Methods and compositions for promoting wound healing

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions that use the combination of Tris and EDTA to inhibit the growth of microorganisms at the site of a wound or burn, and/or to promote the healing of a wound or burn, and/or to reduce the sensation of pain at the site of a wound or burn. The amount of Tris and EDTA applied to a wound or burn can be selected to achieve one or more of the foregoing effects.

1 . A method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in, or on, living tissue, the method comprising the step of contacting living tissue that is infected with microorganisms with a composition comprising Tris, EDTA, and a detergent, wherein the Tris, EDTA and detergent are present in the composition in amounts sufficient to inhibit growth of the microorganisms. 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the Tris is present in the composition at a concentration of from 10 mM to 250 mM, the EDTA is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1 mM to 250 mM, and the detergent is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1% (v/v) to 30% (v/v). 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the Tris is present in the composition at a concentration of from 10 mM to 80 mM, the EDTA is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1 mM to 50 mM, and the detergent is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1% (v/v) to 20% (v/v). 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the amounts of Tris, EDTA, and detergent present in the composition are each selected to promote synergistic interaction to inhibit the growth of the microorganisms. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the microorganisms are members of the group consisting of  Aeromonas  spp.,  Escherichia  spp.,  Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium  spp.,  Proteus  spp.,  Staphylococcus  spp.,  Streptococcus  spp., and  Propionibacterium  spp. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the living tissue is skin. 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the living tissue is an epithelial tissue. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the living tissue is located within an animal body. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the living tissue is located within a joint. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the living tissue is located within or on an eye. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauramide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         12 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the detergent consists essentially of cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         13 . A method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         14 . A method of  claim 13  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antibacterial agent. 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 13  wherein the amounts of the Tris and EDTA present in the composition are selected to enhance the antimicrobial activity of the additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         16 . A method of  claim 13  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         17 . A method for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms in or on living tissue, the method comprising the step of contacting living tissue with a composition comprising Tris and EDTA, wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in amounts that (a) produce a pH of the composition of from 6.0 to 9.0, and (b) inhibit the growth of microorganisms in or on the living tissue. 
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the amounts of Tris and EDTA are selected so that the Tris and EDTA produce a pH of the composition of between 6.0 and 8.5 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the amounts of Tris and EDTA are selected so that the Tris and EDTA produce a pH of the composition of between 7.05 and 8.5 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is infected with microorganisms. 
     
     
         21 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the composition further comprises a detergent. 
     
     
         22 . A method of  claim 21  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauramide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         23 . A method of  claim 21  wherein the detergent consists essentially of cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         24 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the microorganisms are members of the group consisting of  Pseudomonas, Aeromonas  spp.,  Escherichia  spp.,  Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium  spp.,  Proteus  spp.,  Staphylococcus  spp.,  Steprtococcus  spp., and  Propionibacterium  spp. 
     
     
         25 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is skin. 
     
     
         26 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is an epidermal tissue. 
     
     
         27 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is located within a mammalian body. 
     
     
         28 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is located within a joint. 
     
     
         29 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is located within or on an eye. 
     
     
         30 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the composition comprises an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         31 . A method of  claim 30  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antibacterial agent. 
     
     
         32 . A method of  claim 30  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         33 . A method for promoting the healing of a burn on an animal body, the method comprising the step of contacting a burn with a composition comprising Tris and EDTA, wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in amounts effective to promote healing of the burn. 
     
     
         34 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the Tris is present at a concentration of from 10 mM to 250 mM, and the EDTA is present at a concentration of from 1 mM to 250 mM. 
     
     
         35 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the Tris is present at a concentration of from 10 mM to 80 mM, and the EDTA is present at a concentration of from 1 mM to 50 mM. 
     
     
         36 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the amounts of Tris and EDTA are selected so that the Tris and EDTA produce a pH of the composition of between 5.0 and 8.5 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         37 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the amounts of Tris and EDTA are selected so that the Tris and EDTA produce a pH of the composition of between 6.0 and 8.0 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         38 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the composition comprises an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         39 . A method of  claim 38  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial agent and an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         40 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the composition comprises a detergent. 
     
