Composition for hair

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for hair which comprises highly safe nanoparticles having high transparency due to the small particle size and high permeability into hair and scalp. The present invention provides a composition for hair which comprises protein nanoparticles containing an active ingredient for hair.

1 . A composition for hair which comprises protein nanoparticles containing an active ingredient for hair. 
     
     
         2 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the average particle size of protein nanoparticles is 10 to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the protein nanoparticles contain an active ingredient for hair in a weight that is 0.1% to 100% of the protein weight. 
     
     
         4 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient for hair is at least one selected from the group consisting of cosmetic ingredients, quasi-drug ingredients, and pharmaceutical ingredients. 
     
     
         5 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient for hair is an ionic substance or a fat-soluble substance. 
     
     
         6 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient for hair is a hair growth agent. 
     
     
         7 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the ethanol content is 20% by weight or less. 
     
     
         8 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the protein is at least one selected from the group consisting of collagen, gelatin, acid-treated gelatin, albumin, ovalbumin, casein, transferrin, globulin, fibroin, fibrin, laminin, fibronectin, and vitronectin. 
     
     
         9 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  wherein the protein is subjected to crosslinking treatment during and/or after nanoparticle formation. 
     
     
         10 . The composition for hair according to  claim 9  wherein crosslinking treatment is carried out by an enzyme. 
     
     
         11 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  which comprises casein nanoparticles prepared by the following steps (a) to (c):
 (a) mixing casein with a basic aqueous medium at pH of from 8 to less than 11;   (b) adding at least one active ingredient for hair to the solution obtained in step (a); and   (c) injecting the solution obtained in step (b) into an acidic aqueous medium at pH of 3.5 to 7.5:   
     
     
         12 . The composition for hair according to  claim 1  which comprises casein nanoparticles prepared by the following steps (a) to (c):
 (a) mixing casein with a basic aqueous medium at pH of from 8 to less than 11;   (b) adding at least one active ingredient for hair to the solution obtained in step (a); and   (c) lowering the pH of the solution obtained in step (b) to pH value which is different from the isoelectric point by 1 or more units, while stirring the solution.