Acetic Acid–Hypochlorous Acid Compositions for Deep Wound Biofilms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfecting compositions fail to effectively penetrate deep into wounds to eradicate biofilms, disperse too quickly, have stability issues, or are abrasive, making them difficult to use and less widely available for treating microbial infections in wounds.
Innovation Solution
Compositions comprising a synergistic combination of hypochlorous acid and acetic acid, balanced to achieve greater antimicrobial activity, with hypochlorous acid treating surface biofilms and acetic acid penetrating deeper, optionally encapsulated in nanoparticles for controlled release, and applied as gels or creams to maintain wound hydration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If prior art disinfecting compositions are used, then surface disinfection is achieved, but deep penetration into wounds to eradicate biofilms is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the disinfectant composition into two functional components: hypochlorous acid for surface-level biofilm treatment and acetic acid for deep penetration and sub-surface biofilm eradication. This segmentation allows each component to target specific depths, resolving the contradiction between surface disinfection and deep penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite disinfectant system combining hypochlorous acid and acetic acid with complementary properties. Hypochlorous acid provides strong surface disinfection while acetic acid provides deep penetration capability, together forming a composite material that achieves both surface and deep tissue biofilm eradication.
2Duration of action of moving object
If disinfecting compositions are applied to treat biofilms, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but the compositions disperse too quickly to attack the biofilm long enough
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses acetic acid as an intermediary substance that remains on the wound surface and provides sustained contact time. While hypochlorous acid acts rapidly on the surface, acetic acid maintains prolonged contact with the biofilm, ensuring sufficient attack duration to eradicate deep-seated infections.
3Reliability
If stronger antimicrobial compositions are used to improve biofilm eradication, then antimicrobial activity increases, but tissue abrasion and incompatibility with topical use occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by having different components target different locations: hypochlorous acid for surface biofilms and acetic acid for deep sub-surface biofilms. Each component is used at optimized concentrations for its specific target, avoiding excessive strength that would cause tissue damage while maintaining effective biofilm eradication.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical parameters by combining hypochlorous acid with acetic acid to create a synergistic effect. This parameter change allows the composition to achieve enhanced antimicrobial activity against biofilms while the acetic acid component modulates the toxicity of hypochlorous acid, reducing tissue abrasion and improving compatibility with topical use.
4Reliability
If hypochlorous acid is used at high concentrations to improve antimicrobial activity, then biofilm treatment effectiveness increases, but toxicity and lack of analgesic effect occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potential harm of hypochlorous acid toxicity into a benefit by combining it with acetic acid. The acetic acid component acts as a modulator that reduces the toxic effects of high-concentration hypochlorous acid while simultaneously providing an analgesic effect, transforming a harmful combination into a beneficial therapeutic formulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compositions provide dual action treatment of surface and sub-surface biofilms, effectively preventing wound closure and reducing the risk of sepsis by ensuring complete disinfection of wounds, including chronic conditions like diabetic foot ulcers.
Implementation Method 1
The concentrations of HOCl and HAc are balanced in order to achieve a synergistic effect wherein the antimicrobial capabilities of the composition are greater than would be expected based on the antimicrobial properties of each component on its own
Implementation Method 2
the hypochlorous acid modulates the toxicity of the acetic acid and provides an analgesic effect, allowing stronger compositions to be applied to skin or other tissue without adverse side effects or patient discomfort
Data Source
AI summary
Disinfecting compositions containing hypochlorous acid and acetic acid are useful for treating biofilms in or on tissue, including biofilms related to wounds or other skin trauma. The compositions are useful for treating a variety of types of tissue, both on the surface on beneath the surface of tissue. Compositions are provided having various concentrations for different tissue types and infection levels. Compositions may be provided in gel form, and may include nanoparticle encapsulated molecules for controlled release.