INVENTION DISCLOSUREREPLACEMENT OF POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) USING CHITOSAN AND OTHER BIOPOLYMERS IN ORDER TO PRODUCE AN EDIBLE PERSONAL LUBRICANTBackgroundUnfortunately, synthetic products always has been badly seen by society and sometimes due to very good reasons, one of them is to be a carcinogen agent. People currently are aware to minimize the use of artificial chemicals. For most of women it is a concern about if it used as an intimacy lubricant. It is very important to take into account the side effects. Even there could be a psychological effect in women such as to feel worry about if this product could cause cancer to her. Moreover, Cancer is one of the main reasons of mortality among women. Scientists continue researching about side effects in PEG and other chemicals and until now nothing has been conclusive about PEG. On the other hand, it is very known that the importance of the use of PEG in drug delivery, even PEG (8000) is use for treating some kind of Cancer such as lung cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer and breast cancer and there is no another substance that could replace it until now. Perhaps in the future some biopolymers could do. Unfortunately, there have not been so many investigations about natural options, which could replace PEG. May be a sea of opportunities for the new researchers when looking for new uses in biosciences for old natural materials. Chitosan, a natural product, which is extracted from shrimp and other crustaceans, the current process is through the deacetylation of chitin. This biopolymer show interesting properties that will be explained in the following lines.Invention DescriptionThe intimacy lubricant would have the following improved characteristics: Hypoallergenic Edible Bactericide Fungicide Natural Product BiocompatibleFeaturesChitosan in combinations with other polysaccharides could present similar or improved characteristics comparing to PEG. Chitosan[endnoteRef:1] shows very good characteristics as a bactericide. It means the personal lubricant will conserve their properties. In medicine, chitosan is used in bandages due to it promotes coagulation. Besides its surface is antifungal and antibacterial. Chemically Chitosan is stable and basic and neutral environment but in acid medium start to break down and it is a very important physical property, it is possible to control viscosity. As an intimacy lubricant viscosity and pH must match with the natural medium. For instance, the range of pH is 3.8 and 4.5 [1: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/265906628_Characterization_of_Commercially_Available_Vaginal_Lubricants_A_Safety_Perspective]

Figure 1 Taken from Wikipedia Chitosan structureCarboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) would be part of the formulation. A novel water based personal lubricant would appear, Moreover one of the strong characteristic is being an edible product. It is known that in a typical intercourse; cunilingus is applied and an edible lubricant is one of most important characteristic that a couple looks for. Another characteristic of Chitosan, is the capacity of masking bitter flavors. The product should have neutral flavor, Moreover it should not be recognized by the partner when he is tasting. Moreover, Chitosan is being investigated as polymer a natural polymer, one the most used application is in catheters or other indwelling medical devices such as pacemakers, prosthetic joints, etc. As chitosan is a biodegradable product, it could be seen more frequently in other devices such as birth control inside devices.BenefitsOutside physical or mechanical properties, even organoleptic properties, biochemical properties are fundamental such as osmolality. The normal value of osmolality inside the vagina is approximately 1200 mOsm/kg according to the article Characterization of Commercially Available Vaginal Lubricants: A Safety Perspective most the commercial products do not accomplish with this and other parameters.Other key substance to improve an intimacy lubricant is hyaluronic acid[endnoteRef:2] (HA), although there already have been researches in this field, the information gained is not sufficient. [2: USPTO Patent Application 20100284937, Vaginal lubricant comprising hyaluronic acid.]

MarketsThis product is target to personal care market, however this product is based in high technology knowledge of biomaterials. Replacement of synthetic ingredients is already a big advantage against commercial ones. The product would be highly competitive.Development StagesThe first trials would be realized in vitro to measure mechanical and physical parameters. The parameters taken into account are: Minimum film of lubrication Wettability Viscosity Parallel trials would carry out but they in other field; biochemical trials considering the following parameters: pH osmolality