contains: N, N^bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 1.5 g vitamin A palmitate 0.2 g 2 -phenyl ethanol 0.15 g glycerol 10.0 g hydrogenated castor oil 40 (OE) 1.0 g methyl paraoxybenzoate 0.1 g noveon AA1 1.0 g sodium hyaluronate 0.08 g aroma 0.2 g water to make up to 100 g Example 6 - vaginal wash 100 g contains : (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 0.4 g vitamin A palmitate 0.02 g 2 -phenyl ethanol 0.15 g lactic acid 2.0 g glycerol 6.0 g hydrogenated castor o l 40 (OE) 0.4 g methyl paraoxyibenzoate 0.1 g sodium hyaluronate 0.01 g aroma 0.15 g water to make up to 100 g Example 7- - intimate soap lOOg contains : N, (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 0.5 g triclosan 0.25 g vitamin E acetate 0.05 g lactic acid 1.0 g rutin 0.02 g bronopol 0.1 g coco diethanolamide 2.5 g undecylenic acid 0.2 g glycolic extract of Echinacea purpurea 5.0 g sodium lauryl (1-4) OE sulphate 20.0 g disodium lauryl (1-4) OE sulphosuccinate 7.0 g aroma 0.02 g hyrogenated castor oil 40 (OE) 1.4 g water to make up to 100 g Example 8 - deodorant stick 100 g contains: (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 2.0 g sodium hyaluronate 0.05 g zinc ricinoleate 1.0 g triclosan 0.25 g vitamin E acetate 0.5 g ethyl alcohol 30.0 g bronopol 0.05 g carbomer 1.5 g polyvinyl alcohol 0.2 g hydrogenated castor oil 40 (OE) 2.5 g aroma 1.0 g water to make up to 100 g Example 9 - nail drops 100 g contains : N, N^bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 1.5 urea 10.0 hydrogenated castor oil 40 (OE) 5.0 vitamin A palmitate 0.3 undecylenic acid 0.2 biotin 0.6 benzyl alcohol 1.2 glycolic extract of Echinacea purpurea 10.0 acetone isopropyl alcohol 36.0 water to make up to 100 g Example 1-0 - cream for podiatric use 100 g contains: N,N x -bιs (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide 2.0 biotin 0.01 glycolic extract of Echinacea purpurea 10.0 usnic acid 0.2 zinc πcinoleate 2.0 isopropyl myristate 0.5 polyethylene glycol-soya sterols 4.0 steaπc acid 2.5 cetostearyl alcohol 2.5 glyceryl monostearate 1.0 silicone oil 1.0 Vaseline oil 2.5 triclosan 0.2 bronopol 0.03 aroma 0.5 water to make up to 100 g It has also been found that the cosmetic effect of adelmidrol is performed especially if the product has a high degree of purity. In particular, an absence of potentially harmful impurities prevents the compound itself from causing undesired irritative reactions on the skin. A further subject of the present invention is therefore a method which enables extremely pure adelmidrol to be produced. This method provides for the reaction of azelaic acid or a diester thereof with ethanolamine, with refluxmg, m an inert atmosphere, possibly m the presence of an inert solvent. Preferred solvents for the azelaic acid reaction are xylene or toluene, particularly xylene. Preferred reaction temperatures are between 110 °C and 145 °C. Dimethyl, diethyl or dipropyl esters, preferably dimethyl ester, may be used as the diester of azelaic acid. The method may also provide for a step for crystallization of the crude product from isopropanol, m which the crystallizate is subjected to a crumbling process at approximately 45°C for 4-8 hours, and to subsequent gradual cooling to 5-7°C over a period of 10- 20 hours. This crystallization step enables a particularly pure product to be produced. A further improvement m the purity of the adelmidrol can be achieved by subjecting the crystallizate to a drying step comprising a first drying stage at a pressure lower than 30 mmHg and at a temperature of between ambient temperature and 40°C for 24-72 hours, a second drying stage under the same conditions as described above but m a slightly acid atmosphere such as that obtained by placing a container containing a dilute solution of sulphuric acid m the dryer, and a third drying stage at a pressure of 1-2 mmHg and at a temperature of 25-40°C for a period of between 1 and 3 days . The diester of azelaic acid is prepared with a practically quantitative yield by reaction of azelaic acid with a primary aliphatic alcohol, hot, in the presence of an acid catalyst (Vogel, Chimica Organica Practica, Ed. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milan 1988) . The preferred alcohols are methyl, ethyl and propyl alcohols, most preferably methyl alcohol . Two examples of preparations in accordance with the method of the present invention are given by way of indication below. Preparation 1 - synthesis of adelmidrol from azelaic acid 47.05 g of azelaic acid (250 mmoles) and 45.8 g of ethanolamine (750 mmoles) were dissolved in 130 ml of xylene and heated with refluxing for 6 hours in a reactor with a reflux condenser and a Dean-Stark separator. The atmosphere in the reactor was rendered inert with nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The mixture was then evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 250 ml of pure isopropanol, the solution was then cooled to trigger crystallization, the crystallizate was then subjected to a crumbling process with stirring at 45 °C for 6 hours. The crystallization was completed by subsequent slow cooling to 5-7°C over a period of 15 hours. The crystallizate was separated by filtration, cold, in an inert atmosphere, washed three times with 30 ml of cold isopropanol and finally dried in a high degree of vacuum. The drying was performed in stages as described below. The crystallizate, taken up in solvent, was stratified in polished stainless-steel trays and placed in a drying cabinet for static drying for two days at 30°C and at a pressure lower than 30 mmHg. Trays containing an approximately 1 M solution of sulphuric acid in water were then placed in the drying cabinet for 24 hours, again with a pressure lower than 30 mmHg. Drying was then completed under a vacuum of 1-2 mmHg for 2 days at 30°C. The reaction yields were greater than 96%, with a recovery of more than 90% of pure product after crystallization and drying. The profile of the impurities of the