Skin disinfectant with quaternary ammonium polymers

Abstract

An alcohol-soluble, water-insoluble, disinfectant composition and a method of using the same for disinfecting and for providing a prolonged antimicrobial property to a variety of surfaces, including skin. The composition comprises an antimicrobial polymer that is capable of imparting an antimicrobial property to a surface without the use of a metal or metal-containing compound. The composition is applied to a surface and allowed to evaporate leaving a coating of antimicrobial polymer.

1 . A composition for imparting to skin both immediate disinfection and durable and prolonged antimicrobial activity, comprising:
 an antimicrobial polymer having quaternary ammonium moieties which are part of the molecular structure of the antimicrobial polymer, wherein said quaternary ammonium moieties constitute at least 2% by weight of said antimicrobial polymer, thereby providing durable and prolonged antimicrobial activity on skin; and   a solvent for said antimicrobial polymer, said solvent comprising at least 60% alcohol and serving as a carrier for applying to skin said antimicrobial polymer dissolved therein and providing immediate disinfection;   wherein said antimicrobial polymer is readily soluble in the solvent but insoluble in water; and   wherein said composition does not contain antimicrobial metallic material.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said quaternary ammonium moieties constitute at least 25% by weight of said antimicrobial polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol and isopropanol. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said alcohol comprises 60% to 95% by weight of said solvent. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of a drug, a thickening agent, a moisturizer, an emollient, a vitamin, a temporary dye, a permanent dye, and a UV absorber. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said emollient is propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a leachable antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, biguanides, and phenolic compounds. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said leachable antimicrobial agent is benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, dimethyldidecyl ammonium chloride, chlorhexidine, poly(hexamethylene biguanide), phenol, triclosan or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial polymer further comprises a dye, wherein said dye is incorporated into the molecular structure of the polymer by covalent chemical bonding via either polymerization with other monomers or reaction with an existing polymer, thereby preventing migration of the dye from the antimicrobial polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein said dye is fluorescein. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquid, gel, foam, and aerosol. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial polymer comprises a first species of monomeric moiety and a second species of monomeric moiety, wherein at least one of said species bears at least one quaternary ammonium group, and wherein said first or second species of monomeric moiety is incorporated into the molecular structure of the polymer by covalent chemical bonding via either polymerization with other monomers or reaction with an existing polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said first monomeric moiety is an allyl-containing or vinyl-containing monomeric moiety and said second monomeric moiety is an allyl-containing or vinyl-containing monomeric moiety, wherein said ally- and vinyl-containing monomeric moieties are selected from the group consisting of styrene derivatives, allyl amines, ammonium salts, acrylates, butyl methacrylate, acrylamides, methacrylamides, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (methyl chloride quaternary), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (benzyl chloride quaternary), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (methyl chloride quaternary), dimethylaminoethyl acrylate (benzyl chloride quaternary), other compounds with the structure CH 2 ═CR—(C═O)—X—(CH 2 ) n  N R′R″R′″I/Y— (where R is hydrogen or methyl, n equals 2 or 3, X is either O, S, or NH, R′, R″, and R′″ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1 to C16 alkyl, aryl, arylamine, alkaryl, and aralkyl, and Y is an anionic counterion to the positive charge of the quaternary nitrogen), diallyldimethylammonium salts, vinyl pyridine and salts thereof, and vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium salts. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said quaternary ammonium moieties constitute at least 25% by weight of said antimicrobial polymer 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, and isopropanol. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said alcohol comprises 60% to 95% by weight of said solvent. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12 , further comprising and additive selected from the group consisting of a drug, a thickening agent, a moisturizer, an emollient, a vitamin, a temporary dye, a permanent dye, and a UV absorber 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein said emollient is propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, glycerol, or a mixture thereof 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said composition further comprises a leachable antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, biguanides, and phenolic compounds. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said leachable antimicrobial agent is benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, dimethyldidecyl ammonium chloride, chlorhexidine, poly(hexamethylene biguanide), phenol, triclosan or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said antimicrobial polymer further comprises a dye, wherein said dye is incorporated into the molecular structure of the polymer by covalent chemical bonding via either polymerization with other monomers or reaction with an existing polymer, thereby preventing migration of the dye from the antimicrobial polymer. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein said dye is fluorescein. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of liquid, gel, foam, and aerosol.