Treatment of mucosal membranes

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals preferably selected from silver, gold, platinum, and palladium but most preferably silver, formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for reducing inflammation or infection of the mucosal membrane. The antimicrobial metal may be formulated as, or used in the form of, a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals, or a liquid or solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial or noble metals.

1 - 89 . (canceled)  
     
     
         90 . A method of reducing inflammation or infection of a mucosal membrane, comprising: 
 disposing antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver in a liquid; and    contacting a problem area of the mucosal membrane with the a therapeutically effective amount of the liquid to provide a localized anti-inflammatory effect,    wherein the mucosal membrane comprises the gastrointestinal tract.    
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the mucosal membrane comprises the surface of the colon.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the mucosal membrane comprises the surface of the rectum.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising forming the liquid into a selected from the group consisting of lozenges, gels, chewing gum, wafers, mouth washes, mouth rinses, drops, sprays, elixirs, syrups, tablets and capsules.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising forming the liquid into a form selected from the group consisting of suppositories, toothpastes, dressings, packings, tampons, creams, gels, ointments, pastes, foams, sprays and solutions.  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the liquid is a solution, a dispersion or a suspension.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats a digestive ulcer.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the ulcer is selected from the group consisting of esophageal ulcers, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers.  
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats esophagitis.  
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats gastritis.  
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats enteritis.  
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats enterogastric intestinal hemorrhage.  
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats colitis.  
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats hemorrhoids.  
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the method treats inflammatory bowel disease.  
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , further comprising forming the liquid into a form selected from the group consisting of suppositories, toothpastes, dressings, packings, tampons, creams, gels, ointments, pastes, foams, sprays and solutions.  
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 0.001-10% by weight of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 0.01 to 5% by weight of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 0.1 to 1% by weight of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 1-5000 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 20-3000 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 40-800 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 50-500 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         113 . A method of reducing inflammation or infection of a mucosal membrane, comprising: 
 disposing antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver in a solution; and    contacting a problem area of the mucosal membrane with the a therapeutically effective amount of the solution to provide a localized anti-inflammatory effect,    wherein the mucosal membrane comprises the gastrointestinal tract, and the method treats irritable bowel syndrome.    
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 1-5000 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 20-3000 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 40-800 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 113 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 50-500 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.  
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 113 , further comprising forming the solution into a form selected from the group consisting of suppositories, toothpastes, dressings, packings, tampons, creams, gels, ointments, pastes, foams and sprays.  
     
     
         119 . A method of reducing inflammation or infection of a mucosal membrane, comprising: 
 disposing antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver in a solution;    forming the solution into a form selected from the group consisting of suppositories, toothpastes, dressings, packings, tampons, creams, gels, ointments, pastes, foams and sprays; and    contacting a problem area of the mucosal membrane with the a therapeutically effective amount of the solution to provide a localized anti-inflammatory effect,    wherein the mucosal membrane comprises the gastrointestinal tract, and the method treats irritable bowel syndrome.    
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein, upon forming the liquid, the liquid comprises 1-5000 μg/ml of the antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver.