Highly penetrating compositions and methods for treating disordered tissues

Abstract

Compositions and methods for treating disordered tissues, such as caused by pathogens and/or by toxins. The treatment compositions include an anti-infective active agent, a liquid carrier, and benzocaine in an amount so that the treatment composition penetrates more quickly into disordered tissue compared to the treatment composition in the absence of the benzocaine. In addition, the benzocaine can increase residence time of the anti-infective active in the treatment area. The preferred anti-infective active agent can be an organohalide, such as a quaternary ammonium halide compound, an example of which is benzalkonium chloride. The treatment compositions and methods may employ the use of an applicator adapted for use in promoting penetration of the treatment composition and/or agitation of the disordered tissue to further enhance penetration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treatment composition for application to, and having enhanced effectiveness in treating, disordered tissue caused by a herpes virus, the treatment composition being a tissue penetrating liquid composition comprising:
 at least one benzalkonium chloride compound:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R═C 8 H 17  to C 18 H 37 ;
 a liquid carrier comprising a tissue penetrating component for penetrating disordered tissue in a rapid manner without rapidly diffusing beyond the skin; and 
 benzocaine present in an amount ranging from 2.5% to about 20% by weight of the treatment composition, wherein the benzocaine increases efficacy of the treatment composition in treating disordered tissue caused by a herpes virus; 
 wherein the tissue penetrating liquid composition is a liquid rather than a gel or ointment so as to penetrate the skin within about 1 minute or less after application. 
 
       
     
     
         2 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzalkonium chloride compound is included in an amount ranging from about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzalkonium chloride compound is included in an amount ranging from about 0.05% to about 0.3% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         4 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzalkonium chloride compound is included in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 0.2% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         5 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the benzocaine increases residence time of the benzalkonium chloride compound in a treatment area by at least about 10% compared to the treatment composition in the absence of the benzocaine. 
     
     
         6 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the benzocaine increases residence time of the benzalkonium chloride compound in a treatment area by about 20% to about 100% compared to the treatment composition in the absence of the benzocaine. 
     
     
         7 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier comprises isopropyl alcohol and water, the isopropyl alcohol comprising from about 50% to about 80% by volume of the liquid carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the benzocaine is present in range of about 3.5% to about 15% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         9 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the benzocaine is present in a range of about 4% to about 10% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         10 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the benzocaine is present in a range of about 4.5% to about 7.5% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid carrier is more penetrating than a liquid carrier consisting of 80% by volume isopropyl alcohol and 20% by volume water. 
     
     
         12 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is void of penetration inhibiting oils. 
     
     
         13 . The treatment composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of benzocaine in the treatment composition leaves a visibly detectable residue of benzocaine on a skin surface after application and evaporation of the treatment composition on disordered tissue at the skin surface. 
     
     
         14 . A treatment composition for application to and having enhanced effectiveness in treating disordered tissue caused by one or more pathogens selected from viruses, bacteria, and fungi, the treatment composition being a tissue penetrating liquid composition comprising:
 at least one benzalkonium chloride compound:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R=C 8 H 17  to C 18 H 37 ; 
         a tissue penetrating liquid carrier comprising isopropyl alcohol and water, the isopropyl alcohol comprising from about 50% to about 80% by volume of the liquid carrier; and 
         benzocaine present in an amount ranging from 3.5% to about 15% by weight of the treatment composition, wherein the benzocaine increases efficacy of the treatment composition in treating disordered tissue caused by one or more pathogens selected from viruses, bacteria, and fungi; 
         wherein the tissue penetrating liquid composition is a liquid rather than a gel or ointment so as to penetrate the skin within about 1 minute or less after application. 
       
     
     
         15 . The treatment composition of  claim 14 , wherein the treatment composition is effective in treating disordered tissue caused by a pathogen, venom, psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea, or dermatitis. 
     
     
         16 . The treatment composition of  claim 14 , wherein the benzocaine is present in an amount ranging from about 2.75% to about 6% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         17 . The treatment composition of  claim 14 , wherein the benzocaine is present in an amount ranging from about 3% to about 5% by weight of the treatment composition. 
     
     
         18 . The treatment composition of  claim 14 , wherein the treatment composition is void of penetration inhibiting oils. 
     
     
         19 . The treatment composition of  claim 14 , wherein the amount of benzocaine in the treatment composition leaves a visibly detectable residue of benzocaine on a skin surface after application and evaporation of the treatment composition on disordered tissue at the skin surface. 
     
     
         20 . A treatment composition for application to and having enhanced effectiveness in treating disordered tissue at a treatment site caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, venom, psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea, or dermatitis, the treatment composition being a tissue penetrating liquid composition comprising:
 at least one benzalkonium chloride compound:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R═C 8 H 17  to C 18 H 37 ;
 a tissue penetrating liquid carrier comprising isopropyl alcohol and water, the isopropyl alcohol comprising from about 50% to about 80% by volume of the liquid carrier; and 
 benzocaine present in an amount ranging from 2.5% to 7.5% and so as to increase residence time of the at one benzalkonium chloride compound at the treatment site and so as to increase efficacy of the treatment composition in treating the disordered tissue at the treatment site; 
 wherein the tissue penetrating liquid composition is a liquid rather than a gel or ointment so as to penetrate the skin within about 1 minute or less after application.