Thin-film vehicles that stabilize highly reactive active ingredients

Abstract

A method of protecting an active ingredient before using as a skin treatment includes packaging the active ingredient in a water soluble polysaccharide. The package includes a substrate, comprising a first and second side configured to bring together the water soluble polysaccharide with the active ingredient and a hydrogel, wherein the first side includes the water soluble polysaccharide with the active ingredient on the exterior, and the second half includes the hydrogel on the exterior. Once brought into contact for a sufficient time to allow the polysaccharide to dissolve, at least the hydrogel layer with the infused active ingredient can be peeled from the substrate to use as a facial mask for treating the skin with the active ingredient.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of protecting an active ingredient, comprising:
 providing the active ingredient in a water soluble polysaccharide; and   providing a hydrogel in which the water soluble polysaccharide is dissolvable.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is a skin treatment ingredient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble polysaccharide and hydrogel are provided on opposite sides of a substrate, and wherein the opposite sides of the substrate are configured to be brought into contact with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate is a cardstock layer, and the hydrogel is juxtaposed on a barrier film, wherein the barrier film is juxtaposed on a release liner, wherein the release liner is juxtaposed on the cardstock layer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the water soluble polysaccharide with active ingredient and the hydrogel are provided in mirror shapes of each other on the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least the hydrogel is releasably attached to the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . A method of delivering an active ingredient to skin, comprising:
 bringing a water soluble polysaccharide with an active ingredient in contact with a hydrogel to dissolve the water soluble polysaccharide and infuse the active ingredient in the hydrogel; and   bringing the hydrogel with infused active ingredient in contact with skin to be treated with the active ingredient.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing an indication when the water soluble polysaccharide with active ingredient has dissolved in the hydrogel. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the water soluble polysaccharide with active ingredient and the hydrogel are provided on two sides of a foldable substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising peeling the hydrogel with infused active ingredient from a substrate.