finished product was as follows: free azelaic acid <0.5% monoethanolamide <0.5% free ethanolamine <0.1% isopropanol <200 ppm homologous diamides 1-10% (*) 2-oxazoline absent (*) according to the quality of the starting azelaic acid Preparation 2 - synthesis of adelmidrol from azelaic acid dimethyl ester 54.1 g of the dimethyl ester of azelaic acid (250 mmoles) and 33.6 g of ethanolamine (550 mmoles) were heated to 110 °C for 7 hours in a reactor with a reflux condenser. The atmosphere in the reactor was rendered inert by nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The mixture was then evaporated to dryness under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in 250ml of pure isopropanol, the solution was then cooled to trigger crystallization and the crystallizate was subjected to a crumbling process with stirring at 45°C for 6 hours. The process was completed by subsequent ■ slow cooling to 5-7°C over a period of 15 hours. The crystallizate was separated by filtration, cold, in an inert atmosphere, washed three times with 30 ml of cold isopropanol and finally dried in a high degree of vacuum. The drying was performed in stages as described below. The crystallizate, taken up with solvent, was stratified in polished stainless-steel trays and placed in a drying cabinet for static drying for two days at 30°C and at a pressure lower than 30 mmHg. Trays containing an approximately IM solution of sulphuric acid in water were then placed in the drying cabinet for 24 hours, again with a pressure lower than 30 mmHg. Drying was then completed under a vacuum of 1-2 mmHg for 2 days at 30°C. The reaction yields were again greater than 96%, with a recovery of more than 90% of pure product after crystallization and drying. The profile of the impurities of the finished product was as follows: free azelaic acid <0.1% monoethanolamide <0.2% free ethanolamine <0.1% isopropanol <200 ppm homologous diamides <1% 2-oxazoline absent The method described above thus has the advantage of leading to a final product which is characterized by a high degree of purity, with higher yields than can be obtained by known methods (for example, see EP 0 550 0008 A2) and with lower running costs by virtue of the lower reaction temperatures (no greater than 145°C in comparison with 160 °C described m the known methods) . The reaction starting with the diester of azelaic acid has the further advantage of permitting purification even at the level of the starting product by fractional distillation of the diester. The lower and higher homologues of azelaic acid which are always present m considerable quantities m commercial azelaic acid (titre between 80 and 90%) can thus be eliminated.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Use of N, N 1 -bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide as a cosmetic agent for skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or are subject to acute irritation. 2. Use according to Claim 1, as an agent which can lower abnormally raised TEWL values m skin and/or mucous membranes which are irritable and/or are subject to acute irritation. 3. Use according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, for the cosmetic treatment of the skin of the face, of the body, of the hands, of the feet, of the genital organs, and of the mucous membrane of the mouth, of the vagina and of the glans. 4. Use of N, (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide for the preparation of a cosmetic preparation. 5. A cosmetic composition containing N,N 1 -bιs(2- hydroxy- ethyl) nonandiamide together with other cosmetic additives . 6. A cosmetic composition according to Claim 5, selected from the group comprising face and body cream, body milk, gel for oral use, lotion for tπchological use, vaginal gel, vaginal wash, intimate soap, deodorant stick, nail drops, cream for podiatric use. 7. A cosmetic composition according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, containing from 0.2 to 2 grams of N,N 1 -bis(2- hydroxyethyl) - nonandiamide per 100 grams of composition. 8. A method of preparing N,N 1 -bis(2- hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide comprising the reaction of azelaic acid or of a diester thereof with ethanolamine in an inert atmosphere, possibly in the presence of an inert solvent . 9. A method according to Claim 8, in which the diester of azelaic acid is dimethyl, diethyl or dipropyl ester, preferably dimethyl ester. 10. A method according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the reaction temperature is between 110 °C and 145°C. 11. A method according to any one of Claims 8 to 10 in which the solvent is xylene. 12. A method according any one of Claims 8 to 11, comprising the further step of crystallizing the crude product from isopropanol and subjecting the crystallizate to a crumbling process at approximately 45°C for 4-8 hours and to subsequent gradual cooling to 5-7 °C over a period of 10-20 hours. 13. A method according to any one of Calims 8 to 12, comprising the further consecutive steps of: (i) drying N,N x -bis (2 -hydroxyethyl) nonandiamide at a pressure lower than 30 mmHg and at a temperature of between ambient temperature and 40°C for 24-72 hours, (ii) further drying the product of stage (i) under the same conditions as described above but in a slightly acid atmosphere, (iii) further drying the product of stage (ii) at a pressure of 1-2 mmHg and at a temperature of 25-40°C for a period of between 1 and 3 days . 14. A method according to Claim 13 , in which the acid atmosphere in stage (ii) is achieved 'by introducing a container containing a IM solution of sulphuric acid into the dryer.

Inventors: COMELLI CRISTINA, DELLA VALLE FRANCESCO, DELLA VALLE MARIA FEDERICA, MARCOLONGO GABRIELE, COMELLI, CRISTINA, DELLA VALLE, FRANCESCO, DELLA VALLE, MARIA, FEDERICA, MARCOLONGO, GABRIELE
Applicants: INNOVET ITALIA S R L, INNOVET ITALIA S.R.L.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A61K7
IPC codes: A61K8, A61Q15, A61Q19