USE OF AN ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITION

Abstract

The invention concerns the use of an antimicrobial composition comprising metallic silver and metallic ruthenium as well as at least one vitamin or at least one vitamin derivative for the topical treatment or prevention of skin, skin adnexa or mucosa diseases which are caused by infection with at least one microorganism. The invention also concerns a bandaging material or patch comprising an antimicrobial composition which comprises metallic silver and metallic ruthenium as well as at least one vitamin or at least one vitamin derivative. The antimicrobial composition (“AgXX”) has a broad-spectrum effect against bacteria (a: E. coli) and fungi (b: Pathogen yeast and c: Penicillium).

a) Escherichia coli (additionally silver (“Ag”) as control),
b) Candida parapsilosis,
c) Penicillium notatum.

Claims

1. Method for treating or avoiding skin disease, skin adnexa or mucosa diseases comprising: applying an antimicrobial composition comprising metallic silver and metallic ruthenium as well as at least one vitamin or at least one derivative of a vitamin topically to treat or avoid skin disease, skin adnexa or mucosa diseases which are caused by infection with at least one microorganism.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is a virus, a bacterium or a fungus.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the infection is caused by a herpes simplex 1 virus.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition is applied onto at least one surface of a carrier material.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carrier material is a tissue, a foil, a mesh, a bandaging material, a compress, or a patch.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carrier material is wettable and/or permeable to moisture.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carrier material comprises a material for storing moisture.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carrier material is permeable to gas and/or air.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises at least one silver layer having a ruthenium layer applied thereon, wherein the silver layer is not covered by the ruthenium layer in at least one subarea.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises at least one silver wire or at least a silver-coated wire, which is partially covered by a ruthenium layer.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition comprises silver-ruthenium bimetallic particles.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition is included in a suspension, a cream, an ointment, a gel, or a powder.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the vitamin is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of water-soluble vitamins, and a salt or acidic derivatives thereof.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the vitamin is ascorbic acid or a derivative of ascorbic acid.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial composition is provided via a bandaging material or a patch.

16. A method for treating or avoiding an infection of the skin, adnexa or mucosa caused by a Herpes simplex virus comprising: applying an antimicrobial composition comprising metallic silver and metallic ruthenium as well as at least one vitamin or at least one derivative of a vitamin topically to skin, adnexa or mucosa in an amount effective to treat or avoid Herpes simplex virus infection of the skin, adnexa or mucosa.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the skin, adnexa or mucosa is infected by the Herpes simplex virus and the antimicrobial composition is topically applied to the skin, adnexa or mucosa to treat the infection.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the antimicrobial composition is provided on at least one surface of a carrier material of a bandage material or patch and wherein the carrier material is tissue or mesh.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0031] In the figures:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a photographic view of a self-adhesive foil coated with the antimicrobial composition on a hydrogel background (moisture retention);

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a photographic view of an applied carrier material with antimicrobial composition;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows photographic views of the healing process of a labial herpes being treated with the antimicrobial composition;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows photographic views of cultures with microorganism colonies around carrier materials coated with the antimicrobial composition (“AgXX”=activated Ag/Ru composition),

a) Escherichia coli (additionally silver (Ag) as a control),
b) Candida parapsilosis,
c) Penicillium notatum;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows microscopic views of yeast cells after 15 minutes exposure to a powdery antibacterial composition and to nanosilver (dark areas),

a) activated Ag/Ru composition,
b) nanosilver (control);

[0037] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged section (rectangular box) with killed yeast cells (dark grey) and a cell prior to dying (light cell), and

[0038] FIG. 7 shows microscopic views of algae cells around a bead coated with the antimicrobial composition (dark circle)

