Metal oxide compounds and infusion into polymer compounds

Abstract

Described is an initial liquid composition with at least antimicrobial, antibacterial, and/or anti-viral properties comprising chelated metal oxide particles suspended in a polyol, such that metal oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed in a primarily liquid based polyol carrier so that chelated metal oxide particles form a stable complex suspension that is optionally an alkaline based aqueous silver oxide dispersion. The liquid composition can be subsequently added to any polymer or polymer compound/system where the polymer degrades or melts at a temperature lower than the polyol carrier degradation or boiling temperature. The metal oxide complex may also impart beneficial semi-conductive or conductive as well as permeability and flammability property changes to the polymer (host) system.

Claims

1. An antimicrobial, antibacterial, and/or anti-viral, composition comprising; chelated silver oxide particles suspended in a glycerine and water based liquid, wherein said chelated silver oxide particles are homogeneously dispersed in said glycerine and water liquid based composition and wherein said chelated silver oxide particles exist as a stable complex suspension in said glycerine and water liquid based composition such that a concentration of said chelated silver oxide particles of said stable complex suspension are in a concentration of at least 0.30 weight percent and remain suspended in said glycerine and water based liquid composition and wherein said stable complex suspension forms no precipitate and wherein said chelated metal oxide particles remain homogeneously suspended in said glycerine and water liquid based composition that is a chelated silver oxide complex suspension wherein said silver oxide complex suspension is a carrier combined with and infused into a polymer host that can be pelletized.

2. Articles of manufacture for antibacterial, antimicrobial, and/or antiviral products, wherein said articles comprise the composition of claim 1; wherein the chelated silver oxide complex is in a concentration of at least 0.001 weight percent silver oxide infused within said polymer such that said concentration of said chelated silver oxide complex is no greater than 25 weight percent of a polymeric host composition.

3. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said articles of manufacture are selected from the group consisting of: medical devices and hospital products, tubing, masks, mats, plastic cups, surgical instruments, catheters, cannulae, stents, guide wires, implant devices, contact lenses, IUDs, peristaltic pump chambers, endotracheal tubes, gastroenteric feeding tubes, arteriovenous shunts, condoms, oxygenator and kidney membranes, gloves, pacemaker leads, and wound dressings.

4. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said polymeric host composition reduces or eliminates bacteria without changing measurable physio-chemical properties of said polymeric host composition.

5. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, wherein said articles are selected from the group consisting of: toys, bottles, pacifiers, diaper creams and ointments and wound healing substances.

6. The articles of manufacture of claim 5, selected from the group consisting of: kitchen appliances, countertops and cutting boards.

7. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: household products, bathroom accessories, bathroom fixtures, flooring, cleaning products, air filtration items, food storage items, HVAC, luggage, antibacterial shower curtains and products for office and school usage.

8. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: sporting equipment mouthguards, mouthpieces, and dental appliances.

9. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: vacuum cleaners, water filters storage devices, aircraft interiors, baby changing stations, cleaning supplies, commercial high chairs, dispensers, door hardware, electronics, elevators, storage units, surface coatings, and transportation products.

10. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: automobile interiors, steering wheels and steering wheel covers, window handles, buttons, and dashboards.

11. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: yoga or other exercise and gymnastic or wrestler mats, mattresses, and handles for gym equipment.

12. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: water floatation devices, boats and boat interior/exterior surfaces, watercraft, and respective watercraft surfaces.

13. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: aircraft interiors, serving trays, air vents, and seats or seat coverings.

14. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: antibacterial and UV resistant window coverings, footwear, medical textiles, water and outdoor/indoor protective wear.

15. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: antibacterial toothbrushes, handles and bristles thereof.

16. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: communications devices, cell phones, personal computers, computer tablets and mobile, handheld, communications devices.

17. The articles of manufacture of claim 2, selected from the group consisting of: utensils, plastic forks, knives, and spoons.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a TGA Plot for Chelated Silver Oxide in Glycerine at 4000 ppm AgO

(2) FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the process of making chitosan from chitin.

(3) FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the process of making a chitosan solution.

