EP2395969A2

EP2395969A2 - Use of hydrophobin as a spreading agent

Info

Publication number: EP2395969A2
Application number: EP10704350A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heiko Barg; Thomas Subkowski; Marvin Karos; Claus Bollschweiler
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2010-02-10
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Also published as: WO2010092088A2; WO2010092088A3; US20110312497A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of hydrophobin as a spreading agent, in particular in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions. The invention further relates to compositions for treating surfaces, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions for topical use, that contain hydrophobin as a spreading agent.

Description

Use of hydrophobin as spreading agent

The present invention relates to the use of hydrophobin as a spreading agent, in particular in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions. It further relates to compositions for the treatment of surfaces, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions for topical application, which contain hydrophobin as a spreading agent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Spreading ability (synonym: spreading ability) describes the ability of substances or mixtures of substances (e.g., oils and creams) to deposit on a solid, e.g. the skin spontaneously spread and thereby form a thin film. This surface spreading is dependent on the viscosity and surface tension of the substances, the presence of surfactants, and the properties of the surface (such as the moisture content of the skin and the tallow content of the horny layer). Good spreading ability is e.g. in skin care products of advantage.

Spreitmittel are substances whose addition to a liquid or semi-solid composition to an increase of the. By the Composition covered surface leads. Spreaders work by, for example, reducing the surface tension of a composition or by increasing the wettability of the treated surface. They thereby facilitate the even distribution of the composition and its ingredients, as well as the formation of a uniform film on the treated surface. The spreading agent eliminates the tendency of high surface tension compositions (such as aqueous solutions) to form droplets on the treated surface which would result in spotting of the materials contained in the composition (so-called "spotting").

The spread of compositions on surfaces, e.g. of cosmetic or pharmaceutical products on the skin is measurable (e.g., Zeidler, U. (1985) Fats, Soaps, Coating 87: 403), the measurement result is referred to as Spreitwert. Also B.W. Barry u. AJ Grace developed a method for determining spreading capacity (J. Pharm. Sci., 61, 335 (1972)), and C. Beyer developed a model test system for testing spreadability (Arch. Pharm. [Weinh.] 310, 473, 729 and 858 (1977); CA 88, 79017 (1978); ZbI. Pharm. 118, 51 (1979)).

As the spreading stress, the tendency of a liquid to spread on a solid surface is expressed quantitatively by the difference between the wetting stress and the surface tension of the liquid. This size is called according to DIN 53900 as Spreitungskoeffϊzient. If this value is positive, the liquid spontaneously spreads on the surface.

Spreading ability according to DIN 53900 is the ability of a substance to spontaneously cover a surface of a liquid or a solid. Spreitvermögen is therefore used in cosmetics as the property of a substance on the skin distribute, understood. The unit of measure of the spreading coefficient is that of the quotient of the spreading surface over which the spreading takes place and the spreading time in which the spreading takes place. It is usually stated in [mm ² / minutes].

Spreaders are needed in a variety of products, i.a. in plant protection products, agents for the care of technical surfaces, cosmetics and medicines.

Plant protection products are usually sprayed on the treated plants and must spread as evenly and quickly on the plants in order to ensure a rapid and uniform distribution of the active ingredient before it, for. can be rinsed by rain.

In the cosmetic and pharmaceutical field, especially the interest

Spreading properties of emulsions, creams, ointments, gels, pastes, body milks and oils. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions are often OfW or W / O emulsions. The spreading properties of emulsions are usually determined by their oil component (s) (synonym: oil body).

In the following spreitmittel be further exemplified by means of treatment of the skin. These explanations apply analogously to spreading agents in compositions for other technical fields, such as e.g. applicable to plant protection.

Spreading agents can be classified as low (water coverage: - divided <300 mm ^2/10 min), mittelspreitende (300 min 1000 mm ^2/10) and hochspreitende spreading (> 1000 mm ^2/10 min). This not only describes their behavior on the skin in terms of their dispersibility, but also the intensity and duration of their smoothing effect. Spreitmittel are usually oils or fats, so these will be explained in more detail below by way of example.

Fast-spreading oils spread very well, penetrate quickly into the depressions of the skin surface and produce a quick feeling of smoothness, but just as quickly falling back to the old level.

Fast spreaders are especially oils with many short-chain fatty acids (C6 to ClO), z. As coconut oil and babassu oil, but also plant butter. In addition, squalane is a very fast spreading fat component.

Medium-spreading oils distribute well, show a pleasant pull-in behavior and smooth over a much longer period. These are oils having medium length fatty acid chains (C 12 to C 16) or high lecithin or squalene content, e.g. Avocado oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil or amaranth oil. The accompanying substances of these oils change their surface tension (for example, lecithins belong to the phospholipids and are surface-active lipids) and thus cause faster spreading on the skin (in comparison to their spreading behavior due to their fatty acid spectrum) and a better absorption capacity.

Slow-spreading oils lead to a much less pronounced smoothness, but it lasts for a long time. This group mainly includes oils with long-chain fatty acids (C 18 to C24), z. B. evening primrose, borage, hemp and wild rose oil.

In order to optimize a recipe, oils or other spreading agents can be combined with each other or with other substances according to their spreading behavior. An emulsion that contains fast, medium and slow spreading oils next to each other ensures a more pleasing application and skin feel than emulsions with just one oil. This combination is also called a spreading cascade designated. Formulations that do not consider spreaders of all three categories usually have a spread gap, ie a component with a specific effect that determines the duration or speed of the smoothness sensation is missing.

It is obvious that the development of such Spreitkaskaden associated with effort and therefore in need of improvement. Moreover, the spread in such multi-component systems is difficult to dose and predict. In addition, many oils and fats used as spreading agents can leave an undesirable glossy film on the skin or even lead to unwanted skin sealing. However, consumers want products that deliver a fast-paced and long-lasting sensation of skin smoothness and suppleness while leaving no sticky, greasy or greasy film on the skin. There may also be undesirable incompatibility reactions between the spreading agent and other components of the composition or treated surface.

On the other hand, the complete omission of a spreading agent, especially in the case of aqueous solutions, leads to poor spreading behavior and its immediate consequences, e.g. Spotting. However, the use of oils as spreading agents in aqueous systems is often undesirable or, in the absence of miscibility of an oil with water, possible only with the addition of emulsifiers.

Under these circumstances, there is a need for a spreading agent which does not have the disadvantages of oils as spreading agents and can replace them partially or completely in a composition and in particular is miscible with water. This applies not only to cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, but also to non-cosmetic / non-pharmaceutical preparations, such as polishes, shoe polish, pesticides, etc. In all these applications, there is a need for compositions that do not "scoff" and leave no fat residue , Hydrophobins are a class of small, cysteine-rich proteins with a length of about 100-150 amino acids, which in nature occur only in filamentous fungi. They are amphiphilic and can form a water-insoluble layer on the surface of an article. Their natural functions include the coating of fungal spores so that they do not stick together, the coating of aerial hyphae to reduce the surface tension of water and thus facilitate the absorption of water, and possibly the signaling between a fungus and its environment (Whiteford, JF Spanu, PD (2001), Fungal Genet., Biol. 32 (3): 159-168; Wosten et al. (1999) Current Biol. 19: 1985-88; Bell et al. (1992), Genes Dev. 6: 2382- 2394).

The first isolation and purification of hydrophobin took place from Schizophyllum commune in 1999. In the meantime, hydrophin genes have been identified in ascomycetes, deuteromycetes and basiodiomycetes. Some fungi contain more than one hydrophobin gene, e.g. Schizophyllum commune, Coprinus cinereus and Aspergillus nidulans.

Based on differences in the hydropathy and biophysical properties of the hydrophobins, these have been classified into two categories: Class I and Class IL Complementation experiments have shown that hydrophobins of one class can to a certain extent functionally replace hydrophobins of the other class. The various hydrophobins appear to be involved in different fungal development stages and to perform different functions therein (van Wetter et al (2000) Mol Microbiol 36: 201-210, Kershaw et al (1998) Fungal Genet., Biol. 23: 18 -33).

Hydrophobins usually have eight cysteine units. They can be isolated from natural sources, but also by genetic engineering can be obtained, as described for example in WO 2006/082251 and WO 2006/131564.

The use of hydrophobin in cosmetic preparations is known per se. US 2003/0217419 A1 describes the use of the SC 3 hydrophobin from S. commune for the treatment of keratin-containing materials. This forms cosmetic depots that should withstand several washes with shampoo. The hydrophobin is applied either simultaneously with or after the cosmetically active ingredient, but not before applying the cosmetic ingredient.

WO 2006/136607 A2 describes the use of hydrophobin and of hydrophobin conjugates in cosmetic preparations for hair care.

WO 2006/082251 describes hydrophobin proteins, their production and their use for surface coating of glass and Teflon.

WO 96/41882 proposes the use of hydrophobins and the like. as surface-active substances, for hydrophilizing hydrophobic surfaces, for improving the water resistance of hydrophilic substrates and for producing emulsions, ointments, creams, hair shampoos and rinses.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide spreading agents for surface treatment compositions, especially for topical cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions. Another object is to provide compositions in which oils and fats are partially or completely replaced by at least one other spreading agent as spreading agents.

Another object is to provide non-greasy compositions, especially aqueous compositions, having good spreading properties.

The spreading agent according to the invention should be usable on a large number of surfaces, especially on natural surfaces such as human and animal skin or plant surfaces.

These and other objects, as apparent from the following description of the invention, are achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims. Particular embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the examples. Furthermore, the invention also includes combinations of these preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of hydrophobin as

Spreading. It further relates to a composition containing hydrophobin as a spreading agent.

Good spreading behavior of a composition is advantageous if the composition is to distribute evenly on a surface. This requirement is met by the uses and compositions of the invention. According to the invention, hydrophobin can be used as spreading agent in compositions for the treatment of various surfaces, such as for the treatment of technical surfaces (paint, metal, plastic) and natural surfaces (skin, hair, teeth, nails, leather, textiles, wool, vegetable surfaces). It preferably serves as a spreading agent in a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition or in a pesticide.

The use of hydrophobin preferably results in that the oil content required for spreading in the compositions can be reduced compared to compositions without hydrophobin, for example from 50% to 100%. Hyrophobin can thus serve according to the invention as a partial or complete oil body replacement. Another effect is that this causes a shine on the treated surface, e.g. The skin is reduced or prevented because less or no oil or fat is applied to the surface.

The use of hydrophobin may further result in improved uptake and / or addition of other ingredients of the hydrophobin-containing composition. It preferably effects an improved uptake and / or addition of one or more active substances, for example cosmetic and / or pharmaceutical active ingredients, into / on the tissue treated with the hydrophobin-containing composition, for example the skin. This applies in particular to hydrophilic substances such as cosmetically or pharmaceutically active substances, for example panthenol. The active ingredients are more intense, because they arrive faster, more evenly and / or in higher local concentration and / or in the treated surface, and / or the time to complete washing of these substances is prolonged. The uptake and distribution of crop protection active ingredients can be improved by hydrophobin as spreading agents. In detail, the present invention relates to the following subjects or embodiments:

(1) the use of hydrophobin, e.g. of hydrophobin of structural formula (I), as a spreading agent in a surface treatment composition;

(2) the use of hydrophobin, e.g. of hydrophobin of structural formula (I), as spreading agent according to embodiment (1) in a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, in particular a composition for the treatment of human or animal skin; (3) the use according to embodiment (1) or (2), wherein additionally at least one active ingredient is applied to the treated surface, its uptake into the surface and / or its action on the surface is improved by the presence of hydrophobin; and (4) a surface treatment composition comprising at least one hydrophobin, e.g. Hydrophobin of the structural formula (I), contains and preferably a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition or a plant protection agent.