(a) at the beginning of the experiment,
(b) after 3 minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a photographic view of a self-adhesive foil coated with the antimicrobial composition on a hydrogel background. In this embodiment, the carrier material for the activated antimicrobial Ag/Ru composition is a self-adhesive foil by which the composition can be easily applied to the surface such as the skin to be treated. In this or similar fashion, the antibacterial composition can be applied in the form of a first-aid bandage or patch (plaster, Band-aid®). The hydrogel background serves to retain moisture which promotes or increases the effect of the antimicrobial composition.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a photographic view of an applied carrier material with antimicrobial composition. Here, the carrier material was applied to the skin of the lips of a human patient, for the topical treatment of labial herpes.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows photographic views of the healing process of a labial herpes being treated with the antimicrobial composition. After the first symptoms of a beginning labial herpes, a carrier material with activated antimicrobial Ag/Ru composition was applied to the skin of the lips of a human patient (right views), and the course of the illness is documented over a period of a few hours (left views). It was found that the topical application to the skin of the antimicrobial composition according to the invention already caused the symptoms to subside completely within less than 24 hours. Using the herpes patch according to the invention distinctly shortened the course of the illness, with stages 3 to 5 of the herpes outbreak not occurring at all if the patch is applied on time. It is a clear advantage in comparison with previous herpes products that the carrier material can be re-used during herpes treatment. To the patients, both factors mean a distinct advantage in terms of quality living and cost savings.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows photographic views of cultures with microorganism colonies around carrier materials coated with the antimicrobial composition. It was found that the antimicrobial composition has a broad-band effect against bacteria (a: E. coli) and fungi (b: pathogenic yeast and c: Penicillium. Here we used the antimicrobial composition in the form of coated wire mesh laid upon the cultures infested with the microorganisms in question. After an incubation period of 36 hours (106/ml, 30° C.), distinctive bacteria-free areola showed all around the wire mesh sections according to the invention, which proves the antimicrobial effect of the coated wire mesh. By contrast, it was found that with a wire mesh provided with a microporous silver coating (a: left—control) the microorganisms could not be killed, and it was being completely covered by the microorganisms.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows killed yeast cells after 15 minutes exposure to a powdery antibacterial composition (dark area). The aqueous solution, in which the yeast cells had been, contained a dye (methylene blue) which could only have penetrated the killed cells through the cell wall. Due to the changed pH in the cell, the dye reacts and forms its characteristic blue colour. In FIG. 5a, yeast cells were brought in contact with the activated Ag/Ru powder. After 15 minutes, all the yeast cells within about 50 μm around the powdery antimicrobial composition had been dyed by the methylene blue dye. This dye effect shows the yeast cells were killed, for the dye can only penetrate the cell when the cells are dead and their cell wall is damaged. Since the dye process takes a while, the yeast cells were killed within less than 15 minutes. In contrast, with the effect of nanosilver (FIG. 5b: control) no microorganisms had been killed even after 60 minutes. The individual dead yeast cells were killed already when the experiment started and only show that in this aqueous solution, the dye for the killed microorganisms had also been present.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged section (rectangular box) with killed yeast cells (dark grey) and a cell prior to dying (light cell). The dark dots in the cell walls can be interpreted as pores. Since the blue coloration takes some time after the cells are killed, the light cell seen in the enlarged section is possibly already dead but not yet coloured, as the first dark dots in the membrane indicate.

[0045] FIG. 7 shows microscopic views of algae cells around a bead coated with the antimicrobial composition (dark circle). At the beginning of the experiment (FIG. 7a) the algae are intact while already 3 minutes later, dead algae cells are shown all around the bead (FIG. 7b). This shows therefore that using an activated Ag/Ru composition according to the invention also kills algae cells.

[0046] In other experiments not illustrated here, we could also show that the use of an activated Ag/Ru composition according to the invention also has an antimicrobial effect on Legionella.

[0047] All the experiments conducted have made it clear that the antimicrobial composition obviously leads to the destruction of the cell wall and/or the cell membrane of the microorganisms in question, causing irreparable damage of the cells, effectively killing them.

[0048] In spite of this strong antimicrobial effect, the inventive use of the activated Ag/Ru composition is harmless for the humans or animals treated with it. In a study on cell toxicity with antimicrobially coated glass beads, experiments were conducted with MRC-5 cell lines. The experiments were conducted according to ISO 10993, ISO 10993-12 and USP Chapters 87 and 1031. The examination showed a level 1 cytotoxic effect (slight cytotoxicity), which is regarded as harmless, thus allowing an application in human patients.

