Compositions for inactivating pathogenic microorganisms, methods of making the compositons, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Nanoemulsion compositions with low toxicity that demonstrate broad spectrum inactivation of microorganisms or prevention of diseases are described. The nanoemulsions contain an aqueous phase, an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent, and one or more surfactants. Methods of making nanoemulsions and inactivating pathogenic microorganisms are also provided.

1 - 80 . (canceled)  
     
     
         81 . A composition comprising a nanoemulsion, the nanoemulsion comprising: 
 an aqueous phase;    an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent; and    one or more surfactants;    wherein the nanoemulsion comprises nanoemulsion particles having an average diameter of from between approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.    
     
     
         82 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the organic solvent comprises a C 1 -C 12  alcohol, diol, or triol, a dialkyl phosphate, a trialkyl phosphate or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         83 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, glycerol or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         84 . The composition of  claim 82 , wherein the trialkyl phosphate is tri-n-butyl phosphate.  
     
     
         85 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the oil comprises soybean oil, mineral oil, avocado oil, squalene oil, olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, fish oils, flavor oils, cinnamon bark, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, faxseed oil, pine needle oil, silicon oil, essential oils, water insoluble vitamins, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         86 . The composition of  claim 84 , wherein the oil comprises soybean oil.  
     
     
         87 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant.  
     
     
         88 . The composition of  claim 87 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is TWEEN® 20, Triton® X-100, nonoxynol-9, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         89 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the surfactant is a cationic surfactant.  
     
     
         90 . The composition of  claim 88 , wherein the cationic surfactant is cetyl pyridium chloride, benzalkonium chloride or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         91 . The composition of  claim 81  comprising: 
 about 5 vol. % to about 50 vol. % of aqueous phase;    about 30 vol. % to about 90 vol. % of oil phase; and    about 3 vol. % to about 15 vol. % of surfactant.    
     
     
         92 . The composition of  claim 81 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of activity modulators, gelling agents, auxiliary surfactants, and a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing additives.  
     
     
         93 . The composition of  claim 92 , wherein the activity modulator is an interaction enhancer, a germination enhancer, a therapeutic agent, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing enhancers.  
     
     
         94 . The composition of  claim 93 , wherein the germination enhancer comprises glucose, fructose, asparagine, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride.  
     
     
         95 . The composition of  claim 93 , wherein the germination enhancer comprises L-alanine, inosine, PBS, and ammonium chloride.  
     
     
         96 . The composition of  claim 93 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an antimicrobial agent, an antifungal agent, an antiviral agent, an anti-mold agent, an anti-mildew agent, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         97 . The composition of  claim 93 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a penicillin, a cephalosporin, cycloserine, vancomycin, bacitracin, miconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, polymyxin, colistimethate, nystatin, amphotericin B, chloramphenicol, the tetracyclines, erythromycin, clindamycin, an aminoglycoside, a rifamycin, a quinolone, trimethoprim, a sulfonamide, zidovudine, gangcyclovir, vidarabine, acyclovir, phenylphenol, propyl paraben, poly(hexamethylene biguanide) or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing therapeutic agents.  
     
     
         98 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 90% nanoemulsion per milliliter of composition.  
     
     
         99 . The composition of  claim 81 , wherein the composition comprises greater than about 0.25%, about 1.0%, about 5%, about 10%, about 20%, about 35%, about 50%, about 65%, about 80%, about 90%, or about 95% nanoemulsion per milliliter of composition.  
     
     
         100 . The composition of  claim 81 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an auxiliary surfactant, a suds suppressor, a detergent builder, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         101 . A method of reducing the average nanoemulsion particle size of a composition comprising a nanoemulsion, comprising treating a nanoemulsion comprising an aqueous phase, an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent, and a surfactant, and having nanoemulsion particles of an average diameter of greater than or equal to about 250 nm, so as to reduce the average diameter of the nanoemulsion particles to from approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.  
     
     
         102 . A method of making a nanoemulsion, comprising 
 passing a first nanoemulsion comprising 
 an aqueous phase,  
 an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent, and  
 one or more surfactants, wherein the nanoemulsion particles have an average diameter of greater than or equal to about 250 nm through a microfluidizer under conditions effective to reduce the average diameter of the nanoemulsion particles to from approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.  
   
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the ratio of oil phase to aqueous phase is from about 1:9 to about 5:1, from about 5:1 to about 3:1, or from about 4:1.  
     