     
         41 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauramide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         42 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the detergent consists essentially of cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         43 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the burn is on skin. 
     
     
         44 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the composition is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         45 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the composition is an ointment. 
     
     
         46 . A method of  claim 33  wherein the composition is an aqueous solution or ointment that is applied to the burn. 
     
     
         47 . A method of  claim 33  wherein, a wound dressing comprising the composition is applied to the burn. 
     
     
         48 . A wound dressing comprising from 10 mM Tris to 250 mM Tris and from 1 mM EDTA to 250 mM EDTA. 
     
     
         49 . A wound dressing of  claim 48  comprising from 10 mM Tris to 80 mM Tris and from 1 mM EDTA to 50 mM EDTA. 
     
     
         50 . A wound dressing of  claim 48  further comprising an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         51 . A wound dressing of  claim 50  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antibacterial agent. 
     
     
         52 . A wound dressing of  claim 50  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         53 . A wound dressing of  claim 48  further comprising a detergent. 
     
     
         54 . A wound dressing of  claim 53  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauraraide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         55 . A wound dressing of  claim 53  wherein the detergent consists essentially of cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         56 . A wound dressing of  claim 48  wherein the wound dressing is a bandage. 
     
     
         57 . A wound dressing of  claim 48  wherein the wound dressing is selected from the group consisting of gauze, ointment, gel, and salve. 
     
     
         58 . A liquid composition comprising Tris, EDTA, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the Tris is present at a concentration in the range of from 10 mM to 250 mM, and the EDTA is present at a concentration in the range of from 1 mM to 250 mM. 
     
     
         59 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the Tris is present at a concentration of from 10 mM to 80 mM, and the EDTA is present at a concentration in the range of from 1 mM to 50 mM. 
     
     
         60 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the Tris is present at a concentration of from 10 mM to 50 mM, and the EDTA is present at a concentration in the range of from 1 mM to 20 mM. 
     
     
         61 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of saline, physiological saline, ointment, cream, gel, and emulsion. 
     
     
         62 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in amounts that produce a pH of the composition of between 6.0 and 8.0 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         63 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in amounts that produce a pH of the composition of between 6.5 and 7.5 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         64 . A composition of  claim 58  further comprising a detergent. 
     
     
         65 . A composition of  claim 64  wherein the detergent is present in an amount of from 1% (v/v) to 30% (v/v). 
     
     
         66 . A composition of  claim 64  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauramide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         67 . A composition of  claim 64  wherein the detergent consists essentially of cocamidopropyl betaine. 
     
     
         68 . A composition of  claim 58  further comprising an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         69 . A composition of  claim 58  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial agent and an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         70 . A method for promoting the healing of a wound in, or on, a living animal body, the method comprising the step of contacting the wound with a composition comprising Tris and EDTA, wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in amounts effective to promote healing of the wound. 
     
     
         71 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the Tris is present in the composition at a concentration of from 10 mM to 250 mM, and the EDTA is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1 mM to 250 mM. 
     
     
         72 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the Tris is present in the composition at a concentration of from 10 mM to 80 mM, and the EDTA is present in the composition at a concentration of from 1 mM to 50 mM. 
     
     
         73 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in the composition in amounts that produce a pH of the composition of between 5.0 and 8.5 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         74 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the Tris and EDTA are present in the composition in amounts that produce a pH of the composition of between 6.0 and 8.0 in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the composition comprises an additional antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         76 . A method of  claim 75  wherein the additional antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial agent and an antifungal agent. 
     
     
         77 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the composition comprises a detergent. 
     
     
         78 . A method of  claim 77  wherein the detergent is selected from the group consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamphodiacetate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyl ether sulfate, lauramide DEA, and C 14 -C 16  olefin sulfonate. 
     
     
         77 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the composition comprises vitamin E. 
     
     
         78 . A method of  claim 70  wherein the composition comprises an anti-inflammatory agent. 
     
     
         79 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the living tissue is infected with microorganisms. 
     
     
         80 . A method of  claim 17  wherein the composition is an aqueous composition.