Compositions for cleaning and decontamination

Abstract

Provided among other things is a cleaning composition comprising: a carrier fluid; and Minute Fibrils suspended in the carrier fluid, wherein the composition is protein cleaning effective.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An oral cavity cleaning composition comprising:
 a carrier fluid;   at least 0.1% w/w of said composition of minute fibrils contained in the carrier fluid, the minute fibrils forming an entangled network structure, the minute fibrils comprising a branched structure having thicker fibrils, from which branch thinner fibrils, the thicker fibrils having a diameter from about 250 to about 20,000 nm; and   solid particles mixed with said minute fibrils in the entangled network structure,   wherein the composition is a viscoelastic composition and has a storage modulus G′ at 0 rad/s of 200 Pa of higher.   
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said composition is effective to remove dental biofilm from teeth within two minutes of brushing. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said minute fibrils comprise microfibrillated cellulose. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said minute fibrils comprise fibrillated fibers of synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said minute fibrils have a surface area per unit mass of greater than 10 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein at least a majority of said minute fibrils have a cross-sectional dimension in the range between 20 nanometers and 20 microns. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles are present at a concentration of at least 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles are present at a concentration of less than 5% by weight based on the weight of the composition. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles comprise elongated particles or rod-shaped particles. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles have particle size from 50 nanometers to 500 microns. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles comprising at least one of silica, calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, fluorophosphates, or alumina. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles comprise microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said minute fibrils have a minute fibril hardness and said particles have a particle hardness, and wherein said solid particle hardness is greater than said minute fibril hardness. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles have a particle diameter that is in the range of 8 microns to 25 microns and have a particle length that is in the range of 100 microns to 225 microns. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles are crystalline or amorphous, or comprise mixed phases, or are of inorganic composition. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles are abrading particles suitable to abrade and remove dental biofilm. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said solid particles have a Mohs hardness of approximately 4. 
     
     
         40 .- 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein said minute fibrils comprise a bimodal distribution. 
     
     
         57 . A method of removing dental biofilm or plaque in an oral cavity, comprising:
 providing an oral cavity cleaning composition comprising a carrier fluid; and at least 0.1% w/w of said composition of minute fibrils contained in said carrier fluid, the minute fibrils forming an entangled network structure, the minute fibrils comprising a branched structure having thicker fibrils, from which branch thinner fibrils, the thicker fibrils having a diameter from about 250 to about 20,000 nm, and comprising solid particles mixed with said minute fibrils in the entangled network structure, wherein said composition is a viscoelastic composition and has a storage modulus G′ at 0 rad/s of 200 Pa or higher; and
 moving said cleaning composition over a surface in an oral cavity and removing said dental biofilm or said plaque. 
   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said moving said cleaning composition over a surface in an oral cavity and removing said dental biofilm or said plaque comprises brushing teeth and removing said dental biofilm from the teeth within two minutes of the brushing.