     
         104 . A method of inactivating a microorganism, comprising contacting the microorganism with a composition comprising a nanoemulsion for a time effective to inactivate the microorganism, wherein the nanoemulsion comprises: 
 an aqueous phase;    an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent;    and one or more surfactants;    and wherein the nanoemulsion particles have an average diameter of from approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.    
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the composition further comprises an activity modulator, wherein the activity modulator is an interaction enhancer, a germination enhancer, a therapeutic agent, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing.  
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein the microorganism is a bacteria, a fungus, a protozoa, a virus, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing microorganisms.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the bacteria is a vegetative bacteria, a bacterial spore, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the bacteria comprises a Gram negative bacteria, a Gram positive bacteria, an acid fast bacilli, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 108 , wherein the bacterial spore is  B. anthracis.    
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the bacteria comprises comprises  B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. megatertium, B. subtilis, C. botulinum, C. tetani, C. perfringens, H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoeae, S. agalactiae, S. pneumonia, S. pyogenes, V. cholerae, S. aureus, Yersinia  species,  G. vaginalis, G. mobiluncus, M. hominis, Salmonellae  species,  Shigellae  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Eschericia  species,  Klebsiella  species,  Proteus  species,  Enterobacter  species,  Serratia  species,  Moraxella  species,  Legionella  species,  Bordetella  species,  Helicobacter  species,  Arthobacter  species,  Micrococcus  species,  Listeria  species,  Corynebacteria  species,  Planococcus  species,  Nocardia  species,  Rhodococcus  species,  Mycobacteria  species, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the virus belongs to a family selected from the group consisting of Orthomyxoviridae, Retroviridae, African Swine Fever Viruses, Papovaviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Picornaviridae, Filoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, or Rhabdoviridae.  
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the Orthomyxovirdae virus is influenza virus, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, sendai virus, sindbis virus, pox virus, small pox or vaccinia virus.  
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein the Retroviridae is human immunodeficiency virus, west nile virus, hanta virus, or human papilloma virus.  
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the fungus is a yeast or a filamentous fungus.  
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein filamentous fungus is selected from the group consisting of an  Aspergillus  species or a dermatophyte.  
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the dermatophyte is selected from the group consisting of  Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum  and  Epidermophyton floccosum.    
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the fungus comprises  Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Aspergillus, Penicillium  or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         119 . A method of inactivating a pathogenic microorganism comprising contacting a subject infected with the microorganism with a composition comprising a nanoemulsion comprising: 
 an aqueous phase;    an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent; and    one or more surfactants;    wherein the nanoemulsion comprises particles having an average diameter of between approximately 150 nm to approximately 250 nm.    
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the subject is a human, an animal, or a plant.  
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the composition further comprises an activity modulator, wherein the activity modulator is an interaction enhancer, a germination enhancer, a therapeutic agent, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing.  
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the microorganism is a bacteria, a fungus, a filamentous fungus, a protozoa, a virus, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing microorganisms.  
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the bacteria is a vegetative bacteria, a bacterial spore, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the fungus is a yeast.  
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the bacteria comprises a Gram negative bacteria, a Gram positive bacteria, an acid fast bacilli, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein the bacterial spore is  B. anthracis.    
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the bacteria is  B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. circulans, B. megatertium, B. subtilis, C. botulinum, C. tetani, C. perfringens, H. influenzae, N. gonorrhoeae, S. agalactiae, S. pneumonia, S. pyogenes, V. cholerae, S. aureus, Yersinia  species,  G. vaginalis, G. mobiluncus, M. hominis, Salmonellae  species,  Shigellae  species,  Pseudomonas  species,  Eschericia  species,  Klebsiella  species,  Proteus  species,  Enterobacter  species,  Serratia  species,  Moraxella  species,  Legionella  species,  Bordetella  species,  Helicobacter  species,  Arthobacter  species,  Micrococcus  species,  Listeria  species,  Corynebacteria  species,  Planococcus  species,  Nocardia  species,  Rhodococcus  species,  Mycobacteria  species, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the virus belongs to a family selected from the group consisting of Orthomyxoviridae, Retroviridae, African Swine Fever Viruses, Papovaviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Picornaviridae, Filoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, or Rhabdoviridae.  
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 129 , herein the Orthomyxovirdae virus is influenza virus, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, sendai virus, sindbis virus, pox virus, small pox or vaccinia virus.  
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 129 , herein the Retroviridae is human immunodeficiency virus, west nile virus, hanta virus, or human papilloma virus.  
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the filamentous fungus comprises  Aspergillus  species or dermatophytes such as  Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum  and  Epidermophyton floccosum.    
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 123  wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of  Cladosporium, Fusarium, Alternaria, Curvularia, Aspergillus  and  Penicillium.    
     
     
         134 . A method of preventing an infected state caused by a microorganism, comprising administering to a subject, either before or after exposure to a microorganism, a composition comprising a nanoemulsion, wherein the nanoemulsion comprises: 
 an aqueous phase;    an oil phase comprising an oil and an organic solvent; and    one or more surfactants;    wherein the nanoemulsion comprises particles having an average diameter of between approximately 250 nm and approximately 150 nm.    
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the infected state is a sexually transmitted genital infection.  
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 135 , wherein the sexually transmitted genital infection is selected from the group consisting of genital herpes, human papilloma virus, human immunodeficiency virus, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, and  Chlamydia.    
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of a pox virus,  B. anthracis , and  Yersinia  species,  
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the step of administering comprises application of the composition to the mucosa of a subject.  
     
     
         139 . A kit comprising a composition comprising the nanoemulsion of  claim 81 , wherein the composition is provided in a single formulation or a binary formulation, wherein the binary formulation is mixed prior to using the composition.  
     
     
         140 . The kit of  claim 139 , further comprising instructions for using the composition.  
     
     
         141 . The kit of  claim 139 , wherein the composition is formulated for topical administration, said kit further including means for applying the composition topically.  
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein the ratio of oil phase to aqueous phase is from about 1:9 to about 5:1, from about 5:1 to about 3:1, or from about 4:1.  
     
     
         143 . The composition of claim  80 , wherein the composition demonstrates increase stability and efficacy as compared to a nanoemulsion having an average particle size of greater than 250 nm.