Methods of Delivering a Health Care Active by Administering Personal Health Care Articles Comprising a Filament

Abstract

A method of delivering a health care active having the steps of administering to a mammal in need of a health benefit or a treatment for a health condition a personal health care article and consuming the article. The article contains one or more filaments that contain a backbone material, a health care active and optionally aesthetic agents, extensional aids, plasticizers, and crosslinking agents.

1 . A method of delivering a health care active comprising, the step of administering to a mammal in need of a health benefit or a treatment for a health condition a personal health care article comprising one or more filaments comprising:
 a. from about 10% to about 80%, by weight on a dry filament basis, of a backbone material;   b. greater than about 10%, by weight on a dry filament basis, of a health care active wherein said health care active is releasable from said filament wherein said filament is exposed to conditions of intended use; and   c. less than about 20%, by weight of the filament, moisture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personal health care article has a basis weight of from about 20 g/m 2  to about 1000 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health condition is selected from the group consisting of respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, central nervous system conditions, pathogenic infections, nutritional deficiencies, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health benefit is selected from the group consisting of respiratory benefits, gastrointestinal benefits, Central Nervous System benefits, anti-infection benefits, nutritional benefits, overall wellbeing benefits, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament is a meltblown filament. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament is a fluid film fibrillation filament. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said backbone material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, sugars, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said backbone material is a polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol, pullulan, pectin, corn starch, modified corn starch, or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of naturally sourced polymers, synthetic polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said naturally sourced polymer is selected from the group consisting of alginates, starch based polymers, native starches, modified starches, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer exhibits a weight average molecular weight of from about 20,000 Da to about 200,000 Da. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said polymer exhibits a weight average molecular weight of from about 1,000,000 Da to about 6,000,000 Da. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a filament-forming material selected from the group consisting of extensional aids, plasticizers, crosslinking agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament comprises two or more different backbone materials. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament comprises greater than about 25%, by weight on a dry filament basis, one or more health care actives. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament comprises greater than about 40%, by weight on a dry filament basis, one or more health care actives. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care active is selected from the group consisting of respiratory agents, gastrointestinal agents, central nervous system agents, anti-infective agents, nutritional agents, overall wellbeing agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care active is selected from the group consisting of delayed delivery health care actives, extended delivery health care actives, immediate delivery health care actives, targeted delivery health care actives, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament comprises two or more different health care actives. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said filament further comprises an aesthetic agent wherein said aesthetic agent is selected from the group consisting of flavors, colorants, sensates, sweeteners, salivation agents, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating composition present on an external surface of said filament. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said coating composition comprises a health care active. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said health care active present in said coating composition is different from said health care active present in said filament. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said coating composition comprises an aesthetic agent. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said personal health care article comprises a nonwoven web comprising said filament. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said nonwoven web comprises a first filament comprising a first health care active and a second filament comprising a second health care active wherein said first health care active and said second health care active are different. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said personal health care article comprises a first nonwoven web and a second nonwoven web wherein said first nonwoven web comprises said filament. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first nonwoven web comprises a first health care active and wherein said second nonwoven web comprises an aesthetic agent. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said first nonwoven web comprises a first health care active and wherein said second nonwoven web comprises a second health care active and wherein said first health care active and said second health care active are different.