Antimicrobial compositions and related methods of use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biocides used for controlling molds and plant diseases are often toxic to humans and wildlife, leading to environmental and health concerns, prompting the need for natural or biomimetic compositions with comparable antimicrobial effects.
Innovation Solution
Development of a system utilizing a Muscodor species, specifically M. crispans, and its volatile by-products, absent naphthalene and azulene derivatives, in conjunction with a non-indigenous medium or substrate, to prevent and eradicate microbial infections, along with biomimetic compositions comprising food and flavor compounds recognized as safe for human consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional biocides and pesticides are used to control molds and plant diseases, then effective antimicrobial control is achieved, but human toxicity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of biocides by using volatile organic compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters) produced by Muscodor crispans instead of conventional toxic biocides. This parameter change maintains antimicrobial effectiveness while eliminating human toxicity and environmental harm associated with traditional biocides.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a biomimetic composition that copies the antimicrobial mechanism of natural Muscodor crispans volatile by-products. By synthesizing and using similar volatile organic compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters) that mimic the natural fungus-produced compounds, the invention achieves comparable antimicrobial control without the toxic side effects of conventional biocides.
2Reliability
If Muscodor species volatile by-products are used for antimicrobial control, then natural and effective protection is achieved, but toxic naphthalene and azulene derivatives are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates only the safe and effective volatile organic compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters) produced by Muscodor crispans, while deliberately excluding the toxic naphthalene and azulene derivatives. This selective extraction process removes harmful components while retaining the antimicrobial-active compounds, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the situation by recognizing that while Muscodor crispans produces both harmful (naphthalene, azulene) and beneficial (volatile organic compounds) substances, the harmful components can be selectively removed or not produced under controlled conditions. The beneficial volatile by-products are then utilized alone, transforming the mixed-output situation into a purely beneficial application.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biomimetic compositions are developed to replace natural Muscodor by-products, then safety for human use is improved, but composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex Muscodor crispans volatile by-product mixture into distinct functional components (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters) with specific carbon chain lengths (C2-C8). By categorizing and formulating these segmented components in specific ratios, the invention creates safe biomimetic compositions that are easier to control and standardize while maintaining antimicrobial effectiveness.
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 system effectively inhibits and kills microbial pathogens, including drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and extends the shelf life of food and plant products by preventing fungal growth, while being safe for human use and the environment.
Implementation Method 1
The volatile by-products exhibit antibiotic or insecticidal character and effectively inhibit and kill microbial pathogens, including drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Implementation Method 2
extends the shelf life of food and plant products by preventing fungal growth
Data Source
AI summary
Antimicrobial compositions comprising one or more compound components generally recognized as safe for human consumption, and related methods of use, such compositions and methods as can be employed in a wide range of agricultural, industrial, building, pharmaceutical and/or personal care products and applications.