METHOD OF DETACHING MICRO-FLORA AND COMPOSITIONS THEREFOR

Abstract: Method of controlling micro-organisms adhered to surfaces in biological material, by administering substances which alter the water-structure binding capacity of surfaces and phase-boundaries. To remove micro-organisms from the surfaces, organic and inorganic salts are used in combination with organic polymers, preferably biopolymers, with positively and/or negatively charged groups such as amino groups and carboxyl groups. The invention also relates to compositions and preparations for performing the method, e.g. ointments, pastes and washing liquids containing the above-mentioned substances, as well as toothpaste containing one or more organic or inorganic salts together with the above-mentioned polymers.

Description: Method of detaching micro-flora and compositions therefor. The present invention relates to a method of greatly in¬ creasing the detachment of micro-flora adhered to various types of boundary surfaces/inter-phases by the addition of various combinations of polymers, preferably biopolymers, to treatment solutions. The invention also relates to preparations for achieving the above-mentioned result- In our earlier patent application (Pat.app.8206250-6) we were able to establish that bacteria irreversibly adhered to various boundary surfaces can be made to detach them¬ selves to a greater or lesser extent simply due to the action of concentrated salt solutions. This is illustrated by, but not limited to the following experiments in a model system. A number of glass tubes, all the same size, were immersed in a suspension of bacteria marked with a radioactive iso¬ tope (tritium) and the bacteria were allowed to adhere over a period of 30 minutes. The glass tubes were then removed one by one and rinsed by repeated dipping (30 times) in a buffer solution in order to remove re- versibly bound bacteria. Only the irreversibly bound bac¬ teria then remained on the glass tube. The glass tube was then immersed in a salt solution for 5 minutes. After rinsing, the quantity of bacteria adhered to the tube was determined by measuring . the radiation in a liquid scin- tillator. A comparison of the various glass tubes which had been immersed in salt solution of various concentrations, with control tubes which had undergone the same treatment with the exception of immersion in the salt solution, enabled assessment of the effect of the salt solution on the ir¬ reversibly bound bacteria. The table below and the accom¬ panying figures show the effects of the various salts on detachment of the irreversibly adhered bacteria, expressed as a percentage of the quantity of irreversibly adhered bacteria before the salt treatment. The concentrations of the solutions are in multiples of a specific critical con¬ centration (C) of the basic solution. Of the salts tested in this series of experiments, magne¬ sium sulphate (MgS0 4 ) gave the strongest detaching effect. However, magnesium chloride (MgCl 2 ) and ammo¬ nium acetate (NH.Ac) solutions also gave good results, whereas ammonium sulphate H H.J-SO^) solutions gave a slightly different pattern. Several other compounds and salts have been tested besides those mentioned in this series of experiments, and the results were similar. TABLE Detachment percentage of irreversibly adhered bacteria after treatment. The number of bacteria irreversibly adhered to the glass tube was 3.0 x 10 before treatment. Salt concentration in multiples of basic solution C Salts 0.05 x C 0.1 x C 0.2 x C 0.5 x C MgS0 4 41 54 28 28 MgCl-, 20 40 21 25 NH4.Acetate 8.5 41 17 24 ( H 4 ) 2 S0 4 31 36 44 28 Figure 1 shows the detachment of irreversibly adhered bac¬ teria after treatment with salt solutions of various con¬ centrations. The salt concentration is expressed in mul¬ tiples of the basic solution C. The number of ir¬ reversibly adhered bacteria was ca. 3.0 x 10 per glass tube before treatment. The curves are designated as follows: # MgS0 4 0 MgCl 2 □ NH 4 Acetate (NH 4 ) 2 S0 4 Besides this, the detachment effect can be illustrated by additional non-limiting experiments in model systems. 1. A culture of radioactively marked bacteria was attached to hydroxyl apatite beads, either coated or not with parotis saliva (saliva from the salivary gland) . The reversibly bound bacteria were then removed by rinsing with a buffer solution so that only irreversibly bound bacteria remained on the hydroxyl apatite beads. These bacteria-coated hydroxyl apatite beads were then exposed to various salt solutions of varying concentration and with the addition of biopoly ers. After rinsing, the quantity of bacteria remaining was then determined by measuring the radiation remaining on the hydroxyl apatite beads in a liquid scintillator. A comparison of the bacteria from the same quantity of hydroxyl apatite which had undergone the same treatment without having been exposed to salt solution or bio¬ polymers enabled assessment of the detachment effect. The result of a number of such detachment experiments on hydroxyl apatite can be found in Figure 2. It can be seen here that the detachment effect of magne¬ sium sulphate on saliva-coated hydroxyl apatite is in the same order of magnitude as described in the example per- formed earlier. Furthermore, the addition of one (1) biopolymer (aminated starch) has substantially no in¬ fluence on the maximal detachment. 2. Using the model system with glass tubes described above, .further experiments were performed to determine the de¬ tachment effect of magnesium sulphate solutions with the addition of biopolymers. The results obtained are shown in Figure 3. It can be seen here that the detachment effect is not essentially improved by the presence of one (1) of the biopolymers mentioned. With higher concentrations of magnesium sulphate, the addition of two of the polymers produces a more pro¬ nounced detachment effect than with only magnesium sul¬ phate. Further detachment experiments were carried out using glass tubes as model system. The detachment effect of magnesium sulphate solutions with the addition of two (2) biopolymers to the detachment solution was investigated. Quite surprisingly it was found that several of the bio¬ polymer combinations gave considerably improved detach¬ ment effects. The result of these experiments can be seen in Figure 4. It can be seen here that all the polymer combinations used produce quite a different effect pattern from that obtained previously. It can also be seen that xanthane in combination with other polymers produces a strongly increased detachment effect. The maximum detachment was approximately 90 %. The method and preparation of the present invention can be utilized for the removal of micro-organisms from various types of boundary surfaces/inter-phases, e.g. in toothpaste or mouthwashes and in cleansing liquids for wounds. 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 - Salt c oncentration M Figure 1 The detachment as a percentage of Streptococcus mutans bacteria bound irreversibly to glass, in relation to various salts at various concentrations. MgSO. MgCl 2 D ( H 4 ) 2 S0 4 NH 4 Ac. 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 ■ Mg SO^ Cone. M Figure 2 The detachment as a percentage of Streptococcus . mutans bacteria bound irreversibly to hydroxyl apatite, in rela¬ tion to various gS0 4 concentrations. Δ Hydroxyl apatite beads O Hydroxyl apatite beads coated in saliva O Hydroxyl apatite beads coated in saliva and with the addition of 1% amine-starch (CATO 160) to the salt solution. 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1.40 • Mg SO^ Cone. M Figure 3 The detachment as a percentage of Streptococcus mutans bacteria bound irreversibly to glass, in relation to various MgSO 4 concentrations with the addition of various biopolymers. O Carboxymethyl cellulose 1%, V Xanthane 1%, D Aminated starch K 68 1%, Δ Aminated starch CATO 160 1% 0.200A00.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 1 0 Mg S0 Cone. M