DEFINITIONS

The following terms, definitions and abbreviations are used: common three and one letter codes for amino acids and nucleotides.

In the context of the present invention, the singular form "a (e)" also includes the respective plural, unless the context otherwise dictates. Thus, the term "a hydrophobin" may also encompass more than one hydrophobin molecule, namely, two, three, four, five, etc. hydrophobins of a variety.

"At least one" means "one or more", "at least" followed by a numerical value means "this or a higher numerical value". The term "about" or "about" in connection with a numerical value or a parameter range limit denotes a blur area in which, in the opinion of the skilled person, the technical effect of the feature concerned is still ensured. The term typically means a deviation from the specified numerical value by +/- 10%, preferably +/- 5%.

Unless otherwise stated, acids are present either as the free acid or as a partial or complete salt of the acid or as a mixture of the acid with its salt. Conversely, bases, especially amines, may be present as the free base or as a partial or complete salt of the base or as a mixture of the base with its salt.

"Native" is synonymous with "wild type" and "naturally occurring". A "naturally" occurring linkage of two polypeptides is one

Linkage as found in naturam, e.g. in a wild-type protein. A wild-type or native protein or polypeptide, unless stated otherwise, is the usually naturally occurring form of this protein / polypeptide.

"Recombinant" in the context of the present invention means "produced with the aid or result of genetic engineering methods".

A "fragment" of an amino acid sequence results from the absence of one or more consecutive amino acids at the N and / or C terminus of said original sequence.

A "homologue" of an amino acid sequence in the context of the present invention is a protein or polypeptide which differs from the original sequence by the substitution of one or more amino acids. Preferably, the Function and / or conformation of the protein is not affected by this substitution. Particularly preferably, the amino acid substitution is a conservative amino acid exchange, the exchanged amino acids are therefore replaced by amino acids with similar chemical properties, eg VaI by Ala.

More preferably, conservative amino acid exchanges occur between the members of the following groups: acidic amino acids (aspartate and glutamic acid); basic amino acids (lysine, arginine, histidine); - hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, methionine, valine, alanine); hydrophilic amino acids (serine, glycine, alanine, threonine);

Amino acids with aliphatic side chains (glycine, alanine, valine, leucine,

Isoleucine);

Amino acids with hydroxyaliphatic side chains (serine, threonine); - amino acids with amide groups in the side chain (asparagine, glutamine);

Amino acids with aromatic side chains (phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan);

Amino acids with sulfur in the side chain (cysteine, methionine).

Specific preferred conservative amino acid substitutions are:

Original amino acid substitute

AIa Ser

Arg Lys

Asn GIn; His

Asp Glu

Cys Ser

GIn Asn

Giu Asp

GIy Pro

His Asn; Gin

Hey Leu; Val

Leu He; Val

Lys Arg; Gin; Glu Met Leu; He

Phe Met; Leu; Tyr

Ser Thr

Thr Ser

Trp Tyr

Tyr Trp; Phe

Vai He; Leu

The term "isolated" means "separated or purified from the parent organism". An isolated hydrophobin is therefore no longer part of the fungus in which it occurs in nature. Recombinantly produced hydrophobins are also "isolated" hydrophobins.

The terms "hydrophilic" and "hydrophobic" have the usual meaning in the chemical jargon. A "hydrophilic" substance is therefore a substance which is preferably soluble in water and / or polar solvents. Hydrophilic substances are typically polar compounds that are either ionic, have a dipole moment, and / or contain electronegative groups. In contrast, a "hydrophobic" substance dissolves preferentially in nonpolar media and has no ionic functional groups and only weakly electronegative functional groups.

The term "non-greasy" has the same for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in the

Specialized terminology usual meaning. A "non-greasy" cream usually leaves no fat or oil layer and no sticky feeling on the skin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of hydrophobin as a spreading agent and to corresponding hydrophobin-containing compositions.

The formulation of products containing oil bodies as spreading agents, in particular of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and pesticides, is state of the art. In The object of the present invention was to develop formulations which, despite a reduced content of oil body, have very good properties, in particular good spreadability. With regard to cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, the use according to the invention of hydrophobin as spreading agent preferably also has good sensory properties, in particular a silky feel on the skin, high lubricity after the product has entered the skin and low tackiness.

The fact that hydrophobin can serve as a spreading agent instead of the usual oil bodies was surprising since hydrophobin is a protein and proteins are usually not used as spreading agents.

When used in accordance with embodiment (1), the composition has an oil body concentration less than the oil body concentration in a composition of the same ingredients but without hydrophobin and having a higher oil body content if both compositions have the same spreading behavior. When used in accordance with embodiment (1), the composition preferably has an oil body concentration of from 0 to 20% by weight, particularly preferably from 0 to 10% by weight, very particularly preferably from 0 to 5% by weight.

The spreading agent has a wetting function and causes an optimal distribution of the remaining components over a large area. It is achieved by the fact that it does not come on the treated surface to partial over-concentrations, which would be visible as spotting (spotting).

The addition of hydrophobin as spreading agent furthermore leads to an improved spreadability of a composition on the surface, for example a cosmetic composition on the skin. This distributability is essential in particular for a preparation containing active ingredient in order to ensure a good, uniform distribution of the Active ingredients on the surface, such as the skin, to ensure. Criterion for a good dispersibility is the spreadability of the hydrophobin.

The composition present in all embodiments of the invention, which contains hydrophobin as a spreading agent, is usually a liquid or semi-solid composition. "Semi-solid compositions" have the properties attributed to them in the definition given in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur., 6th ed.) However, the compositions used in the invention are not exclusively pharmaceutical or cosmetic compositions According to the invention, all compositions are those which serve to treat surfaces, but the hydrophobin is preferably used in a pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition as a spreading agent.

A composition according to the invention may be an emulsion, cream, gel, paste, ointment, body milk, lotion, foam, suspension, milk or paste. The skincare compositions according to the invention are in particular W / O or O / W emulsions. Specifically skincare according to the invention are selected from the group consisting of skin creams, day and night creams, eye creams, face creams, anti-wrinkle creams, sunscreen creams, moisturizing creams, bleaching creams, self-tanning creams, vitamin creams, skin lotions, body lotions and moisturizing lotions. Also a solution, as e.g. is used in a spray is possible. Here, an aqueous solution is preferred. Solutions are particularly preferred when using hydrophobin as a spreading agent in a plant protection product.

In a preferred aspect, the composition according to the invention, in which hydrophobin is used as spreading agent, is a hydrophilic composition, in particular a solution, a hydrophilic ointment or hydrophilic cream. For use according to the invention, the hydrophobin is advantageously contained in a composition which preferably also contains an acceptable carrier medium, depending on the field of application, for example, a cosmetically, pharmaceutically or plant protection acceptable carrier medium. The inventive composition according to embodiment (4), in which the hydrophobin according to any one of embodiments (1) to (3) is used as a spreading agent, in one aspect of the present invention is a composition in which the carrier medium is water, one or more hydrophilic solvents, or a mixture of water and one or more hydrophilic solvents. The proportion of water and / or hydrophilic solvents in the composition is preferably more than 40% by weight, particularly preferably more than 50% by weight, very particularly preferably more than 60% by weight, 70% by weight, 80% by weight, 90% by weight or 95% by weight. Particular preference is given to using exclusively water and / or hydrophilic solvents as the carrier medium. Most preferably, the only carrier medium is water.

Spreading compositions such as creams, lotions or milks, e.g. Personal care products usually contain oil bodies (synonymous: oil component), which help to optimize the spreading behavior. These oil bodies are usually contained in a total amount of more than 50% by weight, usually from 5 to 50% by weight, predominantly from 5 to 25% by weight, in conventional compositions.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, the hydrophobin is used according to the invention in compositions which contain little or no fat or oil, ie little or no oil component. Oil components are in particular oil, fats, waxes and silicone compounds, especially hydrophobic lipids such as hydrocarbons, silicone oils, fatty alcohols and fatty acid esters.

Preferably, compositions according to the invention containing hydrophobin as spreading agent contain less than 50% by weight of oil component, more preferably less than 40% by weight, very particularly preferably less than 25% by weight, 20% by weight, 15% by weight, 10% by weight. in particular less than 5% by weight, and most preferably 0% by weight of the oil component. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophobin is used as a spreading agent in a composition that is free of oil components.

In a further preferred embodiment, the hydrophobin is used in a composition which contains less than 5% by weight of emulsifiers and is particularly preferably free of emulsifiers. This avoids a disadvantage of emulsifiers: the undesirable washing out of fats from the skin occurring during skin cleansing by emulsifiers which have remained on or in the skin.

Very particular preference is given to an embodiment in which neither emulsifiers nor oil components are used for the compositions according to the invention.

In one aspect of the present invention, the hydrophobin is used as a spreading agent in a non-greasy composition, especially in a non-greasy cream or lotion, such as e.g. a skin cream.

Compositions with hydrophobin as spreading agent make do with a minimum of oil component and require no further auxiliaries for emulsion formation or for improving the spreading behavior. This is particularly suitable for sensitive skin.

The object of the present invention is for the treatment of surfaces. The inventive composition according to embodiment (4), in which the hydrophobin according to any one of embodiments (1) to (3) is used as a spreading agent, is a surface treatment agent. Surfaces to be treated according to the invention are all surfaces on which a spread of the By means of surface treatment after application to the surface is desired. This includes technical and natural surfaces.

The technical surfaces which can be treated according to the invention include surfaces made of plastic, paper, metal, lacquer, textiles, leather or other natural substances, in particular keratin-containing textiles, leather and paper. Thus, surface treatment agents according to the invention are e.g. also car polishes, cleaning agents, impregnating agents, paper treatment agents and shoe polish.

The natural surfaces which can be treated according to the invention include herbal and animal materials, in particular plant, human or animal body surfaces.

In one aspect, the preferred natural surfaces are human or animal body surfaces. Preferably, these are keratin-containing surfaces such as skin, hair, nails, horns, wool, leather, fur, fur and feathers. Particularly preferred are hair and skin. Most preferably, hydrophobin is used according to the invention as a spreading agent in a composition for the treatment of skin and the composition according to embodiment (4) is suitable for the treatment of the skin. Human skin is preferred.

In a second aspect, the preferred natural surfaces are vegetable material, especially plant surfaces, such as e.g. be wetted by these agents when pesticides are applied. In a further preferred aspect, the preferred treated surface of vegetable material is a cellulosic surface, especially paper.

Another aspect of the present invention is the use of hydrophobin for the manufacture of one of the said agents for the treatment of Surfaces, in particular a plant protection product, a cosmetic or a medicament.

