Sodium hypochlorite gel composition

Abstract

A gel composition including a sodium hypochlorite solution; at least one viscosity-enhancing agent; and at least one electrolyte is disclosed. Methods of making the composition, methods of disinfecting, and methods of treating are also disclosed.

1 . A gel composition comprising: 
 (a) a sodium hypochlorite solution that is not prepared by the partial electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution;    (b) at least one viscosity-enhancing agent; and    (c) at least one electrolyte.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sodium hypochlorite solution comprises sodium hypochlorite in a concentration from about 5% to about 18% by weight of the solution and USP purified water.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the sodium hypochlorite is present in the gel composition in an amount ranging from about 0.0125% to about 1% by weight with respect to the total weight of the gel composition.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the sodium hypochlorite is present in the gel composition in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.8% by weight with respect to the total weight of the gel composition.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscosity-enhancing agent is chosen from natural clay and synthetic clay.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one viscosity-enhancing agent is a synthetic clay.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscosity-enhancing agent further comprises at least one organic modifier.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscosity-enhancing agent is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one viscosity-enhancing agent is chosen from magnesium aluminum silicates, smectite clays, allophone, kaolinite, nacarite, halloysites, sodium montmorillonite, calcium montmorillonite, sauconite, vermiculite, nontronite, saponite, hectorite, bentonite, attapulgite, sepiolite, palygorskite, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrolyte is present in the composition in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrolyte is chosen from USP sodium chloride, USP citric acid, and NF hydrochloric acid.  
     
     
         12 . A method of topically disinfecting a substrate comprising applying to the substrate an effective amount of a composition comprising a sodium hypochlorite solution that is not prepared by the partial electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution; at least one viscosity-enhancing agent; and at least one electrolyte.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is skin.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is a wound.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a topical infection comprising applying to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a disinfectant composition comprising a sodium hypochlorite solution that is not prepared by the partial electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution; at least one viscosity-enhancing agent; and at least one electrolyte to the infected area and/or the surrounding infected area.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treating a heavily contaminated or infected wound comprising applying to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition according to  claim 1  to the contaminated or infected wound and/or the surrounding contaminated or infected area.  
     
     
         17 . A method of disinfecting an intact skin site prior to a surgical or invasive procedure comprising applying to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for making a gel composition comprising: 
 (a) combining at least one viscosity-enhancing agent with water;    (b) combining sodium hypochlorite with USP purified water;    (c) combining the sodium hypochlorite solution, which is not prepared by the partial electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution, from (b) with the viscosity-enhancing solution from (a) to form a thickened solution; and    (d) combining at least one electrolyte with the thickened solution to form the gel composition.