Stable Silver Antimicrobial Composition via Amine Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antimicrobial compositions based on metal ions, such as silver, copper, and zinc, face stability issues when formulated as liquid, non-particulate solutions, making them difficult to incorporate into materials and maintain efficacy over time.
Innovation Solution
A stable formulation is achieved by mixing a soluble silver salt with a nitrogen-containing base and water, followed by a polymer containing metal ion ligands like vinyl imidazole and vinyl pyridine, with specific attention to the order of addition to prevent precipitation, and optionally adding additional water and antimicrobial agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid, non-particulate formulations of metal antimicrobials are used, then ease of incorporation into materials is improved, but stability and shelf life deteriorate due to precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an amine-containing compound as an intermediary stabilizing agent that mediates between the metal ion and polymer. This intermediary forms a complex with the metal ion that prevents precipitation while maintaining solubility, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of incorporation and stability. The amine-containing compound acts as a bridge that keeps the formulation stable during storage yet allows effective metal-polymer interaction when applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the formulation by introducing amine-containing compounds with specific molecular weights and functional groups. This parameter change transforms the unstable metal-polymer interaction into a stable ternary complex system, maintaining solubility and preventing precipitation while preserving antimicrobial efficacy. The specific selection of amine compounds (primary, secondary, or tertiary) and their concentrations optimizes both stability and ease of application.
2Stability of the object's composition
If inorganic particulate metal ion formulations are used, then stability is improved, but ease of incorporation into materials deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the physical state parameter from particulate to dissolved by introducing amine-containing compounds. This parameter change converts insoluble or difficult-to-incorporate metal ion particulates into soluble complexed forms that maintain stability through the amine-metal-polymer ternary complex, thus achieving both stability and ease of incorporation simultaneously.
3Reliability
If metal complexed with polymer formulations are used, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but stability over extended periods deteriorates due to precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The amine-containing compound serves as an intermediary that maintains the metal-polymer complex in solution over extended periods. It prevents the direct metal-polymer interaction that leads to precipitation while still allowing sufficient complexation for antimicrobial activity. The intermediary stabilizes the formulation during storage but permits effective metal ion release or polymer-metal interaction when the formulation is applied, thus maintaining both stability and efficacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by adding amine-containing compounds that change the solubility and stability parameters of the metal-polymer complex. This parameter modification allows the formulation to remain stable over extended storage periods while preserving the antimicrobial efficacy through maintained metal ion availability or polymer-metal complex integrity.
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
This method produces a stable antimicrobial composition that maintains its effectiveness without precipitation, allowing for easy incorporation into materials and extended shelf life, while also enabling the inclusion of additional antimicrobial agents.
Implementation Method 1
providing a solution of: a) a salt of a metal, wherein the metal is silver; b) a nitrogen containing base selected from the group consisting of a primary amine selected from the group consisting of methylamine, monoethanolamine, and mixtures thereof, or ammonium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof
Implementation Method 2
providing a solution of: a) a salt of a metal, wherein the metal is silver; b) a nitrogen containing base; and c) water
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a stable antibacterial composition.