For the order of the hydrophobin-containing compositions are basically all for the targeted application of a liquid or semi-solid medium on a technical or natural surface available methods and techniques into consideration. In the case of technical surfaces, these include, for example, immersion, printing, painting or spraying methods and application by means of brushes, doctor blades or corrugating rolls. In the case of natural surfaces, these are in particular spreading (creaming), lathering, spraying and brushing. The to

Applying the composition of the composition depends on the nature of the nature of the surface to be coated, or the shape of the surface having body. For the treatment of e.g. Metal or paper can be used in conventional painting processes, whereas in curved molds, spraying techniques are more suitable. For the treatment of e.g. Skin is preferably creamed or sprayed while hair is preferably treated by lathering or spraying.

The use according to embodiments (1) to (3) and the surface treatment with the composition according to embodiment (4) of the present invention require the presence of at least one hydrophobin in a composition serving for the surface treatment. This composition preferably contains further ingredients, in particular at least one substance which serves to care for the treated surface, such as panthenol, vitamins or bisabolol in cosmetic and pharmaceutical skin or hair care products. In the composition according to the invention comprising hydrophobin as spreading agent, a multiplicity of different active substances and effect substances can be formulated. If the composition is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, it preferably contains other than hydrophobin pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable ingredients. Details of these ingredients are discussed below.

In the context of all embodiments of the present invention, "hydrophobin" or "hydrophobins" are preferably polypeptides of the general formula (I)

Xn-c ⁱ -xi.so-c ^ xo-sc ^ xi.ioo-c ^ xi-ioo-c ^ xi-so-c ^ö -xo-sc ^ xi-so-c ⁸ -

Xm (I)

where X is for each of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids (Phe, Leu, Ser, Tyr, Cys, Trp, Pro, His, GIn, Arg, He Met, Thr, Asn, Lys, VaI, Ala, Asp, Glu, Gly ) can stand. The radicals X may be the same or different. In this case, the indices standing at X each represent the number of amino acids in the respective subsequence X.

The indices n and m independently represent natural numbers. In general, neither m nor n are zero, but are usually 1 or more. For example, m and n can be independently from 1 to 500. Preferably, m and n are independently from 15 to 300.

The amino acids designated C * to C ° are preferably cysteines; but they can also be replaced by other amino acids of similar space filling, preferably by alanine, serine, threonine, methionine or glycine. However, at least four, preferably at least five, particularly preferably at least six, and in particular at least seven, of the positions C * to C ° should be occupied by cysteine. Cysteines at the positions C * to C ° may either be reduced in the inventive proteins or form disulfide bridges with one another. Preferably, the intramolecular formation of CC bridges, in particular the formation of at least one, preferably two, more preferably three and most preferably four intramolecular disulfide bridges. In the above-described exchange of cysteines by amino acids of similar space filling, it is advantageous to replace those C-positions in pairs, which in the presence of Cys at the affected positions can form intramolecular disulfide bridges with one another.

If the positions indicated by X are also a cysteine, serine, alanine, glycine, methionine or threonine, the numbering of the individual C positions in the general hydrophobin formulas may change accordingly. Additional cysteines at X positions are also capable of forming disulfide bridges.

Preference is given to hydrophobins of the general formula (II)

X _n -C ¹ -X ₃ .25-C ² -X ₀ -2-C ³ -X5-50-C ⁴ -X ² -35-C ⁵ -X 2 -15-C ⁶ -XO 2-C ⁷ - X3-35-C ⁸ - X _m (II)

used for carrying out the present invention, wherein X and C and the indices standing at X have the above meaning. The indices n and m stand for natural numbers including the number zero. In general, neither m nor n are zero, but are usually 1 or more. For example, m and n can be independently from 1 to 500. Preferably, m and n are independently from 15 to 300. Further, it is preferable at least six of the residues named C are cysteine, more preferably all residues C are cysteine. Most preferably, at least a pair of these cysteines form a disulfide bridge, and the formation of more than one disulfide bridge, that is, 2, 3, or 4 of these bridges, is most preferred.

Particular preference is given to hydrophobins of the general formula (III)

X: _n -C ¹ -X ₅ .9-C ² -C ³ -Xi i.39-C ⁴ -X 2-23-C ⁵ -X5-9-C ⁶ -C ⁷ -X ₆ -18-C ⁸ -Xm (III)

used for carrying out the present invention, wherein X and C and the indices standing at X have the above meaning. In particular, the indices n and m are natural numbers from 1 to 200. In general, at least six of the radicals named C are cysteine. Most preferably, all of the C radicals are cysteine. Most preferably, at least a pair of these cysteines form a disulfide bridge, and the formation of more than one disulfide bridge, that is, 2, 3, or 4 of these bridges, is most preferred.

The groups X _n and X _m in each of the formulas (I) to (III) may be peptide sequences which are naturally linked to the other components of the hydrophobin. However, one or both groups may be peptide sequences that are not naturally linked to the other components of the hydrophobin. These are also to be understood as meaning those groups X _n and / or X _m in which a peptide sequence occurring naturally in the protein is extended by a peptide sequence which does not occur naturally in the protein. The group X _n and / or X _m may contain, wholly or in part, peptide sequences which do not naturally occur in the hydrophobin protein. The non-naturally occurring in the protein peptide sequences from which the group X _n and / or _m X can be partially or completely made are referred to hereinafter also as a fusion partner. These fusion partners are usually at least 20, preferably at least 35 amino acids long. They may, for example, be sequences from 20 to 500, preferably from 30 to 400 and particularly preferably from 35 to 100 amino acids.

The fusion partner can be selected from a variety of proteins. Only a single fusion partner can be linked to the remainder of the polypeptide, or multiple fusion partners can be linked to the remainder of the polypeptide. For example, two fusion partners at one of the X _n or X _m positions may be linked to the rest of the polypeptide, or there may be one or more fusion partners at each of the two positions.

Suitable fusion partners are disclosed, for example, in WO 2006/082251, WO 2006/082253, WO 2006/131564 and WO 2007/014897. These fusion partners are preferred fusion partners in the context of the present invention.

Particularly suitable fusion partners are proteins which occur naturally in microorganisms, preferably in prokaryotes, in particular in Escherichia coli or Bacillus subtilis. Examples of particularly suitable fusion partners are the polypeptides with the sequences yaad (SEQ ID NO: 16 in WO 2006/082251, see Figure 1 of this application, SEQ ID NO: 15 or 16 in WO 2007/014897, see Figures 9 and 10, respectively) this application), yaae (SEQ ID NO: 18 in WO 2006/082251, see Figure 2 of this application), ubiquitin and thioredoxin. Especially suitable fusion partners are yaad and truncated sequences derived therefrom, as described in the present description and in WO 2006/082251 and WO 2007/014897. Especially suitable are yaad and yaad40. An example of such a protein is yaad40-Xa-dewA-his (SEQ ID NO. '26 from WO 2007/014897) which has a yaad residue truncated to 40 amino acids.

Also suitable are fragments or homologs of said sequences which comprise only one contiguous portion, for example from 70 to 99%, preferably from 5 to 50%, and more preferably from 10 to 40% of the amino acids of said sequences, or in which individual Amino acids, or nucleotides are exchanged with respect to the said sequence, wherein the percentages in each case refers to the total number of amino acids. Preferred exchanges are described above under "Definitions".

In a further preferred embodiment, the hydrophobin - optionally in addition to one of the aforementioned fusion partners - as one of the groups X _n or X _m or as a terminal component of such a group still a so-called affinity domain (affinity tag / affmity tail) on. These are in a manner known in principle to anchor groups, which interact with certain complementary groups and can serve the easier workup and purification of the proteins. Examples of such affinity domains include (His) k, (Arg) k, (Asp) k, (Phe) k or (Cys) k

Groups, where k is generally a natural number from 1 to 10. It is preferably a (His) k group, where k is one of the numbers four to six. In this case, the group X _n and / or X _m can consist exclusively of such a affinity domain or of naturally or not naturally linked to the rest of the polypeptide amino acids or polypeptides and such affinity domain. In a further preferred embodiment, the hydrophobin is additionally modified on its polypeptide sequence, for example by glycosylation, acetylation or else by chemical cross-linking, for example with glutaric dialdehyde.

Hydrophobins, their sequences and their preparation are disclosed, for example, in WO 2006/082251, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated into the present invention. The hydrophobins described in WO 2006/082251 are preferred for carrying out the present invention. Particularly preferred hydrophobins for carrying out the present invention are the hydrophobins of the type dewA, rodA, hypA, hypB, sc3, basF, basf2, especially hydrophobins of the type dewA (in the examples in the fusion proteins "hydrophobin A" and "hydrophobin B", respectively). hypA and hypB, especially hydrophobins of the dewA type. These hydrophobins and their sequences are disclosed, for example, in WO 2006/082251 and WO 2007/014897, the contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated into the present invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the sequence names and SEQ ID numbers given below refer to sequences disclosed in WO 2006/082251. An overview table with the SEQ ID numbers from WO 2006/082251 can be found in WO 2006/082251 on page 20 (FIG. 15 of this application).

Particularly suitable according to the invention are hydrophobins selected from the group consisting of yaad-Xa-dewA-his (SEQ ID NO: 20, Figure 4 of this application), yaad-Xa-rodA-his (SEQ ID NO: 22, Figure 6 of this application) and yaad-Xa-basfl-his (SEQ ID NO: 24, Figure 8 of this application) with the polypeptide sequences given in parentheses and the nucleic acid sequences coding therefor, in particular the sequences according to SEQ ID NO: 19, 21, 23 (Figures 3, 5 7 of this application). Particular preference may be given to yaad-Xa-dewA- his (SEQ ID NO: 20 in WO 2006/082251 or SEQ ID NO: 19 and 20 in WO 2007/014897, see Figures 4 and 11 and 12 of this application) are used. Also, proteins derived from the polypeptide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 20, 22 or 24 (Figures 4, 6 or 8 of this application) by replacement, insertion or deletion of at least one, preferably up to 5% of all amino acids , more preferably up to ten, most preferably up to five amino acids result, and which still have at least 50% of the biological property of the starting proteins, are particularly preferred embodiments. The biological property of the proteins is understood here to mean the change in the contact angle described below and / or the effect on the skin and / or keratin described below.

Hydrophobins particularly suitable for practicing the present invention are further from yaad-Xa-dewA-his (SEQ ID NO: 20, Figure 4 of this application), yaad-Xa-rodA-his (SEQ ID NO: 22, Figure 6 of this application ) or yaad-Xa-basfl-hi (SEQ ID NO: 24, Figure 8 of this application) by truncation of the yaad fusion partner derived hydrophobins. Instead of the complete yaad fusion partner (SEQ ID NO: 16, Figure 1 of this application) with 294 amino acids, a shortened yaad residue can advantageously be used. The truncated residue should, however, comprise at least 20, preferably at least 35, contiguous amino acids of the yaad sequence. For example, a truncated radical having 20 to 293, preferably 25 to 250, more preferably 35 to 150 and most preferably 35 to 100 amino acids can be used. A particularly suitable protein is yaad40-xadewA-his (SEQ ID NOS: 25 and 26 in WO 2007/014897, see Figures 13 and 14 of this application), which has a reduced to 40 amino acids yaad residue. A cleavage site between the fusion partner or fusion partners and the remainder of the polypeptide can be used to cleave off the fusion partner (for example by BrCN cleavage on methionine, factor Xa, enterokinase, thrombin, TEV cleavage etc.). Particularly preferred is an Xa interface, for example an interface of the hydrophobins used in the examples.

