Antimicrobial compositions, products and methods employing same

Abstract

Antimicrobial compositions that provide enhanced immediate and residual anti-viral and antibacterial efficacy against rhinovirus, rotavirus, coronovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and combinations thereof. More specifically, antimicrobial compositions comprising an organic acid or organic acid mixture and a short-chain anionic surfactant having at least one of a large head group; a branched alkyl chain and an unsaturated alkyl chain. Further, products incorporating the antimicrobial compositions of the present invention and methods of using the antimicrobial compositions and products are disclosed herein.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 600,180, filed on 20 Jun. 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 177,445, filed on 21 Jun. 2002 and application Ser. No. 10 / 263,211, filed on 2 Oct. 2002, both of which are abandoned.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to antimicrobial compositions, products incorporating said antimicrobial compositions and methods of using the present antimicrobial compositions and products. More specifically, the present invention relates to antimicrobial compositions comprising an organic acid or organic acid mixture, a specific, short-chain anionic surfactant having at least one of the following: a large, hydrophilic head group; an unsaturated structure; and / or a branched structure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Human and mammalian health is certainly impacted by the spread of microbial entities at home, school, work and in the environment g...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention addresses and resolves all of the problems associated with the employment of conventional antimicrobial compositions and / or products. Indeed, it has been surprisingly discovered that a composition incorporating an organic acid or organic acid mixture, a specific short-chain anionic surfactant having at least one of a large, hydrophilic head group; an unsaturated structure; and / or a branched structure; constitutes a viable advancement and alternative in the realm of antimicrobial formulations. The antimicrobial compositions of the present invention are adapted for direct application to human skin, without causing dryness or irritation. Moreover, the antimicrobial compositions of the present invention are designed for use with or without water, and provide immediate and residual effectiveness in either instance against a variety of viruses and bacteria, including rotavirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

[0010]Against the conventional wisdom in the art, the short chain anionic surfactants of the present invention comprise at least one of the following characteristics: a large, hydrophilic head group; an unsaturated structure; and / or a branched structure. Indeed, the surfactants of the present invention have traditionally been regarded as unsuitable for incorporation into an antimicrobial composition, based on the belief that such surfactants possess relatively low surface activity. Contrary to the traditional wisdom, it has been surprisingly discovered that the surfactants of the present invention deliver enhanced antimicrobial efficacy against rotavirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus, Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria. More importantly, the large head group, unsaturated structure and / or branched structure of the present surfactants reduces or limits their tendency to penetrate skin tissue, while maximizing the immediate and residual effectiveness of the antimicrobial compositions in which they are incorporated. Further, the anionic surfactants of the present invention exhibit stability in an aqueous product at a low pH, are compatible with cationic antimicrobial agents and convey strong residual antimicrobial activity when the substrate on which they are applied is later inoculated with virus or bacteria.

[0011]Thus, in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, antimicrobial compositions, comprising an organic acid or organic acid mixture, a specific, short-chain anionic surfactant mixture are disclosed. Against the conventional wisdom in the art, suitable anionic surfactants for use in the context of the present invention comprise a chain length of from about C4 to C12 and at least one of the following characteristics: a large, hydrophilic head group; an unsaturated structure; and / or a branched structure. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the antimicrobial compositions disclosed herein optionally further comprise a calcium ion scavenger and / or an anti-foam agent. The compositions of the present invention are adapted to provide immediate and residual kill of numerous bacteria and viruses, with or without the use of water and without causing dryness or irritation to skin.

[0012]In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, products incorporating the antimicrobial compositions of the present invention are disclosed. Such products may take an assortment of shapes and forms depending on the precise application for which deployment of the product is desired and the needs and / or abilities of the formulator. In any instance, the products of the present invention are effective in eradicating numerous bacteria and viruses, both immediately and residually and are adapted to prevent dryness and / or irritation to mammalian skin tissue.

[0013]In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, methods of using the antimicrobial compositions and products of the present invention are disclosed. The methods of the present invention are adapted to achieve immediate and / or residual kill of a variety of viruses and bacteria, without irritating the skin and with or without the use of water.

Problems solved by technology

However, conventional anionic surfactants have been associated with low solubility under acidic conditions, poor compatibility with cationic antimicrobial agents, slow dissolution kinetics and limited residual antimicrobial performance.