Composition and methods for antimicrobial articles

Abstract

A biocompatible controlled release form of complexed iodine is achieved by a complexation of polyvinyl alcohol based foam and characterized by a residual starch component to optimize iodine release profiles. The resulting iodine complexed polyvinyl alcohol foam may be utilized locally as an antimicrobial agent that releases controlled amounts of iodine sufficient to kill microbes for extended durations without excessive bulk and rigidity.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam article comprising an iodophor, wherein the PVA foam article has a density of at least 0.078 g/cm 3 , wherein the PVA foam article comprises PVA foam, starch, and iodine; wherein the iodine is complexed at least in part to the PVA foam and the starch to form said iodophor. 
     
     
         30 . The PVA foam article of  claim 29 , wherein the PVA foam article has a thickness of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         31 . The PVA foam article of  claim 29 , wherein the PVA foam article is packaged before application with a moisture content of at least 40% (w/w). 
     
     
         32 . The PVA foam article of  claim 29 , wherein the starch is potato starch or corn starch. 
     
     
         33 . A polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam dressing comprising an iodophor, wherein the PVA foam dressing has a density of at least 0.078 g/cm 3 , wherein the PVA foam dressing is produced by a method comprising: mixing PVA and a starch pore former in a slurry, adding an aldehyde to the slurry to produce a foam, and washing the foam to produce a PVA foam containing residual starch, and complexing iodine at least in part to the PVA foam and the residual starch to form said iodophor. 
     
     
         34 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 33 , wherein the starch is less than 30% of the PVA foam dressing. 
     
     
         35 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 33 , wherein the starch has an average particle size of from 0.1 microns to 0.6 microns prior to hydration. 
     
     
         36 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 33 , wherein the PVA foam dressing has a thickness of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         37 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 33 , wherein the PVA foam dressing is packaged before application with a moisture content of at least 40% (w/w). 
     
     
         38 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 33 , wherein the starch is potato starch or corn starch. 
     
     
         39 . A biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam dressing comprising (i) PVA foam, (ii) residual starch within the PVA foam, and (iii) iodine; wherein the iodine is complexed at least in part to the PVA and the residue starch to form an iodophor. 
     
     
         40 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the starch is less than 30% of the PVA foam dressing. 
     
     
         41 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the starch has an average particle size of from 0.1 microns to 0.6 microns prior to hydration. 
     
     
         42 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the PVA foam dressing has a thickness of from 2 millimeters to 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         43 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the PVA foam dressing is packaged before application with a moisture content of at least 40% (w/w). 
     
     
         44 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the starch is potato starch or corn starch. 
     
     
         45 . The PVA foam dressing of  claim 39 , wherein the PVA foam dressing is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) mixing PVA resin, starch, and water in a slurry,   (b) adding an aldehyde to the slurry,   (c) curing the product of the PVA resin, starch pore former, and aldehyde,   (d) washing the cured product of (c) to remove a portion of the starch, forming pores therein to provide a PVA foam having a density of at least 0.074 g/cm 3  and residual starch, and   (e) complexing iodine with the PVA and the residue starch to provide the PVA foam dressing.   
     
     
         46 . An iodophor comprising PVA foam, a starch, and iodine, wherein the PVA foam and starch are in solid form, both PVA and starch are complexed with iodine. 
     
     
         47 . A method of producing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foam dressing comprising:
 (a) mixing PVA resin, starch, and water in a slurry,   (b) adding an aldehyde to the slurry,   (c) curing the product of the PVA resin, starch pore former, and aldehyde,   (d) washing the cured product of (c) to remove a portion of the starch, forming pores therein to provide a PVA foam having a density of at least 0.074 g/cm 3  and residual starch, and   (e) complexing iodine with the PVA and the residue starch to provide the PVA foam dressing.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the aldehyde is formaldehyde. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the starch is potato starch or corn starch.