As already indicated above, hydrophobins are surface-active polypeptides. They can be isolated from natural sources, but can also be obtained by genetic engineering. In principle, both hydrophobins of one and the other origin are suitable for carrying out the present invention.

The hydrophobins used according to the invention can be prepared chemically by known methods of peptide synthesis, for example by solid phase synthesis according to Merrifield.

Naturally occurring hydrophobins can be isolated from natural sources by suitable methods. As an example, let Wösten et. al, Eur. J Cell Bio. 63, 122-129 (1994) or WO 96/41882.

A genetic engineering process for Talaromyces thermophilus hydrophobins not containing a fusion partner is known e.g. in US 2006/0040349.

The preparation of hydrophobins containing a fusion partner can preferably be carried out by genetic engineering methods in which a nucleic acid coding for the fusion partner and a coding for the rest of the polypeptide sequence, in particular DNA sequence, are combined so that the desired protein is produced in a host organism by gene expression of the combined nucleic acid sequence. Such a production method, for example, is disclosed by WO 2006/082251 or WO 2006/082253. The fusion partners greatly facilitate the production of hydrophobins. Hydrophobins containing a fusion partner are produced in genetically engineered processes with significantly better yields than hydrophobins that do not contain a fusion partner.

The hydrophobins produced by the host organisms according to the genetic engineering process can be worked up in a manner which is known in principle and purified by means of known chromatographic methods.

In general, isolated, in particular purified, hydrophobins are used to carry out the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the simplified work-up and purification process disclosed in WO 2006/082253, pages 11/12 can be used.

For this purpose, the fermented cells are first separated from the fermentation broth, digested and the cell debris from the inclusion bodies

(inclusion bodies) separately. The latter can be done advantageously by centrifuging. Finally, the inclusion bodies, for example by acids, bases and / or detergents can be digested in a manner known in principle in order to liberate the hydrophobins. The inclusion bodies with the hydrophobins used according to the invention can generally be completely dissolved within about 1 h already using 0.1 M NaOH. The solutions obtained may, if appropriate after adjusting the desired pH, be used for carrying out this invention without further purification. The hydrophobins can also be isolated from the solutions as a solid. The isolation can preferably be carried out by means of spray granulation or spray drying, as described in WO 2006/082253, page 12. The products obtained by the simplified work-up and purification process comprise, in addition to residues of cell debris, usually about 80 to 90% by weight of proteins. Depending on the fermentation conditions, the amount of hydrophobins is generally from 30 to 80% by weight with respect to the amount of all proteins.

The isolated hydrophobin-containing products can be stored as solids.

The hydrophobins can be used as such or after cleavage and separation of the fusion partner for carrying out this invention. A

Cleavage is advantageously carried out after isolation of the inclusion bodies and their dissolution.

A biological property of the hydrophobins is the change of surface properties when a surface, e.g. a glass surface coated with hydrophobin proteins. The change in the surface properties can be determined experimentally, for example, by measuring the contact angle of a water drop before and after coating the surface with the proteins and determining the difference between the two measurements.

The implementation of contact angle measurements is known in principle to the person skilled in the art. The measurements are made, for example, at room temperature with a water drop of 5 μl and using glass slides as substrate carried out. The exact experimental conditions for an example suitable method for measuring the contact angle are shown in Example 10 of WO 2006/136607. Under the conditions mentioned there, the hydrophobins used can increase the contact angle. For example, the hydrophobins can increase the contact angle by at least 20 °, preferably at least 25 °, particularly preferably at least 30 °, at least 40 °, at least 45 °, in particular at least 50 °, in each case compared with the contact angle of a water droplet of the same size with the uncoated glass surface ,

In the context of the present invention, hydrophobin is used as spreading agent. With regard to the contact angle, this means that the hydrophobin increases the contact angle of a hydophobin-containing composition according to the invention having a surface, for example by at least 5%, preferably at least 20 °, particularly preferably at least 25 °, at least 30 °; at least 40 °; increased at least 45 °, in particular at least 50 °, in each case compared with the contact angle of an equal drop of the composition without hydrophobin with the untreated surface. Alternatively, the hydrophobin as a spreading agent increases the contact angle to the same extent when a surface is first treated with hydrophobin and then with another composition.

The present invention relates to the effect of hydrophobin on the spreading behavior of compositions, in particular of cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions. The binding of hydrophobin to the skin and hair can be tested as described in Examples 1 to 4 (identical to Examples 11 to 14 of WO 2006/136607). The spreading behavior can be tested as described in Example 5. The composition of the present invention according to embodiment (4) and the compositions resulting from the use of hydrophobin according to embodiment (1) to (3) preferably contain the hydrophobin in a concentration of 0.001 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight .%, Particularly preferably an amount of 0.05 to 3 wt.%, Most preferably from 0.1 to 1 wt.% Total hydrophobin based on the total composition. Most preferred is a hydrophobin concentration of up to 0.2% by weight, more preferably from 0.01 to 0.05% by weight, most preferably 0.025% by weight. The total hydrophobin is the total amount of hydrophobin molecules of one or more hydrophobin molecular species in the composition.

These ranges of concentration also indicate the preferred concentrations at which the hydrophobin is applied to the treated surface when used in accordance with embodiments (1) through (3).

For example, said hydrophobin concentrations are either already present in the inventive compositions according to embodiment (4) or the compositions used in the use of the hydrophobin according to embodiments (1) to (3), or they are prepared by diluting a concentrate prior to use of the composition receive.

The composition according to the invention may contain only one hydrophobin or else a combination of different hydrophobins, for example a composition comprising two or three hydrophobins. Likewise, according to embodiments (1) to (3), a hydrophobin or a combination of different hydrophobins can be used. The substances present in addition to hydrophobin in a composition according to the invention may in principle be hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one other ingredient in addition to the hydrophobin and the carrier medium in embodiments (1) to (4) is a hydrophilic ingredient, in particular a hydrophilic drug or a hydrophilic effector molecule. In particular, the hydrophobin improves its binding to the surface of the treated tissue, such as the skin, as it can render the surface more hydrophilic.

On the other hand, hydrophobic substances can penetrate a hydrophobin layer on the surface and intercalate into the deeper layers. Such stabilized hydrophobic substances remain longer on the treated tissue. Their use as ingredients in a hydrophobin-containing composition according to the invention is therefore also an aspect of the present invention. The use of at least one hydrophilic drug is preferred in all uses and compositions of the invention. The greater part of the active ingredients present is particularly preferably hydrophilic (more than 50% by weight, based on the total active ingredients), very particularly preferably all the active substances present are hydrophilic. The same applies to effector molecules.

Finally, hydrophobin can also improve the uptake and retention of drugs that are applied to the surface simultaneously with or after the hydrophobin. Hydrophobin can serve in particular as a penetration enhancer, that is to say to increase the amount of a further substance, in particular of an active substance, which penetrates into the surface per unit of time or passes through the surface. Hydrophobin as a spreading agent may further alter the surface properties of the treated surface to alter the spreading behavior of subsequently applied compositions. This is especially true in a pretreatment of the surface to be treated with a hydrophobin-containing composition prior to applying a further composition whose propagation is to be promoted on the surface by the hydrophobin as a spreading agent.

The use according to embodiments (1) to (3) can be carried out in a method comprising one or more steps. Preferably, the method comprises at least the following steps:

(a) applying at least one hydrophobin, e.g. a hydrophobin of structural formula (I), on the surface to be treated; and

(b) applying at least one further, usually non-hydrophobin-containing composition to the hydrophobin-treated surface, wherein steps (a) and (b) are carried out either simultaneously or sequentially.

If steps (a) and (b) are carried out simultaneously, only one composition is applied, which then contains both the hydrophobin and the ingredients of the further composition. This one composition can be prepared by mixing two separate compositions, one of which contains the hydrophobin.

If steps (a) and (b) are carried out successively (ie step (a) before step (b)), the hydrophobin, preferably in the form of a hydrophobin-containing composition, is first applied to the treated surface, eg the skin , This composition acts for a certain exposure time long the surface. Thereafter, another composition is applied to the surface. The application of the last-mentioned composition can be directly followed by the action time of the hydrophobin-containing composition, or further steps (ie one or more steps) are carried out between steps (a) and (b).

These further steps may be any measures used for surface treatment, as long as they neither remove the hydrophobin layer nor affect the final result of the surface treatment. Preferably, such a step is the drying of the surface after application of the hydrophobin-containing composition.

The steps of the method can also be repeated several times.

The sequence and nature of the individual steps in Example 5 is a preferred way of carrying out the process (1) according to the invention. From these steps, a selection can be made, as far as it meets the above requirements.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the hydrophobin is used as a spreading agent in a pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition. Preference is given to cosmetic compositions.

With regard to the ingredients which can be used according to the invention in addition to the hydrophobin in pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions, reference is expressly made to the online database "Coslng" of the European Union (http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/cosing/), which describes the "European Inventory of Cosmetic Raw Materials ", published by the European Community, and within this database covers in particular substances with the Function "skin conditioning", "skin protecting" and / or "smoothing", as well as the "European Inventory of Cosmetic Raw Materials" itself, published by the European Community, available from the Federal Association of German industrial and trading companies for pharmaceuticals, health products and personal care products eV, Mannheim.

In addition to the cosmetic preparations, there are a variety of medically topical compositions, which usually contain one or more pharmaceutically active substances in effective concentration. These compositions also need to be improved both in terms of their spreadability to the skin and their sensory properties. In order to distinguish between cosmetic and medical use and corresponding products, reference is made to the statutory provisions of the Federal Republic of Germany (eg Cosmetics Ordinance, Food and Medicinal Products Act).

In a preferred aspect of embodiments (1) to (4), the hydrophobin is part of an agent for treating external body surfaces, such as the skin, hair or nails, in particular for the treatment of human hair, skin or nails. The agent is particularly preferably a cream, an ointment, a lotion or an aqueous solution such as a spray. Most preferably, it is an agent for treating large areas of skin, such as a sunscreen (spray, lotion or cream), a skin care product, or an insect repellent. Or it is a pigment or dye-containing agent whose uniform distribution is desirable to avoid uneven discoloration of the skin or hair, such as a self-tanner, foundation, make-up or hair dye. Especially with such preparations, a good spreading behavior is desirable in order to facilitate a simple and uniform distribution of the preparation over the entire large skin area. In addition to the hydrophobin, a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition according to the invention generally contains at least one cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier medium and may additionally contain other ingredients customary in cosmetics or pharmaceuticals.

It has been found that the use of hydrophobin as spreading agent can have further advantageous effects in addition to the abovementioned advantages. Thus, the application of hydrophobin increases the intensity and consistency of dyeing by hair dyes (see, EP 08 16 2556.8) and can also extend the residence time of other cosmetic ingredients on hair (US 2003/0217419 Al).