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of controlling the detachment of micro¬ organisms adhered to surfaces and phase boundaries, inter-phases of all types, including inert surfaces, but also surfaces and phase-boundaries, inter-phases in biological material, characterised by administering organic and inorganic salts together with one or more organic polymers, preferably biopolymers. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterised by ad¬ ministering organic- and/or inorganic salts for the removal of micro-organisms, the salts being selected from the group including magnesium, aluminium, ammo¬ nium, beryllium, lithium and calcium salts, either individually or in combination, and administered to¬ gether with one or more polymers, preferably bio¬ polymers. 3. A method according to claims 1-2, characterised in that the polymers contain positively and/or negatively charged groups. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the polymers contain amino groups. 5. A method according to claim 4, characterised in that the polymer used is an amine-starch. 6. A method according to claim 3 , characterised in that the polymers contain carboxyl groups. 7. A method according to claim 6, characterised in that the polymer used is xanthane. Figure 4 The detachment as a percentage of Streptococcus mutans bacteria bound irreversibly to glass, in relation to various MgSO. concentrations with the addition of various combinations of two biopolymers. 0 Xanthane 0.5% and Aminated starch K 68 0.5%, © Xanthane 0.5% and Aminated starch CATO 160 0.5% Φ Xanthane 0.5% and Carboxymethyl cellulose 0.5% B Carboxymethyl cellulose 0.5% and Aminated starch K 68 0.5%, D Carboxymethyl cellulose 0.5% and Aminated starch CATO 160 0.5%, ^ Aminated starch K 68 0.5% and CATO 160 0.5% ^ Cellulose 0.5% and Aminated starch K 68 0.5%, 8. A method according to claim 6, characterised in that the polymer used is carboxymethyl cellulose. 9. A method according to claim 3, characterised in that polymers containing both positively and negatively charged groups in the same polymer are used. 10. A method according to claims 1-9, characterised in that two or more polymers are used in combination, preferably one or more polymers containing a positively charged group in combination with one or more polymers containing a negatively charged group. 11. Compositions or preparations for performing the method according to claim 1, characterised in that the contain organic and/or inorganic salts selected from the group including lithium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, alu i- nium, and ammonium salts, either individually or in com- bination, together with one or more polymers, preferably biopolymers. 12 . Compositions or preparations according to claim 11, charaterised in that they contain polymers with positively and/or negatively charged groups, preferably amino groups and/or carboxyl groups. 13. Compositions or preparations according to claim 12, characterised in that they contain xanthane in com¬ bination with aminated starch and/or carboxymethyl eel- lulose. 14. Compositions or preparations according to claims 10-12, characterised in that they are in the form of ointments, pastes such as toothpaste, or cleansing liquids.

Inventors: KJELLEBERG STAFFAN, ROENNOW PETER, KJELLEBERG, STAFFAN, ROENNOW, PETER
Applicants: CHEMICAL DYNAMICS SWEDEN AB
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A01N25
IPC codes: A01N25, A01N59, A01N61, A61K8, A61K9, A61K31, A61K33, A61Q11