(4) FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the process of making a chelated silver oxide solution which could be applied to most other metal oxides.

(5) FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the process of preparing the polyol based chelated metal oxide complex of the present invention.

(6) While the invention will be described in connection with one or more preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(7) Looking now to FIG. 2, a process 10 of forming chitosan is provided. Raw material is provided in step 11. The raw material is chitin. Chitin is a homopolymer of beta (1-4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Chitin is an abundant naturally occurring and renewable resource bio-polymer. Chitin is found in exoskeletons of invertebrates. In a preferred embodiment, chitin is derived from the family of decapod crustaceans such as shrimp and prawns. Chitin obtained in this manner generally has a molecular weight of approximately between 500 and 900 kDalton. Process 10 is necessary to the present invention as chitin is insoluble.

(8) The chitin is processed by removing non-chitin components in step 12. This step is accomplished in one embodiment through the use of hydrochloric acid (HCL). The HCL removes or strips any residual meat tissue that is attached to the shell. It is appreciated that other acids or methods of stripping the residual meat tissue can be incorporated without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. After the residual meat tissue is stripped, a solution of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) is used to rinse and neutralize the exoskeletons. In the preferred embodiment, a NaOH solution of approximately 20% is used.

(9) Step 13 involves drying the chitin and processing the chitin to have a desired size. Preferably, the chitin is ground so that it has an average size of approximately 24 mesh (0.0278 inches average particle dimension).

(10) Step 14 is deacetylation. This step 14 involves in a preferred embodiment mixing 1 part chitin with 4 parts 50% NaOH, which is a base to which had been added 1 part of pure water. The resulting mixture comprises 5 parts total, of which the solution has 40% NaOH per 1 part chitin. The mixture is heated to approximately 70 degrees Celsius for about 72 hours to undergo the process of deacetylation. The process of deacetylation converts some of the N-acetyl glucosamine to glucosamine. The result of deacetylation is the aggregation and precipitation of chitosan molecules.

(11) Step 15 is to rinse the chitosan to remove remaining NaOH and any other impurities. In the preferred embodiment, the step 15 of rinsing the chitosan comprises a triple rinse. Yet, it is appreciated that other numbers of rinses could alternatively be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. It is preferable that the chitosan is then allowed to dry.

(12) Turning now to FIG. 3, the step 20 of making a 2% chitosan solution is provided.

(13) The following preferred embodiment yields approximately 1 liter, or 1000 mls of the chelated silver oxide complex. The first step (21) in this process (20) is to provide deionized water. 182 ml. of deionized water is measured and placed under moderate to high agitation. 20 grams of chitosan (rinsed and dried) is then provided in step (22), and measured. The chitosan powder is dispersed into and mixed with the deionized water under moderate to high agitation. Next, in step (23), an alpha-hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid is provided. In the preferred embodiment, glycolic acid is used for its lack of strong odor, and is of approximately 70% purity. It is understood that other alpha-hydroxy acids may be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention. Approximately 45 ml. of the glycolic acid can be added, and the mixture can be mixed slowly for approximately an additional 45 to 60 minutes. After this period of time, the mixture is preferably viscous. The chitosan solution is preferably ready when it achieves the desired viscosity.

(14) Turning now to FIG. 4, a method (30) of preparing a silver oxide solution is provided. First, in step (31), silver salts can be provided. Primarily, the use of silver oxide in a powdered form is provided. Next, an alkaline aqueous solution of water and the silver oxide powder is provided in step (32). The result, in step (33), is the formation of silver oxide in the form of an aqueous alkaline solution. Once the silver oxide thin slurry is created and fully formed, citric acid can be provided together with the thicker chitosan solution (in step 34), and deionized water can be provided in step 36.

(15) The following steps are utilized to yield a 1 liter, or 1000 ml batch of constituted 1000 ppm chelated silver oxide solution. Slurry 1 is prepared by adding approximately 1.10 grams chelated silver oxide to approximately 198.9 grams distilled water and dispersing for approximately 5-10 minutes. The dispersed chelated silver oxide in water Slurry 1 can be slowly added to a solution of the chitosan and citric acid to form a second solution (2) mixed at a high speed for approximately 30-45 minutes. The resulting silver oxide chelate is colorless and odorless. Remove from agitation, filter through a qualitative analysis filter paper, such as VWR, 415 and set aside in a light impervious container.