In addition to hydrophobin, the cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention generally contain a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable medium and also suitable further ingredients which support the cosmetic or pharmaceutical action, in particular customary auxiliaries and additives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. These ingredients should not adversely affect the treatment outcome. Such base formulations for cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions and the ingredients suitable therefor are well known to those skilled in the art and found in cosmetic manuals, such as e.g. in Schrader, bases and prescriptions of the cosmetics, Hüthig publishing house, Heidelberg, 1989, or Umbach, cosmetics: development, production and application of cosmetic means, 2nd extended edition, 1995, Georg Thieme publishing house, or farmer, Frömming, leader, textbook of the pharmaceutical Technology, 7th edition, Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Stuttgart, 2002.

The inventive compositions are, inter alia, as cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations, for example as creams, emulsions, gels or surfactant-containing foaming solutions, such as shampoos, foam aerosols or other preparations which are suitable for use on body surfaces, in particular on skin and / or hair, ready-made.

Usual constituents of such aqueous cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparations are, for. As wetting and emulsifying agents, such as anionic, nonionic and ampholytic surfactants, eg. As fatty alcohol sulfates, alkanesulfonates, α-olefinsulfonates, Fettalkoholpolyglykolethersulfate, Ethylenoxidanlagerungs- products of fatty alcohols, fatty acids and alkylphenols, sorbitan fatty acid esters and fatty acid partial glycerides, fatty acid alkanolamides and thickeners, such as. As methyl or hydroxyethyl cellulose, starch, fatty alcohols, paraffins, fatty acids, perfume oils and skin and / or hair care additives, such as. As water-soluble cationic ampholytic and anionic polymers, protein derivatives, pantothenic acid, cholesterol, dyes, drugs such as panthenol, allantoin, pyrrolidone carboxylic acids and their salts, plant extracts and vitamins, light stabilizers, consistency regulator such as sugar esters, polyol esters or polyol, waxes such as beeswax and montan wax, complexing agents such as EDTA, NTA and phosphonic acids, swelling and penetrating substances such as glycerol, propylene glycol monoethyl ethers, carbonates, bicarbonates, guanidines, ureas and primary, secondary and tertiary phosphates, pearlescing agents such as ethylene glycol mono- and distearate,

Propellants such as propane-butane mixtures, N ₂ O, dimethyl ether, CO ₂ and air and antioxidants.

Further customary constituents and the preparation of water-containing cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in Schrader, Grundlagen und Rezepturen der Kosmetika, Huthig Buch Verlag, Heidelberg, 2nd ed., 1989, as well as in WO 2007/063024 and in WO 2006 / 136607 described as cosmetically suitable auxiliaries and additives. This is expressly referred to taken. The constituents of the cosmetic carriers are used to prepare the compositions according to the invention in amounts customary for these purposes. However, the content of oil components and / or emulsifiers is preferably reduced compared to conventional pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions, more preferably oil bodies and emulsifiers are completely absent in the compositions according to the invention.

As a rule, the cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation is used for application to the skin (topically), teeth or hair. Topical preparations are to be understood as meaning those preparations which are suitable for applying one or more active ingredients to the skin in fine distribution and preferably in a form absorbable by the skin. For this purpose, e.g. According to the invention, aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic solutions, sprays, foams, foam aerosols, ointments, aqueous gels, emulsions of the O / W or W / O type, microemulsions or cosmetic stick preparations. Preparations which contain no or only a small amount (preferably less than 20% by weight, more preferably less than 10% by weight, very preferably less than 5% by weight) of oil bodies are preferred.

The surface treatment cosmetic or pharmaceutical agent of the present invention contains a carrier. Preferred as a carrier is water, a water-based or hydrophilic liquid, a gel, an ointment, a cream, an emulsion or microemulsion, a dispersion or a mixture thereof. The mentioned carriers show good skin tolerance. Particularly advantageous are hydrophilic gels, hydrophilic ointments or hydrophilic creams.

The compositions according to the invention can be used irrespective of the type of cosmetic or pharmaceutical preparation, for. B. as a cream, gel or shampoo have a weakly acidic, neutral or alkaline pH. Preference is given to a pH range of 6 to 8. The pH is adjusted by means of customary pH adjusters, but preferably not with ammonia or other chemicals considered harmful.

In a preferred aspect, in addition to the hydrophobin, at least one cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient, whose uptake and / or effect is improved by the presence of hydrophobin, is additionally applied to the treated surface. In this preferred aspect, either the compositions according to the invention additionally contain, in addition to hydrophobin, at least one cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient whose

The absorption and / or action is improved by the presence of hydrophobin, or this cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient is applied separately (in pure form or as part of a composition).

The respective quantitative and qualitative effects are determined by the individual cosmetic or pharmaceutical agents and their field of application. In particular, other ingredients of creams, e.g. Nursing agents can be more intense by the presence of hydrophobin.

The additional cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient is preferably hydrophilic.

The erfmdungsgemäße use of hydrophobin as a spreading agent is preferably not a therapeutic treatment of the human or animal body. It is used in this regard only non-therapeutic purposes, such as

Improvement of the distribution of the hydrophobin-containing composition on the treated surface. In the context of the treatment of human skin and other human body surfaces, it is used in particular for cosmetic purposes, so it is preferably a cosmetic use. Preferred cosmetically active ingredients whose uptake is improved by hydrophobin are described in WO 2006/136607 as "effector molecules", to the corresponding passages of which reference is expressly made.

In one embodiment of the present invention, effector molecules can be used as cosmetically active ingredients in the compositions according to the invention. In the following, the term "effector molecule" refers to molecules which have a certain, predictable effect. These can be either proteinaceous molecules, such as enzymes, or else non-proteinogenic molecules, such as dyes, light stabilizers, vitamins and fatty acids, sugars or metal ion-containing compounds.

Among the sugars are glucans and especially sugars of natural origin, such as e.g. from honey or grain, preferred.

Among the proteinaceous effector molecules, enzymes, peptides and antibodies are preferred.

Among the enzymes, the following are preferred as effector molecules: oxidases, peroxidases, proteases, tyrosinases, metal-binding enzymes, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, amyloglycosidase, glucose oxidase, superoxide dismutase, photolyase, catalase.

Also suitable as proteinaceous effector molecules are hydrolysates of proteins from plant and animal sources, for example hydrolyzates of proteins of marine origin, milk or silk hydrolyzates.

Particularly suitable are defined peptides used for anti-aging, such as matrixyl (INCI name glycerol-water-butylene glycol-carbomer). Polysorbate 20-Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4), Argireline (INCI Name Aqua, Acety-Hexapeptide-3), Rigin (INCI Name Water (and) Glycerol (and) Steareth-20 (and) Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7), Eyeliss (INCI Name Water-Glycerol-Hespiridine Methyl Chalcone-Steareth-20-Dipeptide-2-Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7), Regu-Age (INCI Name Oxido Reductases-Soy Peptides-Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Extract) and Melanostatin-5 (INCI Name Aqua-dextran). Nonapetide-1).

Among the non-proteinaceous effector molecules are non-protein anti-aging agents, e.g. Caffeine, and antioxidants are preferred as effector molecules. Antioxidants, also referred to as radical scavengers, are capable of neutralizing so-called free radicals. These are aggressive compounds that arise physiologically in numerous metabolic processes and energy production. They are important for defense reactions of the body, but can also cause damage to the genetic material (DNA), the cell membranes and body whites. These damages can be premature

Tissue aging, tissue death and cancer lead. Antioxidants include carotenoids, ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E 300) as well as sodium L-ascorbate (E 301) and calcium L-ascorbate (E 302); Ascorbyl palmitate (E 304); Butylhydroxyanisole (E 320); Butylhydroxytoluene (E 321); Calcium disodium EDTA (E 385); Gallate as well as propyl gallate (E 310), octyl gallate (E 311) and dodecyl gallate (lauryl gallate) (E 312); Isoascorbic acid (E 315) as well as sodium isoascorbate (E 316); Lecithin (E 322); Lactic acid (E 270); Multiple phosphates such as diphosphates (E 450), triphosphates (E 451) and polyphosphates (E 452); Sulfur dioxide (E 220) as well as sodium sulphite (E 221), sodium bisulphite (E 222), sodium disulphite (E 223), potassium sulphite (E 224), calcium sulphite (E 226),

Calcium hydrogen sulfite (E 227) and potassium bisulfite (E 228); Selenium; Tocopherol (vitamin E, E 306) as well as alpha-tocopherol (E 307), gamma-tocopherol (E 308) and delta-tocopherol (E 309); Stannous chloride (E 512); Citric acid (E 330) as well as sodium citrate (E 331) and potassium citrate (E 332); L-glutathione, L-cysteine, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, glutathione and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. According to the invention, at least one compound selected from the above-mentioned group of antioxidants is selected as the antioxidant.

Other suitable effector molecules are carotenoids. According to the invention, carotinoids are to be understood as meaning the following compounds: beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, citranaxanthin, canthaxanthin, bixin, beta-apo-4-carotenal, beta-apo-8-carotenal, beta-apo-8 -carotinsäureester, individually or as a mixture. Preferably used carotenoids are beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, citranaxanthin and canthaxanthin.

In the context of the present invention, retinoids are vitamin A alcohol (retinol) and its derivatives such as vitamin A aldehyde (retinal), vitamin A acid (retinoic acid) and vitamin A esters (for example retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate and retinyl palmitate). The term retinoic acid encompasses both all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid. The terms retinol and retinal preferably include the all-trans compounds. The preferred retinoid used is all-trans retinol, referred to below as retinol.

Further preferred effector molecules are vitamins, especially vitamin A, and their esters.

Vitamins are essential organic compounds that are either not synthesized in the animal and human organism or only insufficiently synthesized. Based on this definition, 13 components or groups of components have been classified as vitamins. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A (retinol), vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E (tocopherols, tocotrienols) and vitamin K (phylloquinone). The water-soluble vitamins include vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal group), vitamin B 12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid and niacin.

Vitamins, provitamins and vitamin precursors from groups A, C, E and F, in particular 3,4-didehydroretinol, beta-carotene (provitamin of vitamin A),

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), as well as the palmitic acid esters, glucosides or phosphates of ascorbic acid, tocopherols, especially a-tocopherol, and its esters, e.g. the acetate, nicotinate, phosphate and succinate; vitamin F, which is understood as meaning essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.

Vitamin E is a collective term for a group of (to date) eight fat-soluble substances with antioxidant and non-antioxidant effects. Vitamin E is part of all membranes of animal cells, but is formed only by photosynthetically active organisms such as plants and cyanobacteria. Four of the eight known forms of vitamin E are called tocopherols (alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol). The other four forms of vitamin E heretofore known are tocotrienols (alpha tocotrienol, beta tocotrienol, gamma tocotrienol and delta tocotrienol). Furthermore, derivatives of these substances such as alpha-tocopheryl acetate may also be advantageous.

Vitamin A and its derivatives and provitamins advantageously show a particular skin-smoothing effect.

The vitamins, provitamins or vitamin precursors of the vitamin B group or derivatives thereof which are preferably to be used according to the invention and the derivatives of 2-furanone include, inter alia: Vitamin Bl, common name thiamin, chemical name 3 - [(4'-amino-2'-methyl-5'-pyrimidinyl) methyl] -5- (2-hydroxyethyl) -4-methylthiazolium chloride.

