Antibacterial Composite Surface Retention on Plastic Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to effectively integrate antibacterial materials with plastic substrates, as mixing antibacterial composites with plastics can block the release of antibacterial agents, and there is a lack of technology to encapsulate antibacterial materials in microemulsions combined with dendrimers for antibacterial and anti-fungal applications on plastic surfaces.

Innovation Solution

An antibacterial composite is created by encapsulating antibacterial materials in a microemulsion and embedding them into dendrimers, with a weight ratio of 1:1-10:1, allowing the composite to be applied to plastic substrates, where the hydrophilic/hydrophobic differences retain the composite on the surface, enhancing the antibacterial effect and enabling slow release of antibacterial agents at low concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibacterial composite is mixed with plastic substrate, then antibacterial material can be applied to plastic surface, but the release of antibacterial agents is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibacterial effectVSAvoidrelease of antibacterial agents
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested structure where antibacterial agents are encapsulated within microparticles, which are then incorporated into the plastic substrate. This multi-layer nesting allows the antibacterial agents to be protected during manufacturing while maintaining controlled release capability, resolving the contradiction between application reliability and manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces microparticles as an intermediary carrier between the antibacterial agents and the plastic substrate. These microparticles facilitate the controlled release of antibacterial agents while ensuring stable integration with the plastic material, thus resolving the contradiction between effective application and manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If concentration of antibacterial composite is increased to improve efficiency, then antibacterial reaction efficiency is improved, but more material is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibacterial reaction efficiencyVSAvoidconcentration of antibacterial composite
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the antibacterial delivery system by using microparticle encapsulation with specific size distributions and release kinetics. This allows achieving high antibacterial efficiency at lower overall concentrations, as the microparticles provide controlled sustained release rather than requiring high initial concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous controlled release of antibacterial agents through the microparticle system. Instead of requiring high concentrations for immediate effect, the system maintains continuous low-level release of antibacterial agents, achieving sustained high efficiency with lower total material consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If microemulsion is used to encapsulate antibacterial materials, then solubility is increased and water-insoluble materials are stabilized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility and stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs relatively simple and cost-effective microparticle formulations that can be produced through straightforward processes. Rather than using complex advanced delivery systems, the patent utilizes accessible microparticle technologies that achieve the required solubility and stability improvements without excessive manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 antibacterial composite effectively inhibits bacterial growth on plastic substrates with improved surface concentration and antibacterial activity, achieving high inhibition of bacteria like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while being cost-effective and simple to manufacture, suitable for various industries including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Implementation Method 1

Microemulsion is a three-phase heat-resistant homogeneous liquid consisting of oil phase, water phase and surfactants

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicroemulsion: Microemulsion

Implementation Method 2

The surfactant molecules form a single layer at the interface between oil and water and the hydrophobic tail of the surfactant molecule dissolves in the oil phase and the hydrophilic head group of the surfactant dissolves in the water phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

the internal cavity is hydrophobic or non-polar and the external cavity is hydrophilic, similar to the property of surfactant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic interaction: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 4

the internal cavity is hydrophobic or non-polar and the external cavity is hydrophilic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophilic interaction: Hydrophile

Data Source

PatentEP3628155B1Antibacterial composites and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 SU
  • EP3628155B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628155B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

An antibacterial composite is disclosed, where an antibacterial material is encapsulated by a microemulsion to form the microemulsion having the antibacterial material for inhibiting harmful bacteria, and the microemulsion having the antibacterial material is combined with a dendrimer. Due to the hydrophilic/hydrophobic differences between the antibacterial composite and the plastic substrate, the antibacterial composite is retained on the surface of the plastic substrate so as to increase the surface concentration of the antibacterial composite on the plastic substrate to improve the antibacterial effect. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the antibacterial composite.