Curable nail composition and methods for strengthening and repairing nails

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a curable nail strengthening composition comprising a polymerizable material, at least one penetrating agent, and at least one curing agent. The strengthening composition penetrates the nail and is cured within the nail plate without cross-linking the nail proteins. Methods for strengthening and repairing nails are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curable composition for strengthening fingernails or toenails comprising:
 a polymerizable material;   at least one penetrating agent; and   a curing agent.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable material will not cross-link reactive functional groups of nail proteins. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable material is capable of penetrating at least 0.05 mm below the upper surface of a nail when the composition is applied to the nail. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable material is selected from hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA), ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA), bis(glyceryl dimethacrylate) pyromellitate (PMGDM), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is selected from natural vegetable and plant oils derived from corn, castor, jojoba, olive, avocado, sweet almond, rice bran, sunflower, palm, palm kernel, rapeseed, peanut, cottonseed, coconut, grape seed, tomato seed, hazelnut, soybean, tea tree, eucalyptus, wheat germ, sea buckthorn seed, argan, peppermint, and macadamia. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is chosen from acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, propylene glycol, octyldodecanol, glycerin, isodecane, cyclohexane, camphor, ethyl butrolactone, butoxyethanol, butoxydigycol, 2-octyldocecanol, diacetone alcohol, dicholoromethane, dimethylsulfone, dimethyl isorbide, diacetin, dipentene, toluene, xylene, triethylene glycol, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylhexanol, tertrahydrofurfuryl acetate, turpentine, and mineral spirits. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of thermal catalysts and ultraviolet (UV) and visible light photo initiators. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive selected from solvents, thickening agents, plasticizers, film forming agents, surface hardening agents, fillers, colorants, moisturizers, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, medicinal agents and active medical drugs. 
     
     
         9 . A method for strengthening fingernails or toenails comprising:
 applying a penetrating, curable composition to a nail, wherein the composition comprises a polymerizable material, at least one penetrating agent, and a curing agent; and   curing the composition.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising repeating the steps of applying the composition to the nail and curing the composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising allowing the composition to penetrate the nail to a depth of at least 0.05 mm below a surface of the nail before curing the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polymerizable material is selected from hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA), ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA), bis(glyceryl dimethacrylate) pyromellitate (PMGDM), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is selected from natural vegetable and plant oils derived from corn, castor, jojoba, olive, avocado, sweet almond, rice bran, sunflower, palm, palm kernel, rapeseed, peanut, cottonseed, coconut, grape seed, tomato seed, hazelnut, soybean, tea tree, eucalyptus, wheat germ, sea buckthorn seed, argan, peppermint, and macadamia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one additive selected from solvents, plasticizers, film forming agents, surface hardening agents, fillers, colorants, moisturizers, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, medicinal agents and active medical drugs. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is chosen from acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and methyl ethyl ketone, propylene glycol, octyldodecanol, glycerin, isodecane, cyclohexane, camphor, ethyl butrolactone, butoxyethanol, butoxydigycol, 2-octyldocecanol, diacetone alcohol, dicholoromethane, dimethylsulfone, dimethyl isorbide, diacetin, dipentene, toluene, xylene, triethylene glycol, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylhexanol, tertrahydrofurfuryl acetate, turpentine, and mineral spirits. 
     
     
         16 . A method of repairing a damaged fingernail or toenail, wherein the damage to the fingernail or toenail comprises a crack, a groove, a ridge, a line, a pit, a divot, delamination, peeling, or thinning, the method comprising:
 applying a curable composition to a nail, wherein the composition comprises a polymerizable material, at least one penetrating agent and a curing agent;   curing the applied composition; and   repeating the application and curing of the composition until the cured composition has covered the damage and formed a smooth surface on the nail.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent enables the polymerizable material to penetrate the nail to a depth of at least 0.05 mm below a surface of the nail and to wick into crack fronts of broken or cracked nail plates or between layers of delaminated nail plates before curing the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is selected from natural vegetable and plant oils derived from corn, castor, jojoba, olive, avocado, sweet almond, rice bran, sunflower, palm, palm kernel, rapeseed, peanut, cottonseed, coconut, grape seed, tomato seed, hazelnut, soybean, tea tree, eucalyptus, wheat germ, sea buckthorn seed, argan, peppermint, and macadamia. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one additive selected from solvents, plasticizers, film forming agents, surface hardening agents, fillers, colorants, moisturizers, antimicrobial agents, antifungal agents, and drugs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one penetrating agent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and methyl ethyl ketone, propylene glycol, octyldodecanol, glycerin, isodecane, cyclohexane, camphor, ethyl butrolactone, butoxyethanol, butoxydigycol, 2-octyldocecanol, diacetone alcohol, dicholoromethane, dimethylsulfone, dimethyl isorbide, diacetin, dipentene, toluene, xylene, triethylene glycol, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylhexanol, tertrahydrofurfuryl acetate, turpentine, mineral spirits, and combinations thereof.