Vitamin B2, common name riboflavin, chemical name 7,8-dimethyl

10- (l-D-ribityl) benzo [g] pteridine-2,4 (3H, 10H) -dione. In free form riboflavin z. As in whey, other riboflavin derivatives can be isolated from bacteria and yeasts. A stereoisomer of riboflavin which is likewise suitable according to the invention is the lyxoflavin which can be isolated from fishmeal or liver and carries a D-arabityl residue instead of the D-ribityl.

Vitamin B3. Under this name, the compounds nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (niacinamide) are often performed. According to the invention, the nicotinic acid amide is preferred.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid and panthenol). Panthenol is preferably used. Suitable derivatives of panthenol according to the invention are, in particular, the esters and ethers of panthenol and also cationically derivatized panthenols. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to pantothenic acid or panthenol, too

Derivatives of 2-furanone are used. Particularly preferred derivatives are the commercially available substances dihydro-3-hydroxy-4,4-dimethyl-2 (3H) -furanone with the trivial name pantolactone (Merck), 4-hydroxymethyl-γ-butyrolactone (Merck), 3,3 -Dimethyl-2-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone (Aldrich) and 2,5-dihydro-5-methoxy-2-furanone (Merck), expressly including all stereoisomers.

Advantageously, these compounds impart moisturizing and soothing properties to the compositions of the invention. Vitamin B6, which is understood hereunder no uniform substance, but the known under the common names pyridoxine, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal derivatives of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyridin-3-ol.

Vitamin B7 (biotin), also known as vitamin H or "skin vitamin". Biotin is (3aS, 4S, 6aR) -2-oxohexahydrothienol [3,4-d] imidazole-4-valeric acid.

- Vitamin B9 and Vitamin B12.

According to the invention, suitable derivatives of vitamins (salts, esters, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids) may also be used.

Also, nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA may be suitable effector molecules, e.g. as a moisturizer.

Preferred lipophilic, oil-soluble antioxidants from this group are tocopherol and its derivatives, gallic acid esters, flavonoids and carotenoids, and butylhydroxytoluene / anisole. As water-soluble antioxidants are amino acids, eg. As tyrosine and cysteine and their derivatives and tanning agents, especially those of plant origin are preferred.

Triterpenes, in particular triterpenic acids such as ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, boswellic acid and bryonic acid are also preferred.

Further preferred effector molecules are, preferably low-dose, fruit acids (alpha hydroxy acids) such as malic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, glycolic acid. These can be used in concentrations of 0.1% to 35%, preferably 0.1% to 10%, in particular 1% to 10%, 1% to 5%, based on the total weight of the composition.

Further preferred effector molecules are urea and derivatives thereof, since they can care for the skin. These may be present in concentrations of 0.1% to 25%, preferably 0.1% to 10%, in particular 1% to 10%, 1% to 5%, based on the total weight of the composition.

Further preferred effector molecules are UV photoprotective agents, in particular the UV filters mentioned in WO 2006/136607.

Particularly preferred such further cosmetically active ingredients are keratin-care substances and skin-care substances, in particular water-soluble vitamins, antioxidants, UV filters, glucans, flavonoids, and caffeine.

From the group of water-soluble vitamins are in turn preferably one or more of the vitamins selected from the group consisting of vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin (nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin B3), pantothenic acid, pantolactone and panthenol (vitamin B5), vitamin B6 , Biotin (vitamin B7, vitamin H), vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B 12 or their derivatives. Panthenol, pantolactone, nicotinic acid amide, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and biotin are very particularly preferred according to the invention.

Of the group of UV filters, water-soluble UV filters are again preferred, Uvinul MS 40, Uvinul P 25, Uvinul DS 49 and Z-COTE being particularly preferred, and Uvinul MS 40 and P 25 being very particularly preferred.

From the group of antioxidants in turn flavonoids, phenolic acids and polyphenols are preferred. Most preferred are one or more of the cosmetically active ingredients selected from the group consisting of panthenol, ascorbic acid and its derivatives, water-soluble UV filters, caffeine.

Aqueous extracts of fruits and herbs, so in particular plant extracts, fruit extracts or herbal extracts, such. from grapes, lime, grapefruit, oats, wheat, rice, soy, goose, peppermint, etc., may also be part of the compositions of the invention.

In a further preferred aspect, the agent according to the invention is for

Surface treatment a plant protection product. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of crop protection agents containing hydrophobin as spreading agent. In this aspect of the invention, in addition to the hydrophobin additionally at least one crop protection agent whose absorption and / or effect is improved by the presence of hydrophobin, applied to the treated surface. In this preferred aspect, either the inventive compositions in addition to hydrophobin additionally contain at least one phytoprotective ingredient whose absorption and / or effect is preferably improved by the presence of hydrophobin, or this ingredient is applied separately (in pure form or as part of a composition).

The additional phytoprotective active ingredient is preferably hydrophilic. A particular embodiment of the invention relates to the formulation of pesticides for crop protection, in particular of herbicides, fungicides, nematicides, acaricides, insecticides and agents that regulate plant growth. The term pesticide here refers to at least one active ingredient selected from the group of fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, acaricides and / or safeners or growth regulators. Mixtures of pesticides from one, two or more of the above classes may also be used. One skilled in the art will be familiar with such pesticides as described, for example, in Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London.

Examples of fungicidal active compounds that can be formulated as active ingredient composition according to the invention include:

^• acylalanines such as benalaxyl, metalaxyl, ofurace, oxadixyl; Amine derivatives such as aldimorph, dodine, dodemorph, fenpropimorph, fenpropidin, guazatine, iminoctadine, spiroxamine, tridemorph;

^• Anilinopyrimidines as pyrimethanil, mepanipyrim or Cyrodinyl;

^• antibiotics such as cycloheximide, griseofulvin, kasugamycin, natamycin, polyoxin and streptomycin; Azoles such as bitertanol, bromoconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole,

Dinitroconazole, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquiconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imazalil, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, prochlorazole, prothioconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimol, triflumizole, triticonazole; 2-methoxybenzophenones, as described in EP-A 897,904 by the general formula I, e.g. metrafenone;

^• dicarboximides such as iprodione, myclozoline, procymidone, vinclozolin; ^• dithiocarbamates as ferbam, nabam, maneb, mancozeb, metam, metiram, propineb, polycarbamate, thiram, ziram, zineb;

^• heterocyclic compounds such as anilazine, benomyl, boscalid, carbendazim, carboxin, oxycarboxin, cyazofamid, dazomet, dithianon, famoxadone, fenamidone, fenarimol, fuberidazole, flutolanil, furametpyr, isoprothiolane, mepronil, nuarimol, Picobezamid, Probenazole, proquinazid, pyrifenox, pyroquilon, Quinoxyfen, Silthiofam; Thiabendazoles, thifluzamide, thiophanate-methyl, tiadinil, tricyclazoles, triforins;

^• Nitrophenylderivative as binapacryl, dinocap, dinobuton, Nitrophthal- isopropyl;

^• Phenylpyrroles as fenpiclonil and fludioxonil;

^• unclassified fungicides, such as acibenzolar-S-methyl, benthiavalicarb, carpropamid, chlorothalonil, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, diclomezine, diclocymet, diethofencarb, edifenphos, ethaboxam, fenhexamid, fentin-acetate, fenoxanil, Ferimzone, Fluazinam, Fosetyl, Fosetyl-aluminum, iprovalicarb , Hexachlorobenzene, metrafenone, pencycuron, propamocarb, phthalides, toloclofos-methyl, quintozene, zoxamide;

^• strobilurins such as those described in WO 03/075663 by the general formula I, such as azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin;

^• sulfenic acid derivatives such as captafol, captan, dichlofluanid, folpet, tolylfluanid;

^• cinnamic acid and analogs such as dimethomorph, flumetover, flumorp;

^• 6-aryl [l, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidines as described for example in WO 98/46608, WO 99/41255 or WO 03/004465 each by the general formula I (page 1 , Line 8 to page 11, line 45, as well as compounds shown in formula IA in conjunction with tables 1 to 44 and table A of WO 03/00465); ^• Amidfungizide as Cyclofenamid and (Z) -N- [α- (Cyclopropylmethoxyimino) - 2,3-difluoro-6- (difluoromethoxy) benzyl] -2-phenylacetamide.

Examples of herbicides that can be formulated as the active ingredient composition according to the invention include:

1,3,4-thiadiazoles such as buthidazoles and cyprazoles;

^• amides such allidochlor, benzoylprop, Bromobutide, Chlorthiamid, dimepiperate, dimethenamid, diphenamid, etobenzanid, flamprop-methyl, fosamine, isoxaben, metazachlor, alachlor, acetochlor, metolachlor, Monalide, Naptalame, pronamide, propanil;

^• aminophosphoric as bilanafos, buminafos, glufosinate-ammonium, glyphosate, sulfosate;

^• aminotriazoles as amitrole;

^• anilides as anilofos, mefenacet; Aryloxyalkanoic acid such as 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, Clomeprop, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, dichlorprop-P, fenoprop, fluroxypyr, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, napropamide, napro-panilide, triclopyr ;

^• benzoic acids as chloramben, dicamba;

^• benzothiadiazinones as bentazone; Bleachers such as Clomazone, Diflufenican, Fluorochloridone, Flupoxam, Fluridone, Pyrazolate, Sulcotrione;

^• carbamates such as carbetamide, chlorbufam, Chlorpro-pham, desmedipham, phenmedipham, vernolate;

^• quinoline acids such quinclorac, quinmerac; • dichloropropionic acids such as dalapon; ^• dihydrobenzofurans such as ethofumesates;

^• dihydrofuran-3-ones such as flurtamones;

^• dinitroanilines such Benefϊn, butraline, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, isopropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, Prodi amines profluralin, trifluralin, dinitrophenols as bromofenoxim, dinoseb, dinoseb-acetate, dinoterb, DNOC, Minoterb acetate;

^• diphenyl ethers such as acifluorfen-sodium, aclonifen, bifenox, chlornitrofen, difenoxuron, ethoxyfen, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, furyloxyfen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, oxyfluorfen; Dipyridyls such as cyperquat, difenzoquat-methylsulfate, diquat, paraquat-dichloride;

^• imidazoles such isocarbamid;

^• imidazolinones such as imazamethapyr, imazapyr, imazaquin, Imazethabenz-methyl, imazethapyr, imazapic, imazamox;

^• oxadiazoles as Methazole, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon; • oxiranes like Tridiphane;

^• Phenols such as bromoxynil, ioxynil;

^• phenoxyphenoxypropionic esters such as clodinafop, cyhalofop-butyl, Diclofop- methyl, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, Fenthiapropethyl, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-p-butyl, haloxyfop-ethoxy-ethyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-p-methyl , Isoxapyrifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-p-ethyl, quizalofop-tefuryl;

^Phenylacetic acids such as chlorfenac;

^• phenylpropionic acids such as chlorophenprop-methyl;

^• ppi active ingredients such as benzofenap, cinidon-ethyl, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, flumipropyn, flupropacil, pyrazoxyfen, sulfentrazone, thidiazimin;

^• pyrazoles such as Nipyraclofen; ^• pyridazines as chloridazon, maleic hydrazide, norflurazon, pyridate;

^• pyridine carboxylic acids such as clopyralid, dithiopyr, picloram, thiazopyr;

^• pyrimidyl as Pyrithiobacsäure, pyrithiobac-sodium, KIH-2023, KIH-6127;

^• sulfonamides such as flumetsulam, metosulam; Triazole carboxamides such as triazofenamide;

^• uracils such as bromacil, lenacil, terbacil;

^• Benazoline, Benfuresate, Bensulide, Benzofluor, Bentazone, Butamifos, Cafenstrole, Chlorthal-dimethyl, Cin-methylin, Dichlobenil, Endothall, Fluorbentranil, Mefluidide, Perfluidone, Piperophos, Topramezone and Prohexandione-Calcium;

^• sulfonylureas as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, flazasulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, primisulfuron, prosulfuron, Pyrazosulfuron- ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, triflusulfuron-methyl, tritosulfuron;

^• Cyclohexenone-type plant protection agents such as alloxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxydim, sethoxydim and tralkoxydim. Very particularly preferred cyclohexenone-type herbicidal active compounds are: tepraloxydim (compare AGROW, No. 243, 3.11.95, page 21, caloxydim) and 2- (l- [2- {4-

Chlorophenoxy} propyl-oxyimino] butyl) -3-hydroxy-5 - (2H-tetrahydrothiopyran-3-yl) -2-cyclohexene-1-one and of the sulfonylurea type: N - (((4-methoxy-6-) trifluoromethyl] -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) amino) carbo-nyl) -2- (trifluoromethyl) -benzenesulfonamide.

