Anti-microbial compositions

Abstract

An anti-microbial composition comprising: (i) a C 1 to C 4 monohydric alcohol carrier fluid, present at a level of at least 25% by weight of the total composition (excluding any volatile propellant present); (ii) an iron (III) chelator having an iron (III) binding constant of 10 23 or greater; (iii) a solubility promoter selected from the group consisting of: (a) water; (b) an organic amine; (c) a polyhydric alcohol or derivative thereof; (d) a volatile propellant having fluorine-carbon or oxygen-carbon bonds; (e) any combination of (a) to (d). The transitional metal chelator serves as an active anti-microbial, whilst the carrier fluid-solubility promoter mixture enables the formation of a stable composition. Preferred compositions are homogeneous solutions.

1 . An anti-microbial composition comprising: 
 (i) a C 1  to C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid, present at a level of at least 25% by weight of the total composition (excluding any volatile propellant present);    (ii) an iron (III) chelator having an iron (III) binding constant of 10 23  or greater;    (iii) a solubility promoter selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) water;  
 (b) an organic amine;  
 (c) a polyhydric alcohol or derivative thereof;  
 (d) a volatile propellant having fluorine-carbon or oxygen-carbon bonds;  
 (e) any combination of (a) to (d).  
   
     
     
         2 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 1 , that is a deodorant composition for use on the human body or on apparel worn in close proximity thereto.  
     
     
         3 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 1  or  2 , that is a homogeneous solution.  
     
     
         4 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 3 , that is a homogeneous solution in aqueous ethanol.  
     
     
         5 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of C 1 -C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid to water is greater than 65:35.  
     
     
         6 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of C 1 -C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid to water is greater than 75:25 and the solubility promoter comprises an organic amine.  
     
     
         7 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the organic amine is present at a level sufficient to neutralise at least 60% of any acid groups on the iron (III) chelator.  
     
     
         8 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the organic amine is present at a level sufficient to lead to an aqueous solution of the chelator salt having a pH of between 6 and 8 (at a molar concentration of chelator salt equal to that present in the composition).  
     
     
         9 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the iron (III) chelator has a binding coefficient for iron (III) of greater than 10 26 .  
     
     
         10 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the iron (III) chelator is a polyaminocarboxylic acid or salt thereof.  
     
     
         11 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the iron (III) chelator has an acid form with at least five ionisable acid groups.  
     
     
         12 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the iron (III) chelator is diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or a salt thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the chelator is present at a concentration of 0.01% to 10% by weight of the composition, excluding any volatile propellant present.  
     
     
         14 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an additional anti-microbial agent.  
     
     
         15 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 14  wherein the additional anti-microbial agent is a cationic bactericide.  
     
     
         16 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, comprising fragrance material at up to 4% by weight of the composition, excluding any volatile propellant present.  
     
     
         17 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claims, that comprises a volatile-propellant.  
     
     
         18 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the volatile propellant comprises from 30 to 99% by weight of the total composition.  
     
     
         19 . An anti-microbial composition according to  claim 18 , that comprises greater than 40% by weight of volatile propellant and a solubility promoter selected from the group comprising: 
 (a) an organic amine free of any N—H bonds and/or O—H bonds;    (b) an organic amine and a polyhydric alcohol or derivative thereof;    (c) an organic amine and a volatile propellant having fluorine-carbon or oxygen-carbon bonds.    
     
     
         20 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the weight ratio of C 1 -C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid to water is between 95:5 and 99:1.  
     
     
         21 . An anti-microbial composition according to any of  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the weight ratio of C 1 -C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid to water is greater than 99:1.  
     
     
         22 . A method of controlling microbial numbers, said method comprising the application to a substrate of an anti-microbial composition according to any of the preceding claim.  
     
     
         23 . A cosmetic method of inhibiting the generation of malodour comprising the topical application to the human body or to apparel worn in close proximity thereto of a composition according any one of  claims 2  to  21 .  
     
     
         24 . A cosmetic method of delivering enhanced fragrance intensity comprising the topical application to the human body or to apparel worn in close proximity thereto of a composition according any one of  claims 2  to  21  that also comprises a fragrance material.  
     
     
         25 . A method for the manufacture of an anti-microbial composition, said method comprising the formation of a solution of an iron (III) chelator having an iron (III) binding constant of 10 23  or greater in a C 1  to C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid, present at a level of at least 25% by weight of the total composition (excluding any volatile propellant present), and also comprising a solubility promoter selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) water;    (b) an organic amine;    (c) a polyhydric alcohol or derivative thereof;    (d) a volatile propellant having fluorine-carbon or oxygen-carbon bonds;    (d) any combination of (a) to (d).    
     
     
         26 . A method for the manufacture of an anti-microbial composition according to  claim 25 , comprising the addition of the chelator and an organic amine to water to form an aqueous solution, followed by dilution with the C 1  to C 4  monohydric alcohol carrier fluid to form an aqueous alcohol solution, optionally followed by pressurisation with a liquified volatile propellant.