Biguanide Disinfectant Composition for Low-Toxicity Spore Killing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disinfectants are ineffective against spore-forming organisms like Clostridium difficile, and existing sporicidal agents are toxic, unstable, or require specific conditions, making them unsuitable for frequent use or application to surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising polymeric biguanides and quaternary monoammonium salts, along with polyorganosiloxanes, which are synergistically active against spores, providing long-lasting sporicidal efficacy without the toxicity and instability issues of traditional sporicidal agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sporicidal agents (hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, peracetic acid) are used, then sporicidal activity is achieved, but toxicity increases and suitability for frequent use decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesporicidal activityVSAvoidtoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polymeric biguanides (PHMB or PAPB) with quaternary monoammonium salts to create a composite disinfectant system. This composite approach enables sporicidal activity against C. difficile while maintaining lower toxicity compared to conventional agents like hydrogen peroxide or formaldehyde, resolving the contradiction between efficacy and safety for frequent use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical parameters by using polymeric biguanides with specific molecular weights (1,000-10,000 Da) and combining them with quaternary monoammonium salts at optimized concentrations (0.1-5% w/v). These parameter modifications achieve sporicidal activity through a different mechanism than conventional agents, reducing toxicity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional sporicidal agents are used, then sporicidal activity is achieved, but stability under varying conditions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesporicidal activityVSAvoidstability under varying conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The composite system of polymeric biguanides and quaternary monoammonium salts provides enhanced stability under varying environmental conditions compared to single-agent sporicides. The synergistic interaction between the two components maintains sporicidal activity across a broader range of pH and temperature conditions, resolving the stability contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If conventional sporicidal agents are used, then sporicidal activity is achieved, but duration of action decreases due to intolerance of dirty conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesporicidal activityVSAvoidduration of sporicidal activity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the chemical parameters by using polymeric biguanides with optimized molecular weights and combining them with quaternary monoammonium salts, creating a system that tolerates organic matter and dirty conditions better than conventional agents. This enables prolonged sporicidal activity in real-world hospital environments where surfaces are rarely perfectly clean.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If polymeric biguanides are used alone, then low toxicity is achieved, but sporicidal activity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetoxicityVSAvoidsporicidal activity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges polymeric biguanides with quaternary monoammonium salts in a combined formulation. The polymeric biguanide component provides low toxicity and membrane-disrupting activity, while the quaternary monoammonium salt component contributes to spore cell wall disruption. Together, they achieve sporicidal activity that neither component achieves alone, while maintaining the low toxicity profile of the polymeric biguanide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

This composite disinfectant system combines two biocidal agents with complementary mechanisms of action. The polymeric biguanide disrupts microbial membranes while the quaternary monoammonium salt targets spore structures, creating a synergistic effect that achieves sporicidal activity without the high toxicity of conventional single-agent sporicides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2400837B9Disinfectant composition comprising a biguanide compound

Publication Date: 2017.04.05 BIO TECHNICS

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for killing spores from a surface or a material, comprising applying an effective amount of a biocidal composition which comprises one or more biguanide polymers, and one or more further active agents on said surface or material, characterised in that the or each further active agent is, when taken alone, sporicidally inactive. Compositions comprising polymeric biguanides and one or more further biocidal agents and, optionally, a polyorganosiloxane, have been found to be effective as a sporicidal agent and are particularly effective against the spores of C.difficile. The compositions may be used in industry, in domestic applications and are particularly suitable for use in hospital due to their low toxicity. Furthermore, the method may comprise impregnating a fabric to thereby provide long lasting sporicidal activity thereto.