(16) The silver is first dispersed in the distilled water to form a thin slurry so that there is a larger exposure of the surface area of the silver to form a silver oxide molecule which can combine with the citric acid. The Ag.sub.2O molecule is only slightly soluble in a solution, hence the addition of citric acid to the mixture also increases solubility with the chitosan to produce a silver ion portion of the silver oxide compound that forms a coordination compound as a result of a Lewis acid-base reaction. The silver ion here is the acid (acceptor) and the chitosan/citric acid solution acts as a ligand base (donor).

(17) In particular the formed solution is a bio-film forming sanitizer that is cationic and bio-adhesive, and contains chelated silver oxide in a concentration sufficient to effect residual antibacterial activity for hours.

(18) The following ratios are used in order to achieve a 1 liter batch, or 1000 ml. batch. First, in steps approximately 500 ml. of 2% chitosan solution and approximately 400 mls. of deionized water are provided which includes citric acid. The chitosan, citric acid and deionized water are preferably mixed slowly for approximately 3 minutes. Next, approximately 100 ml. of the 1000 ppm silver oxide solution is provided. The silver oxide solution is added to the chitosan solution and the solution is preferably mixed slowly for an additional 3 minutes. The resulting solution is a formulation containing 100 ppm silver oxide and bio-bonding chitosan. It is appreciated that all vessels and agitators in this method are made of high density plastic or glass, and must be free of metallic surfaces.

(19) It is understood that other ratios of chitosan solution to silver oxide solution can be used without departing from the broad aspects of the present invention.

(20) According to the present invention, the citrate is complexed with silver ions and silver oxide and chitosan, and the bacteria accordingly take up the silver oxide citrate chitosan complex. Unwanted bacteria, viruses, molds and fungi rapidly die after taking up the silver, as the silver immediately disables vital proteins and the bacteria's metabolic and reproductive functions and the organisms tend to die within minutes. This chelated silver oxide compound, however, provides biocompatibility with desirable cells and organisms such that there are no known toxic side effects when using the chelated silver oxide complex processed as detailed above.

(21) The silver oxide complex is cationic and bonds readily to negatively charged human or animal skin without any toxic effects. The chitosan-silver oxide complex does not cause silver poisoning in a manner such as is known for many of the colloidal (ionic) silver compounds. This is due to the mechanism of the molecule itself. When absorbed into the skin, the complex immediately becomes inert as it binds with free sodium ions that occur naturally in our bodies and on our skin and the oxygen species acts as primarily to promote stable and healthy cell growth. The chelated silver oxide molecule is eventually excreted through the kidneys or out of the pores of the skin depending on the activity level of the individual.

Working Example 2

(22) A 500 ml amount of polyol based complex suspension together with 100 ppm of a silver oxide complex was prepared in the following manner:

(23) Solution A

(24) 0.265 gms. Citric Acid and add to

(25) 299.735 gms. Distilled Water with 2% chitosan solution Mix 5-10 minutes

(26) Slurry 1

(27) 0.11 gms. Silver Oxide and add to

(28) 99.89 gms. Distilled Water

(29) Disperse 5-10 minutes

(30) Take prepared Solution A and place under moderate agitation for the stipulated time. Slowly add the previously dispersed silver oxide in water Slurry 1 and mix at high speed for 30-45 minutes. The resulting silver oxide is a chelate and is colorless and odorless. Remove from agitation, filter through a qualitative analysis filter paper, such as VWR 20 415, and set aside in a light impervious container. The silver oxide complex is now ready to be used to make a glycerine composition useful for various purposes. Take 30 mls of the 2% chitosan solution and to it add 70 mls distilled water. Mix for 1 minute and then add to the 400 mls of the previously prepared 100 ppm chelated silver oxide complex. Mix all for 3 minutes and then add to al polyol such as propanediol and optionally propylene glycol as a non-precipitating complex suspension to be

(31) While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.