[0049] The first in vivo experiments with rats have confirmed the compatibility of the antimicrobial composition. The experiments were conducted with activated Ag/Ru glass beads in the bladders of rats. There were no cytotoxically negative findings that would contradict the use of the antimicrobial composition for urological purposes.

EXAMPLE

[0050] Use of the antimicrobial composition as a herpes patch:

[0051] Herpes simplex 1 is a self-limited illness. Antiviral therapy is not absolutely necessary. Many patients suffering from recurrences are not consulting a physician, but take over-the-counter preparations. With an almost 90% infection rate in the European population with Herpes simplex viruses and an annual incidence of up to 30% of the affected population, the question is raised again and again for the most effective therapy. Especially the Herpes simplex 1 virus (HSV 1) is widespread and stressful for those affected due to the typical infection of epithelial cells in the skin and associated neurons in the mouth region. An American study has shown an endogenous re-Infection in about 30% of infected patients, with the recurring infection rate near 1%. For the most part, the infection occurs on and around the lips. Due to its wide distribution, the Herpes simplex disorder is not only a health problem for the affected person, but also a social stress factor. The herpes products in the market so far only achieve a short reduction in the course of the illness and can at best alleviate the symptoms of herpes lip blistering.

[0052] The advantageous possibility of applying an activated Ag/Ru composition upon a large variety of carrier materials allows the concept of a completely new type of herpes patch. The basic carrier is a microporous polymer foil customary in medical technology and commercially available, which is provided with a skin-compatible adhesive on one side. On it, a thin film of a hydrogel is applied which gives sufficient adhesion to a carrier material (such as tissue) coated with activated silver/ruthenium that serves as a moisture reserve. Moisture increases the effectiveness of the antimicrobial composition. The Ag/Ru tissue can also be easily removed from the gel to apply it to another carrier foil as soon as the herpes patch's adhesive strength is gone from the area to be treated.

[0053] The novel Ag/Ru patch is applied to the affected area in the face in the same way as with classic patches. Since the effectiveness of the antimicrobial composition is supported by moisture, the moisture can also be applied from the outside by wetting the moisture-permeable patch with water and thus bringing moisture to the activated Ag/Ru foil and the skin.

[0054] A disadvantage of the Penciclovir substance is that it must be applied every 2 hours. The best known herpes patches have adhesion power for a maximum of 8 hours at the herpes site, after which the herpes patch mist be replaced. With the Ag/Ru patch according to the invention, the patch has about the same effective period on the herpes site. However, the active medium (Ag/Ru tissue) is only transferred from one adhesive carrier to the next without having to use a new Ag/Ru tissue. This means that during the entire healing period, only one Ag/Ru active medium can be enough. Only the adhesive carrier is renewed, which represents a considerable cost advantage. Furthermore, the application is very easy to accomplish.

[0055] In various experiments conducted by ourselves, the high effectiveness of the Ag/Ru herpes patch could be confirmed many times (see FIG. 3).

[0056] Advantages of the Ag/Ru patch and its use according to the invention: [0057] Short application period until successful repression of the herpes, [0058] Simple handling, [0059] No side effects to be expected, [0060] Completely new active mechanism in comparison with conventional anti-herpes systems, [0061] This Ag/Ru herpes patch is based on an especially designed coating system of precious metals and a vitamin derivative. This structured material combination provides for the activated Ag/Ru system a very high degree of effectiveness against microorganisms. An important part is assumed by the formation of a micro-electric field on the Ag/Ru surface which strengthens the catalytic effect of the Ag/Ru surface. [0062] The Ag/Ru surface for the Herpes patches is largely produced automatically in a roll to roll coating process.

[0063] Alternatively to a use of the antimicrobial composition in the form of a Band-aid® (plaster) type of patch, the following forms of application are possible as well:

[0064] Ointment (including fatty ointments), cream, lotion/milk, liquid (including solution and/or suspension; on water, alcohol or aromatic base), shaking mixture (lotion), solid (such as powder), paste, taps, eye drops or eye ointment, or as local therapy for ears, nose and throat in the form of drops or spray.