Examples of insecticides that can be formulated as a drug composition according to the invention include: ^• organophosphates such as acephate, azinphos-methyl, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, diazinon, dichlorvos, dimethylvinphos, dioxabenzofos, dicrotophos, dimethoate, disulfoton, ethion, EPN, fenitrothion, fenthion, isoxathion, malathion, methamidophos, methidathion, methyl-parathion, Mevinphos, Monocrotophos , Oxydemeton-methyl, Paraoxon, Parathion, Phenthoate, Phosalone, Phosmet, Phosphamidone, Phorate, Phoxim, Pirimiphos-methyl, Profenofos, Prothiofos, Primiphos-ethyl, Pyraclofos, Pyridaphenthion, Sulprophos, Triazophos, Trichlorfon; Tetrachlorin-phosphine, vamidothion

^• carbamates as alanycarbe, benfuracarb, bendiocarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, fenoxycarb, furathiocarb, indoxacarb, methiocarb, methomyl,

Oxamyl, pirimicarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, triazamates;

^• pyrethroids such as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cycloprothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, ethofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, silafluofen, tau-fluvalinate, tefluthrin, tralomethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, permethrin;

^• Arthropod growth regulators: a) chitin synthesis inhibitors eg benzoylureas such as chlorofluorazuron, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, teflubenzuron, triflumuron; Buprofezin, diofenolan, hexythiazox, etoxazole, clofentazine; b) ecdysone antagonists such as halofenozides, methoxyfenozides, tebufenozides; c) juvenoids such as pyriproxyfen, methoprene, fenoxycarb; d) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as spirodiclofen;

^• neonicotinoids such as flonicamid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, nithiazine, acetamiprid, thiacloprid; • Other unclassified insecticides such as abamectin, acequinocyl, acetamiprid, amitraz, azadirachtin, bensultap bifenazate, cartap, chlorfenapyr, chlordimeform, cyromazine, diafenthiuron, dinetofuran, diofenolan, emamectin, endosulfan, ethiprole, fenazaquin, fipronil, formetanate, formetanate hydrochloride, gamma HCH hydramethylnone, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, isoprocarb, metolcarb, pyridaben, pymetrozine, spinosad, tebufenpyrad, thiamethoxam, thiocyclam, XMC and xylylcarb;

^• N-phenylsemicarbazones as described in EP-A 462 456 by the general formula I, in particular compounds of general formula IV

wherein R ¹¹ and R ¹² independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, CN, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 -haloalkyl or C 1 -C 4 -haloalkoxy and R ^{13 is} C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, Cl C4-haloalkyl or C1-C4-haloalkoxy, for example compound IV, wherein R ^1! for 3-CF ₃ and R ¹² for 4-CN and R ^{13 is} 4-OCF ₃ .

Useful growth regulators are e.g. Chlormequat chloride, mepiquat chloride, prohexadione calcium or the group of gibberellins. These include e.g. the gibberellins GA1, GA3, GA4, GA5 and GA7 etc. and the corresponding exo-16,17-dihydrogibberellins and the derivatives thereof, e.g. the esters with C1-C4 carboxylic acids. According to the invention, the exo-16,17-dihydro GA5-13-acetate is preferred.

A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the use according to the invention of hydrophobin for the preparation of aqueous active compound compositions of fungicides, in particular strobilurins, azoles and

Aryltriazolo [l, 5a] pyrimidines, as described for example in WO 98/46608, WO 99/41255 or WO 03/004465 in each case by the general formula I (page 1, line 8 to page 11, line 45, and compounds shown in formula IA in Compound with Tables 1 to 44 and Table A of WO 03/00465), in particular of active compounds of the general formula V,

in which: R ^{x is} a group NR ¹⁴ R ¹⁵ , or linear or branched C 1 -C 8 -alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, OH, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy, phenyl or C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 2 -C 6 -alkyl Alkenyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 -cycloalkenyl, phenyl or naphthyl, where the four last-mentioned radicals 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from halogen, OH, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 1 -C 4 -haloalkoxy, C 1 -C 4 alkoxy and C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl;

R ¹⁴ , R ¹⁵ independently of one another are hydrogen, C 1 -C 8 -alkyl, C 1 -C 8 -haloalkyl, C 3 -C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 6 -halocycloalkyl, C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, C 4 -C 10 -alkadienyl, C 2 -C 8 -cycloalkyl Haloalkenyl, C3-C6-cycloalkenyl, C2-C8-halocycloalkenyl, C2-C8-alkynyl, C2-C8-haloalkynyl or C3-C6-cycloalkynyl,

R ¹⁴ and R ¹⁵ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, five- to eight-membered heterocyclyl which is bonded via N and one, two or three further heteroatoms from the group O, N and S as a ring member and / or one or several substituents from the group halogen, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 1 -C 6 -haloalkyl, C 2 -C 6 -alkenyl, C 2 -C 6 -haloalkenyl, C 1 -C 6 -alkoxy, C 1 -C 6 -haloalkoxy, C 3 -C 6 -alkyl, Alkenyloxy, C3-C6-haloalkenyloxy, (exo) -Cl-C6-alkylene and oxy-C1-C3-alkyleneoxy; L is selected from halo, cyano, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 alkoxy, C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy and C 1 -C 6 alkoxycarbonyl;

L ^{1 is} halogen, C ¹ -C 6 -alkyl or C ¹ -C 6 -haloalkyl and in particular fluorine or chlorine; X represents halogen, C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, cyano, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxy or C 1 -C 4 -haloalkyl and preferably represents halogen or methyl and in particular chlorine.

Examples of compounds of the formula V are

5-Chloro-7- (4-methylpiperidin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- ( 4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- (morpholin-1-yl ) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) -

[L, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (piperidin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (morpholin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [l, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Chloro-7- (isopropylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- (cyclopentylamino) -6 - (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (2,2,2-trifluoroethylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-ylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [l, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (3,3-dimethyl-2-ylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) -

[L, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Chloro-7- (cyclohexylmethyl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- (cyclohexyl) -6- ( 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [l, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (2-methylbutan-3-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Chloro-7- (3-methylpropane-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- ( 4-methylcyclohexan-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-chloro-7- (hexan-3-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Chloro-7- (2-methylbut-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine, 5-chloro-7- ( 3-methylbutano-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Chloro-7- (1-methylpropane-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- ( 4-methylpiperidin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) -

[1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- (4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2, 4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-methyl-7- (morpholin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-Methyl-7- (piperidin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- ( morpholin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-methyl-7- (isopropylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-methyl-7- (cyclopentylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-methyl-7- (2,2,2-trifluoroethylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-Methyl-7- (1,1,2-trifluoropropan-2-ylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) -

[1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- (3,3-dimethylbutan-2-ylamino) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) -

[1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-methyl-7- (cyclohexylmethyl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-ajpyrimidine,

5-Methyl-7- (cyclohexyl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- (2-methylbutane) 3-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [l, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5- a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- (3-methylpropane-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [l, 2,4] triazolo [l, 5-a] pyrimidine, 5 -Methyl-7- (4-methylcyclohexan-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine,

5-Methyl-7- (hexan-3-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- ( 2-methylbutane-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-alpha pyrimidine, 5-methyl-7- (3-methylbutane-1-yl ) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine and 5-methyl-7- (1-methylpropan-1-yl) -6- ( 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-a] pyrimidine.

Individual embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by the following examples. These examples are merely illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

Unless otherwise stated, all reagents used were of the highest possible commercially available purity and all commercially available reagents, equipment, antibodies and kits were used according to manufacturer's instructions.

The hydrophobins used in the examples were prepared according to the examples of Part A of WO 2007/014897.

The sequence of the "hydrophobin A" used in the examples is given in WO 2007/014897 under SEQ ID NO: 19 and 20 (Figures 11 and 12 of this application). This "hydrophobin A" is the hydrophobin dewA, which was fused with the protein yaad. The construct also contains an Xa interface and a His tag (yaad-Xa-dewA-his). The sequence of the "hydrophobin B" used in the examples is given in WO 2007/014897 under SEQ ID NO: 25 and 26 (Figures 13 and 14 of this application). This "hydrophobin B" is the hydrophobin dewA fused to a truncated yaad protein. Furthermore, the construct also contains an Xa interface and a His tag (yaad40-Xa-dewA-his).

Example 1: Binding to Skin 1 (qualitative)

A visual qualitative test was developed to check if hydrophobin binds to the skin.

Used solutions:

Blocking Solution: DIG Wash + Bufferset 1585762 Boehringer MA (10xLsg) diluted in TBS

TBS: 2OmM Tris; 15 mM NaCl pH 7.5

TTBS: TBS + 0.05% Tween20

The first step is the transfer of the outer keratin layer from the skin to a stable carrier. For this purpose, a transparent adhesive strip was firmly applied to depilated human skin and removed again. The test can be done directly on the

Be carried transparent adhesive strips or the adhering Keratinschicht be transferred by re-adhering to a glass slide. The proof of

Binding was carried out as follows: for incubation with the various reagents Transfer into a Falcon vessel, if necessary add ethanol for degreasing, remove ethanol and dry the slides Ih incubated at room temperature with blocking buffer

2x 5 min washed with TTBS

Ix washed for 5 min with TBS

Incubation with the hydrophobin to be tested (coupled to tag - eg His ₆ , HA etc.) or control protein in TBS / 0.05% Tween 20 during 2-

4 h at room temperature

Removal of the supernatant

3x washing with TBS

Ih at room temperature incubation with monoclonal anti-poly-histidine antibody, diluted 1: 2000 in TBS + 0.01% blocking

2x 5min washed with TTBS

Ix washed for 5 min with TBS

Ih at room temperature incubation with anti-mouse IgG alkaline

Phosphatase conjugates diluted 1: 5000 in TBS + 0.01% blocking - 2x 5 min washed with TTBS

1x 5 min washed with TBS

Addition of phosphatase substrate (NBT-BCIP; Boehringer MA tablet / 40 ml of water 2.5 min; stop: with water)

Optical detection of color precipitate with the naked eye or in the microscope. A blue color precipitate indicates that hydrophobin has bound to the skin.

