Maleic Anhydride Applications in Personal Care

Abstract

Maleic anhydride and its derivatives are used in many different areas in personal care. They are indispensable ingredients used in hair, skin, and oral care formulations. In hair care applications, copolymers containing maleic anhydride are mostly found in hair fixative and styling formulas. They act as film formers, compatible with a variety of solvent systems, which form polymer-hair fiber assemblies with resistance to high humidity and mechanical insult to the hairstyle. The use of this type of chemistry in hair care has a long history that began in the 1950s and continues to find itself in contemporary products. In skin care, the largest impact of maleic anhydride chemistry is in the form of copolymers of maleic anhydride and methyl vinyl ether that are used in transdermal delivery systems and as bioadhesives for biomedical devices. In addition, there are many innovative uses of maleic anhydride chemistry in the delivery of cosmetic active ingredients as well as adjuvants in antiperspirant formulations. Moreover, copolymers of maleic anhydride function as rheology modifiers in finished skin care formulations providing desirable textural and sensorial properties for the consumer. In oral care, poly(methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride) is found in dentifrice formulations, where it acts as a bioadhesive, film former, and delivery vehicle for active ingredients. For many years, the bioadhesive nature of poly(methyl vinyl ether-maleic anhydride) to the oral mucosa has been exploited in denture adhesive formulations as the key active ingredient. In the pages that follow, we provide a summary and critical analysis of both historical and contemporary uses of maleic anhydride in the personal care arena focusing on traditional and innovative approaches.