Antimicrobial Composition Using Silver Ions, Surfactant and EDTA
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial compositions for wound care face challenges in achieving effective antimicrobial activity without causing skin irritation or retarding wound healing, as high levels of antimicrobial agents can lead to side effects like cell toxicity and biofilm resistance, especially when treating bacteria in biofilm form.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a quaternary cationic surfactant with antimicrobial metal ions, such as silver, in combination with EDTA at specific concentrations, to enhance antimicrobial efficacy while maintaining a pH range of 4 to 6, which improves the speed and effectiveness of antimicrobial action without increasing the risk of side effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high levels of antimicrobial agents are used to achieve effective antimicrobial activity, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but cell toxicity and skin irritation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by introducing a quaternary cationic surfactant in combination with silver ions and EDTA. This surfactant enhances the antimicrobial activity of silver ions, allowing effective antimicrobial action at lower silver concentrations, thereby reducing cell toxicity while maintaining efficacy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite antimicrobial system combining three components: silver ions (antimicrobial metal ion), quaternary cationic surfactant (enhancer), and EDTA (chelating agent). This composite approach synergistically enhances antimicrobial efficacy while allowing reduced levels of individual components, particularly silver, to minimize toxicity
2Reliability
If high levels of antimicrobial agents are used to treat biofilms, then antimicrobial activity is improved, but skin irritation and hypersensitivity reactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The quaternary cationic surfactant changes the mode of action against biofilms by disrupting the biofilm matrix and enhancing silver ion penetration. This allows effective biofilm treatment at lower antimicrobial agent concentrations, reducing skin irritation and hypersensitivity reactions
Solution Approach 2:
The quaternary cationic surfactant acts as an intermediary that facilitates the action of silver ions against biofilms. It disrupts the biofilm protective matrix and enhances silver ion delivery to the microbial targets, enabling effective biofilm treatment without requiring high levels of silver that would cause skin irritation
3Reliability
If high levels of antimicrobial agents are used to ensure effectiveness, then antimicrobial performance is improved, but wound healing is retarded
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction of quaternary cationic surfactant changes the kinetic parameters of antimicrobial action, increasing the speed at which silver ions work against microbes. This enhanced speed allows effective antimicrobial performance with lower silver levels, reducing the retarding effect on wound healing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters by using lower levels of silver ions (0.01-10% by weight) in combination with quaternary cationic surfactant (0.025% or more by weight). This parameter optimization maintains effective antimicrobial performance while minimizing the retarding effect on wound healing that occurs with high silver concentrations
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 combination of quaternary cationic surfactants and EDTA with antimicrobial metal ions significantly enhances antimicrobial activity, effectively targeting biofilms and reducing microbial growth, thereby preventing infections and promoting wound healing without adverse side effects.
Implementation Method 1
the presence of the quaternary cationic surfactant enhances the effect of the antimicrobial metal ion so that the performance of the antimicrobial metal ion is improved
Implementation Method 2
ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA) present as the di-, tri- or tetra-basic salts of EDTA
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1b
AI summary
The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition suitable for use on skin and wounds comprising a source of an antimicrobial metal ion and a quaternary cationic surfactant.