Encapsulated lactams

Abstract

Encapsulated lactams suitable for use in compositions and compositions comprising encapsulated lactams. The compositions may be useful as antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and bacteriostatic compositions. Methods of encapsulating lactams.

1 . An encapsulated lactam wherein the lactam is a lactam of Formula Ia or Formula IIa: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is H, halogen, or C 1-4 alkyl; characterised in that encapsulated lactam is encapsulated in a condensation polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The encapsulated lactam of  claim 1 , wherein R is H, F, Cl, Br, or Me. 
     
     
         3 . The encapsulated lactam of  claim 1 , wherein the lactam is selected from: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         4 . The encapsulated lactam of  claim 1  wherein the lactam is encapsulated in a polymer selected from a poly urea polymer, a melamine-formaldehyde copolymer; a urea formaldehyde copolymer and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The encapsulated lactam of  claim 1  wherein the lactam is encapsulated in a polymer formed from polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate and hexamethylenediamine. 
     
     
         6 . An additive comprising an encapsulated lactam according to  claim 1  in a carrier oil. 
     
     
         7 . The additive of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier oil is an alkyl ketone, optionally wherein the carrier oil is heptan-2-one. 
     
     
         8 . A composition comprising an encapsulated lactam according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the composition contains 0.000001 to 50% wt. lactam, optionally 0.001 to 50% wt., optionally 0.01 to 5% wt, optionally 0.01-2%. 
     
     
         10 . A method of encapsulating a lactam, wherein the lactam is a lactam of Formula Ia or Formula IIa: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is H, halogen, or C 1-4 alkyl, 
         the method comprising:
 (a) combining said lactam with a carrier oil; then 
 (b) combining said lactam in carrier oil with a first polymerisation agent; then 
 (c) combining the product of step (b) with an aqueous solution of a stabilizer; 
 (d) adding an aqueous solution comprising a second polymerization agent to the product of step (c) while stirring the mixture; 
 
         wherein the first and second polymerization agents form a polymer when they react with each other. 
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises dissolving said lactam in an alkyl ketone to form a solution, optionally wherein the alkyl ketone is heptan-2-one and/or optionally wherein the concentration of the solution is less than 1% wt. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first polymerization agent is an isocyanate, optionally polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second polymerization agent is an α,ω-diamino C 2-10 alkylene; optionally hexamethylenediamine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprising the step of agitating the product of step (d) for at least one 1 hour; optionally around 5 hours.