Fatty ammonium salt starch complexes as plant wound protectants and antimicrobials for wound dressings

Abstract

Provided herein are fatty-ammonium salt/starch inclusion complexes comprising one or more of a variety of fatty amines. Such complexes can be combined with film-forming agents, such as poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVOH) and plasticizing agents. The inclusion complexes of the present invention can be utilized as antimicrobial agents, preventing microbial growth on organic and inorganic surfaces. In specific embodiments, inclusion complexes of the present invention are applied to vegetable or fruit surfaces in order to impede microbial growth. Inclusion complexes of the present invention can be applied to wood in order to impede microbial growth and insect consumption and to wound dressings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a plant, fruit or vegetable and a fatty-amine polysaccharide inclusion complex. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide portion is amylose derived from high amylose corn starch. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex is derived from one or more fatty ammonium salts, wherein each fatty ammonium salt comprises eight to twenty-two carbons in at least one chain attached to a nitrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more fatty ammonium salts comprise twelve to eighteen carbons. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex comprises an amine with two carbon chains attached to a nitrogen and wherein the two chains attached to the nitrogen comprise eight carbons or less and wherein the total number of carbons in the amine is at least twelve. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the amine from which the ammonium salt is derived is a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the amine is a secondary or tertiary amine comprising a first chain of twelve or more carbons, and wherein the second and third alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen have three or fewer carbons and wherein the second and third alkyl groups do not comprise hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex is derived from a fatty ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of N-octadecylammonium chloride, N-dodecylammonium chloride, N,N-didecyl-N-methylammonium chloride, N-tetradecylammonium chloride, N-hexadecylammonium chloride, N,N-dioctylammonium chloride, N-dodecylanilium chloride, N-methyl-N-octadecylammonium chloride, N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonium chloride, N,N,N-trimethyl-N-tetradecylammonium chloride, N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, benzethonium chloride, N-hexadecylpyridinium chloride, and N-laurylcholine chloride. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the fatty ammonium salt is hexadecylammonium chloride and is present at a concentration of 3-15% of the polysaccharide portion of the inclusion complex. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the inclusion complex further comprises a film-forming agent, a plasticizer or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the film-forming agent is poly(vinyl) alcohol. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising a wound dressing and a fatty-amine polysaccharide inclusion complex. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the wound dressing is medical gauze or a bandage. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the polysaccharide portion is amylose derived from high amylose corn starch. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex is derived from one or more fatty ammonium salts, wherein each fatty ammonium salt comprises eight to twenty-two carbons in at least one chain attached to a nitrogen. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more fatty ammonium salts comprise twelve to eighteen carbons. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex comprises an amine with two carbon chains attached to a nitrogen and wherein the two chains attached to the nitrogen comprise eight carbons or less and wherein the total number of carbons in the amine is at least twelve. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the amine from which the ammonium salt is derived is a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the amine is a secondary or tertiary amine comprising a first chain of twelve or more carbons, and wherein the second and third alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen have three or fewer carbons and wherein the second and third alkyl groups do not comprise hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the fatty amine portion of the inclusion complex is derived from a fatty ammonium salt selected from the group consisting of N-octadecylammonium chloride, N-dodecylammonium chloride, N,N-didecyl-N-methylammonium chloride, N-tetradecylammonium chloride, N-hexadecylammonium chloride, N,N-dioctylammonium chloride, N-dodecylanilium chloride, N-methyl-N-octadecylammonium chloride, N,N-dimethyl-N-hexadecylammonium chloride, N,N,N-trimethyl-N-tetradecylammonium chloride, N-hexadecyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, benzethonium chloride, N-hexadecylpyridinium chloride, and N-laurylcholine chloride.