Calcium Fluoride Biocide Composition for Persistent Antimicrobial Action
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fast-acting antiseptics and disinfectants, including those based on calcium fluoride, often fail to prevent microbial repopulation on surfaces like skin due to their toxic components and lack of long-term stability, necessitating the development of non-toxic, persistent, and effective biocide compositions for various applications.
Innovation Solution
A biocide composition comprising calcium fluoride, salicylic acid esters, specific organic acids, a cationic polymer such as poly(hexamethylen)guanidine, and optionally alginate and xanthan gum, which provides antimicrobial activity without ethanol, propanol, or hydrogen peroxide, ensuring fast action and long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional fast-acting antiseptics (alcohols, iodine, chlorides) are used, then fast antimicrobial action is achieved, but persistence and prevention of microbial repopulation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating calcium fluoride particles into the antiseptic composition before application. These particles adhere to the skin surface in advance and serve as a reservoir that releases fluorine ions over time, providing both immediate and prolonged antimicrobial protection without requiring repeated applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the antiseptic mechanism by using fluorine ion release from calcium fluoride instead of traditional alcohol or iodine mechanisms. This parameter change enables the antiseptic to maintain effective concentrations over extended periods while preventing microbial repopulation through a different mode of action that does not disrupt natural skin protection.
2Productivity
If toxic components (hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide) are added to amplify fast antiseptic action, then fast antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but toxicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by replacing toxic oxidizing agents (hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide) with fluorine ions released from calcium fluoride. This substitution maintains high antimicrobial efficacy while eliminating the toxicity associated with conventional fast-acting antiseptics, creating a safe yet effective composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fluorine ions as an intermediary substance that mediates between the calcium fluoride reservoir and the microorganisms. The fluorine ions provide the antimicrobial action needed to match or exceed the efficacy of toxic agents while being non-toxic to human tissue, thus serving as a safe intermediary that achieves the same productivity without harmful effects.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If calcium fluoride is used as persistent component, then long-term persistence is achieved, but fast antimicrobial action is insufficient without additional toxic agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two functional components into a single composition: calcium fluoride particles that provide long-term persistence and fluorine ion release, combined with a cationic polymer that enhances both persistence and fast antimicrobial action. This merging allows the composition to achieve both prolonged residence time on the skin and rapid microbicidal effect without requiring separate applications of different agents.
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 composition exhibits strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeasts, and fungal spores, maintaining effectiveness for at least 3 years without toxic byproducts, suitable for medical, cosmetic, and non-medical applications, including surface disinfection and construction materials.
Implementation Method 1
the mineral calcium fluoride acts as the persistent component which sticks to the skin or surface for long periods and releases its antimicrobial acting fluorine ions only on 'demand', such as in a warm and moist environment
Implementation Method 2
the presence of long-chain polymers (MW typically 40.000 or more) which provide a porous sponge-like structure, protecting the underlying and securing the reservoir against mechanical abrasion and wash-off
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to improved biocide compositions based on calcium fluoride which are suitable for a broad range of applications including surface disinfectants, additives to construction materials and paints, antiseptic medical and cosmetic formulations, as a crop protection product and as a fast-acting disinfectant. The biocide composition of the invention comprise at least the following components: a) calcium fluoride b) a salicylic acid ester c) at least one organic acid selected from the group comprising or consisting of cinnamic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillic acid, ascorbic acid, abscisic acid, mandelic acid, mevalonic acid, aspartic acid, salicylic acid, fumaric acid, isocitric acid, gallic acid, quinic acid, boswellic acid, carnosic acid, chlorogene acid, caffeic acid, other hydroxycarboxylic acids, or a salt or ester thereof, or thymol or citronellal. d) a cationic polymer and/or natural sea salt or a synthetic equivalent thereof and/or a cationic tenside, e) water. In preferred embodiments, the cationic polymer is selected from the group comprising or consisting of a poly(alkylene)guanidin or -biguanidin, or octenidin, and the organic acid is cinnamic acid and/or quinic acid.