The binding to nails can be determined analogously by incubating the hydrophobins to be investigated directly with the nail surface and measuring them accordingly.

Example 2: Binding to Skin 2 (Quantitative)

A quantitative test has been developed that compares hydrophobin skin binding to unspecific proteins (Figure 2). From a thawed dry piece of skin without hair (human or pig), a piece was drilled out with a 5 mm cork borer (or, in the case of a surface test, a piece of skin fitted into a falcon lid). The skin sample was then brought to a thickness of 2-3 mm to remove any existing tissue. The skin sample was then transferred to an Eppendorf tube (protein lowbind) to perform the binding detection (see also Figure 2):

Wash twice with PBS / 0.05% Tween 20 - add 1 ml of 1% BSA in PBS and incubate for 1 h

Room temperature, slight swivel movements (900 rpm).

Removal of the supernatant

Add 100 μg of hydrophobin in PBS + 0.05% Tween 20; Incubation for 2 h at room temperature and gentle rocking movements (900 rpm). - Removal of the supernatant

Wash 3 times with PBS / 0.05% Tween 20

Incubation with 1 ml monoclonal mouse anti-tag Hisβ or HA-specific antibody with peroxidase conjugate (1: 2000 in PBS /

0.05% Tween 20) [Monoclonal AntipolyHistidine Peroxidase Conjugate, produced in mouse, lyophilized powder, Sigma Company] for 2-4 h

Room temperature, slight pivoting movement (900 rpm)

Wash 3 times with PBS / 0.05% Tween 20

Addition of peroxidase substrate (ImI / Eppendorf vessel;

Composition s.u.) - Allow the reaction to go blue (about 1:30 minutes).

Stop the reaction with 100 μl 2 MH ₂ SO ₄ .

The absorbance was measured at 405 nm.

Peroxidase substrate (prepare shortly before): 0, 1 ml TMB solution (42 mM TMB in DMSO) + 10 ml substrate buffer (0.1 M sodium acetate pH 4.9) + 14.7 μl H ₂ O ₂ 3%

An increase in absorption over a sample without hydrophobin indicates that hydrophobin has bound to the skin. Background see example 3.

Similarly, the binding to mucous membrane can be measured by taking a sample of mucous membrane (for example, human oral mucosa) by means of a transparent adhesive strip, which can then be examined for binding effect.

Example 3: Binding to Hair (Quantitative)

In order to be able to detect the binding strength of the hydrophobin to hair compared to other proteins, a quantitative assay was developed (Fig. 2 in WO 2006/136607). In this test, hair was first incubated with hydrophobin and washed off excess hydrophobin. Subsequently, an antibody-peroxidase conjugate was coupled via the His-tag of the hydrophobin. Unbound antibody-peroxidase conjugate was rinsed off again. The bound antibody-peroxidase conjugate [Monoclonal AntipolyHistidine

Peroxidase Conjugate, produced in mouse, lyophilized powder, Sigma Company] can convert a colorless substrate (TMB) into a colored product which is photometrically measured at 405 nm. The amount of absorption indicates the amount of bound hydrophobin or control protein. For example, yaad from B. subtilis was chosen as the comparison protein, which likewise had a His tag for detection, as is necessary for this test. Instead of the His tag, other specific antibodies conjugated to peroxidase may also be used. 5 mg of hair (human) are cut into 5 mm long pieces and transferred into Eppendorf tubes (protein lowbind) to perform the binding detection:

Add 1 ml of ethanol for degreasing - centrifuging, removing ethanol and washing the hair with

H ₂ O

Add 1 ml of 1% BSA in PBS and incubate for 1 h at room temperature, swirl slightly. Centrifugation, removal of the supernatant - addition of the hydrophobin to be tested (coupled to tag - eg HiS ₆ , HA etc.) or control protein in 1 ml PBS / 0.05% Tween 20; Incubate for 16 h at 4 ° C (or at least 2 h at room temperature) with gentle rocking movements. Centrifugation, supernatant removal - 3x wash with PBS / 0.05% Tween 20

Incubation with 1 ml monoclonal mouse anti-tag (His6 or HA) antibody with peroxidase conjugate (1: 2000 in PBS / 0.05% Tween 20) [Monoclonal AntipolyHistidine Peroxidase Conjugate, produced in mouse, lyophilized powder, Company Sigma] for 2-4 h at room temperature, slight pivoting movement

3x wash with PBS / 0.05% Tween 20 Add peroxidase substrate (1 ml / Eppendorf tube) Allow the reaction to turn blue (about 2 minutes). Stop the reaction with 100 μl 2 MH ₂ SO ₄ . The absorbance is measured at 405 nm

Peroxidase substrate (to be applied shortly before):

0.1 ml of TMB solution (42 mM TMB in DMSO) + 10 ml of substrate buffer (0.1 M sodium acetate pH 4.9) + 14.7 μl of H ₂ O ₂ 3% strength BSA = bovine serum albumin

PBS = phosphate buffered saline

Tween 20 = polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaureate, n about 20

TMB = 3,5,3 / 5 'tetramethylbenzidine

An example of hydrophobin-based binding test on hair showed a clear superiority of the binding of hydrophobin to hair versus a substantially poorer binding of the control protein yaad:

Table 1: Quantitative Hydrophobin Activity Test Hair: 1) Buffer; 2) comparative protein yaad; 3) hydrophobin. The table shows the measured absorbance values at 405 nm.

Example 4: Derivatization of hydrophobin with dye "Alexa" and binding to hair

A coupling of dyes to hydrophobins can take place via the SH groups of the cysteines. Before coupling the dye Alexa Fluor 532, the disulfide bridges of the hydrophobin are cleaved: 1 mg hydrophobin 0.5 ml buffer (75 mM Tris pH 8.0 2.5 mM EDTA

1 mM DTT) incubation for 30 minutes at 37 ° C

Alexa Fluor 532

The coupling of the dye is carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions (Alexa 532 Protein Labeling Kit, Molecular Probes, MP-A-10236).

The coating of human hair with Alexa-coupled hydrophobin is performed as follows: Incubate 10 mg of human hair with 50 μg / ml Alexa-hydrophobin or control protein yaad or uncoupled dye Alexa 532 in buffer TBS for 24 hours at room temperature. Wash twice with TBS / 0.05% Tween 20 - Wash Ix with TBS

Wash Ix with TBS / 1% SDS

Detection in a fluorescence microscope (Fig. 4 of WO 2006/136607)

Example 5: Test for determining the spreading behavior

In this test, the spreading behavior of other substances compared to paraffin oil (thin liquid) can be assessed as a reference substance.

A glass plate (20 cm x 6.5 cm x 0.2 cm) was covered with 2 strips of filter paper (type: Pörringer 1243/90) with a length of about 17 cm and a width of 1 cm. As spacers to the glass plate wooden rods were used with a diameter of 0.2 cm. This should ensure that the measurement is not affected by contact of the filter paper with the glass plate.

Using a pipette (direct displacement), 50 μl of test substance (e.g.

Reference substance paraffin oil or the test substances Luvitol or Dimethicone, all in pure form) in the middle of the filter paper strip applied. After 5 minutes, the length of the propagation distance of the test substance on the filter paper was measured from the point of application.

reference Examples

Result of the length measurement from the starting point [mm]: paraffin oil (thin liquid) 36

Luvitol Lite (INCI: hydrogenated polyisobutene) 64

Dimethicone 22

If you take paraffin oil (thin liquid) as reference substance and as value 1, the following relative spreading values result:

Luvitol Lite: 1.78 Dimethicone: 0.61

Values above 1 correspond to a better and under 1 a poorer spreading behavior than paraffin oil (thin liquid).

Application examples with hydrophobin

In order to test an improved spreading effect by hydrophobin, the

Paper strip overnight in an aqueous 0.1% (w / v) Hydrophobin B solution at room temperature and then dried. On these treated strips, the spreading behavior of paraffin (thin liquid) is then evaluated with respect to untreated filter paper.

By carrying out this test, it was found that hydrophobin increased the running distances of the test substances mentioned above by up to 10%, thus improving their flow properties - the spreading behavior. A comparable measurement on pig skin provides correlative results such as the filter paper method.

Instead of treating the test surface with hydrophobin, 0.1% hydrophobin (final concentration) may also be added as a component to the test substance and emulsified. Even then show prolonged running distances of the test substances on the surfaces described.

Claims

1. Use of hydrophobin as spreading agent in a composition for the treatment of surfaces.

2. Use according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobin is a hydrophobin of the structural formula (I).

3. Use according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the composition has an oil body concentration of 0 to 20 wt.%.

4. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition.

5. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface is a human or animal body surface.

Use according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the surface is skin.

7. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition is a plant protection agent.

8. Use according to one or more of claims 1, 2, 3 or 6, wherein the surface is a surface of vegetable material.

Use according to claim 8, wherein the surface is a plant surface.

Use according to claim 8, wherein the surface is cellulose-containing and preferably paper.

11. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein the composition contains hydrophobin in a concentration of 0.001 to 10 wt.%.

12. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, wherein the hydrophobin is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobins of the type dewA, rodA, hypA, hypB, sc3, basfl and basf2, and preferably a hydrophobin of the type dewA, hypA or HypB is.

13. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, wherein the hydrophobin is part of a fusion protein, and wherein a fusion partner is preferably yaad (SEQ ID NO: 16 in WO 2007/014897) or a truncated yaad.

14. Use according to claim 13, wherein the hydrophobin is selected from the group consisting of yaad-Xa-dewA-his (SEQ ID NO: 20 in WO 2006/082251), yaad-Xa-rodA-his (SEQ ID NO: 22 in

WO 2006/082251), yaad-Xa-basfl-his (SEQ ID NO: 24 in WO 2006/082251) and by shortening the yaad fusion partner

(SEQ ID NO: 16 in WO 2006/082251) derived hydrophobins, in particular yaad40-Xa-dewA-his (SEQ ID NO: 26 in WO 2007/014897).

15. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, wherein additionally at least one active substance is applied to the treated surface, whose absorption into the surface and / or its action on the surface is improved by the presence of hydrophobin.

16. Use according to claim 15, wherein the active ingredient

Phytosanitary ingredient or a cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient.

17. Use according to one or more of claims 1 to 16, wherein two agents are applied to the surface to be treated: first an agent containing hydrophobin, and then another agent for treating the surface.

18. Surface treatment composition comprising at least one

A hydrophobin as defined in one or more of claims 1 to 14.

19. The composition of claim 18 which is non-greasy.

20. A composition according to claim 18 or 19, which is a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition.

21. A composition according to claim 20, additionally containing at least one cosmetically or pharmaceutically active ingredient, the

Absorption and / or effect is improved by the presence of hydrophobin.

22. A composition according to claim 18, which is a crop protection agent.

23. The composition according to claim 22, additionally containing at least one crop protection agent whose uptake and / or effect is improved by the presence of hydrophobin.