Novel Polymers Which Resist Bacterial Attachment

Abstract

The invention provides a method for inhibiting bacterial attachment to a surface, the method comprising forming the surface from a polymer, or applying a polymer to the surface, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer formed from a (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomer or a copolymer formed from one or more (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomers, wherein the (meth) acrylate or (meth) acrylamide monomers are of formula (I) or (II): [H2C═CR′—C(=0)-0-]n, R (I) [H2C═CR′—C(=0)-NH—]n R (II) wherein n is 1, 2 or 3, R′ is independently H or CH3, R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon moiety and wherein the organic group does not include any hydroxyl groups.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . An article having a surface comprising a polymer or having a polymer coating, wherein the polymer is a homopolymer formed from methacrylate, acrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide monomer or a copolymer formed from one or more methacrylate, acrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide monomers, wherein the monomers are of formula (I) or (II):
   [H 2 C═CR′—C(═O)—O—] n R  (I)
     [H 2 C═CR′—C(═O)—NH—] n R  (II)
   
       wherein
 n is 1 or 2; 
 R′ is independently H or CH 3 ; 
 R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms; wherein
 the organic group R includes an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon moiety; 
 the organic group R does not include any hydroxyl groups; 
 the organic group R includes one or more hydrophobic moiety; and 
 the organic group R is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 12  alkyl, C 2 -C 12  alkenyl, carbonyl, ether, ester, phenyl, C 5 -C 12  cycloalkyl, C 5 -C 12  cycloalkenyl and C 5 -C 12  heterocycloalkyl moieties, each of which may optionally be halogenated with fluoro groups, 
 
 wherein said article is a medical device selected from the group consisting of surgical instruments, permanent implants, and non-permanent implants. 
 
     
     
         47 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) surgical instruments, wherein the surgical instruments are selected from the group consisting of forceps, reamers, pushers, pliers, and retractors;   (b) permanent implants, wherein the permanent implants are selected from the group consisting of artificial heart valves, voice prostheses, prosthetic joints, implanted artificial lenses, stents, and shunts; and   (c) non-permanent implants, wherein the non-permanent implants are selected from the group consisting of pacemakers and pacemaker leads, drain tubes, endotracheal or gastrointestinal tubes, temporary or trial prosthetic joints, surgical pins, guidewires, surgical staples, cannulas, contact lenses, subcutaneous or transcutaneous ports, and indwelling catheters and catheter connectors.   
     
     
         48 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: homopolymers formed from monomers of formula (I) or (II); and copolymers where 70 wt % or more of the monomers used to form the polymer are of formula (I) or (II); and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) where R is: an organic group having a total of from 2 to 16 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         50 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group that has a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms and that includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which is a C1-C16 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C16 cycloalkyl moiety or a C5-C16 cycloalkenyl moiety. 
     
     
         51 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety is a C1-C16 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C16 cycloalkyl moiety. 
     
     
         52 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety is a C1-C12 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C12 cycloalkyl moiety or a C5-C12 cycloalkenyl moiety. 
     
     
         53 . The article of  claim 46 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers formed from monomers of formula (I), wherein the monomers of formula (I) are selected from the groups (A) and (B):
 Group A:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         Group B: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         54 . The article of  claim 53 , wherein the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B). 
     
     
         55 . The article of  claim 54 , wherein the polymer is (a) a homopolymer of a monomer of formula (I) selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B); or (b) a copolymer wherein 70 wt % or more of the monomers used to form the polymer are selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B). 
     
     
         56 . A method for inhibiting bacterial attachment to a surface, or for preventing or reducing biofilm formation by bacteria on a surface, the method comprising:
 forming the surface from a polymer, or applying a polymer to the surface,   wherein the polymer is a homopolymer formed from methacrylate, acrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide monomer or a copolymer formed from one or more methacrylate, acrylate, acrylamide or methacrylamide monomers, wherein the monomers are of formula (I) or (II):
   [H 2 C═CR′—C(═O)—O—] n R  (I)
 
   [H 2 C═CR′—C(═O)—NH—] n R  (II)
 
   
       wherein
 n is 1 or 2, 
 R′ is independently H or CH 3 , 
 R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein
 the organic group R includes an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon moiety; 
 the organic group R does not include any hydroxyl groups; 
 
 
       the organic group R includes one or more hydrophobic moiety; 
       and the organic group R is selected from the group consisting of C1-C12 alkyl, C2-C12 alkenyl, carbonyl, ether, ester, phenyl, C5-C12 cycloalkyl, C5-C12 cycloalkenyl and C5-C12 heterocycloalkyl moieties, each of which may optionally be halogenated with fluoro groups,
 thereby inhibiting bacterial attachment to said surface, or preventing or reducing biofilm formation by bacteria on said surface. 
 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the bacteria comprise one or more bacteria selected from the group consisting of  Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Providencia, Morganella, Stenotrophomonas, Enterococcus, Yersinia, Salmonella, Serratia, Chlamydia, Coxilla, Ehrlichia, Francisella, Legionella, Pasteurella, Brucella, Proteus, Hilicobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Tropheryma, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Alcaligenes, Campylobacter, Capnocytophaga, Bacillus, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Erysipelothrix, Listeria, Mycobacterium  and  Pseudomonas.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the polymer inhibits bacterial attachment mediated by non-mineral components within urine; prevents or reduces biofilm formation mediated by non-mineral components within urine; inhibits bacterial attachment mediated by the mineralisation of salt components within urine; or prevents or reduces biofilm formation mediated by the mineralisation of salt components within urine; or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the non-mineral components are selected from the group consisting of creatinine and urea. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: homopolymers formed from monomers of formula (I) or (II); and copolymers where 70 wt % or more of the monomers used to form the polymer are of formula (I) or (II); and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) where R is: an organic group having a total of from 2 to 16 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group that has a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms and that includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety which is a C1-C16 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C16 cycloalkyl moiety or a C5-C16 cycloalkenyl moiety. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety is a C1-C16 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C16 cycloalkyl moiety. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein some or all of the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) or (II) where R is an organic group having a total of from 2 to 24 carbon atoms, wherein the organic group includes an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety, wherein said aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety is a C1-C12 straight or branched chain alkyl moiety, or a C5-C12 cycloalkyl moiety or a C5-C12 cycloalkenyl moiety. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers formed from monomers of formula (I), wherein the monomers of formula (I) are selected from the groups (A) and (B):
 Group A:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         Group B: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the monomers used to form the polymer are monomers of formula (I) selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B). 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the polymer is (a) a homopolymer of a monomer of formula (I) selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B); or (b) a copolymer wherein 70 wt % or more of the monomers used to form the polymer are selected from monomers 4, 5, 8, 15 and B of group (A) and monomers 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′, 7′, 8′, 9′, 10′, 11′, 12′, 13′, 15′, 16′ and 18′ of group (B).