Composition for detecting biofilms on viable tissues

Abstract

A staining composition for use in making biofilm detectable on viable tissue wherein the composition preferentially stains the biofilm and comprises a staining agent in a quantity effective to stain said biofilm and render it detectable.

1 . A staining composition for use in making biofilm detectable on viable tissue wherein the composition preferentially stains the biofilm and comprises a staining agent in a quantity effective to stain said biofilm and render it detectable. 
     
     
         2 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the composition preferentially stains the biofilm by selectively binding to the biofilm rather than the viable tissue. 
     
     
         3 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  or  claim 2  characterised in that the composition allows detection of the biofilm by preferentially staining and revealing it, preferably to the naked eye. 
     
     
         4 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition allows the detection of the biofilm by preferentially staining the biofilm with a staining agent which is capable of fluorescence. 
     
     
         5 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  characterised in that the staining agent absorbs light of wavelengths from 380 nm to 720 nm. 
     
     
         6 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition allows the detection of the biofilm by preferentially staining and revealing it when it is illuminated with light including wavelengths that cause it to fluoresce. 
     
     
         7 . A composition as claimed in  claim 6  characterised in that the fluorescence is detectable with the naked eye or using a light source and optical filters corresponding to the fluorescence emission spectra of the staining agent. 
     
     
         8 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition comprises one or more staining agents selected from the group of porphyrins, pheophorbides, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthraline, pyrene, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyran, pyridine, oxazine, fluorone and its derivatives (alternatively known as xanthenes and rhodamines) such as eosin, erythrosine, Rose Bengal, fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate, 5-chloromethyl fluorescein, 6-carboxy fluorescein, 2,7-Bis-(carboxy ethyl)-5(6)-carboxy fluorescein, Rhodamine B, Rhodamine 6G, Rhodamine 123, Rhodamine iodoacetamide, Sulphorhodamine B, Sulphorhodamine 101, tetramethyl rhodamines or Texas Red; derivatives of cyanine such as 3,3′-dihexadecylindocarbocyanines, 3,3′-dipropyloxadicrbocyanine, aluminium phthalocyanine disulphonate, aluminium tetrasulphophthalocyanine, aluminium phthalocyanines, zinc phthalocyanines, napthalocyanines, or the mucopolysaccharide stain Alcian Blue; acridine and its derivatives such as Acriflavine, Aminacrine, 2-aminoacridine or 9-aminoacridine; oxazine derivatives such as Nile Blue, Nile Red, Fura Red or Fura-2; quinolone and its derivatives; adenosine derivatives such as 2′3′-O-(2,4,6-trinitro-cyclohexadienylidine)adenosine 5′-triphosphate or 3′-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine 5′-triphosphate; triarylmethanes such as Patent Blue V, Crystal Violet, Brilliant Blue or Fast Green; phenothiaziniums such as Methylene Blue or Toluidine Blue O and its derivatives such as 1-methyl methylene blue or 1,9-dimethyl methylene blue; phenanthridine derivatives such as ethidium or hydroethidine; pheophorbide derivatives such as sodium pheophorbide; and porphyrin derivatives such as chlorin e6, benzoporphyrin derivatives, porphines, meso-tetra porphines, hematoporphyrins or protoporphyrins. 
     
     
         9 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition is a solution such as a water- or glycerol-based liquid (in the form of an applicator, spray or sheet), foaming mousse, cream, ointment, a film or a melting wafer. 
     
     
         10 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition is a gel and further comprises a viscosifier. 
     
     
         11 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition comprises a humectant. 
     
     
         12 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition comprises a biofilm-disrupting agent. 
     
     
         13 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition is a foaming mousse and comprises a foaming agent. 
     
     
         15 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition comprises from 0.0001% to 1% by weight, more preferably 0.0025% to 0.025% by weight of one or more staining agents. 
     
     
         16 . A composition as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the composition can be terminally sterilised using ethylene oxide, or can be preserved and comprises a preservative. 
     
     
         17 . A kit of parts for use in the detection of biofilms on viable tissue, the kit comprising:
 a composition comprising a staining agent which preferentially stains biofilms and   a light source capable of causing the biofilm staining agent to fluoresce.   
     
     
         18 . A kit as claimed in  claim 17 , characterised in that the light source emits light in order to make the staining agent fluoresce. 
     
     
         19 . A kit as claimed in  claim 17  or  18  characterised in that it further comprises spectacles or lenses for use in detecting the biofilm wherein the spectacles or lens act to exclude all wavelengths of light except those at which the staining agent fluoresces. 
     
     
         20 . A kit as claimed in  claims 17 ,  18  and  19  further comprising, a wound irrigation solution. 
     
     
         21 . A method of detecting a biofilm in a wound comprising the steps of:
 (a) applying a composition comprising a staining agent which preferentially stains biofilms in viable tissue;   (b) inspecting the tissue for the presence of stained biofilm with the naked eye or with a light source that causes the stained biofilm to fluoresce;   (c) detecting the fluorescence emitted from the stained biofilm.