HK1190275A - Shaped bodies having antibacterial action, method for sterilizing formulations, storage container containing said shaped bodies, and use of the storage container - Google Patents

Description

Moulded body with an antimicrobial effect, method for sterilising formulations, storage container containing said moulded body and use of the storage container

The invention relates to an antibacterially effective moulded article formed from a moulding material comprising at least one particulate antibacterial material. The invention is characterized in that the molded article has a substantially cylindrical, cubic, spherical or ellipsoidal basic body having a specific size depending on the average particle diameter of the particulate antibacterial material used.

An antimicrobial glass composition comprising an antimicrobial glass and an inorganic filler dispersed in the antimicrobial glass composition is known from EP1496086a 1. The glass composition may be present in the form of, for example, pellets or a paste, and is likewise capable of providing the composition, molded article or coating composition in the form of a film. For example, textiles or panels can be produced therefrom.

However, such a molded article has a problem that a relatively high content of the antibacterial glass is required for the antibacterial effect because the antibacterial effect can be attributed to the fact that: the antibacterial glass particles must be disposed on the surface of the composition to exert their antibacterial effect by coming into contact with the corresponding bacteria.

Starting from this problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an antibacterially effective molded article which has an improved antibacterial effect due to the selection of its shape, while carrying the same amount of antibacterially effective material.

This object is achieved by a molded article having the features of claim 1. Claim 13 proposes a process for sterilizing a formulation by means of the moulded article according to the invention. Claim 14 describes a storage container comprising a moulded article according to the invention. Finally, claim 15 describes the use of a storage container. The dependent claims thus represent advantageous developments.

According to the present invention, there is thus provided an antibacterially effective molded article comprising or formed from a molding material and comprising at least one particulate antimicrobial material having an average particle size, said particulate antimicrobial material being dispersed in at least one synthetic resin, the matrix of said molded article being

a) A substantially cylindrical or cuboidal basic body, the largest diameter of the base of which is at most 100 times the average particle diameter of the particulate antimicrobial material,

b) a substantially ellipsoidal or spherical basic body having a maximum diameter of at most 100 times the average particle diameter of the particulate antibacterial material, or

c) A conical basic body, the largest diameter of the base of which is at most 100 times the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material.

The principle of the present invention is therefore that the maximum diameter of the basic shapes, whether it be the maximum diameter of the base of a cylindrical, cubic or pyramidal basic shape or the maximum diameter of an ellipsoidal or spherical basic shape, is determined in accordance with the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material.

The cylindrical basic shapes given by way of example are thus shown in fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a cylinder with a circular base with a radius r. The height or length dimension of the cylinder is thus designated h. Thus, the diameter of the bottom (i.e., circular) of the cylinder is 2 r. Thus, it is presently important for the present invention that the diameter of the bottom (i.e., 2 r) be sized to be at most 100 times the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material.

However, this cylinder with a circular base represents only one possible embodiment of a cylindrical basic body. In addition, it is possible to give the possibility that the base of the cylindrical basic shape is oval, n-angular (where 3. ltoreq. n.ltoreq.10) or irregularly shaped. For example, a base of a star is also included herein.

Another bottom shape of the basic shape of the molded article given by way of example is shown in fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows an ellipsoid, the largest diameter of which lies on the x-axis. The maximum diameter of the ellipsoid is here 2 a. Even for such basic shapes, the principles of the present invention dictate that the maximum diameter of such shapes be at most 100 times the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material. For example, one particular embodiment of an ellipsoidal basic shape is a spherical basic shape having only a single diameter.

In addition, the principles of the present invention apply to conical basic shapes. The bottom of the cone here also fulfils the conditions mentioned in claim 1. The base of the cone may thus be formed in a circular, oval or also star-shaped or irregular shape. The taper may be straight or beveled. In addition, the basic shape can be provided as a truncated cone.

The principle of the invention is therefore based on the following facts: the base shape has a specific diameter of a size less than 100 times the average particle diameter of the particulate antimicrobial material embedded in the molding material constituting the base shape. This has the following effect: only a small portion of the particulate antimicrobial material is completely surrounded by the molding material and a substantial proportion of this material is disposed in, i.e., on, the molded article in such a manner that at least a portion of the surface of the particulate antimicrobial material protrudes from the molded article. Therefore, these particles made of the antibacterial material are not completely surrounded by the molding material forming the molded article having the antibacterial action, so that a considerable proportion is provided on the surface of the molded article with respect to the total proportion of the particulate antibacterial material, and thus the antibacterial effect can be exerted. Since the relatively high proportion of the antibacterial material is disposed on the surface of the basic form, the molded article can exert a relatively high antibacterial effect as compared with other molding materials in which a relatively high proportion of the antibacterial material is completely surrounded by the molding material.

As mentioned above, the molded articles are substantially cylindrical or cubic, substantially ellipsoidal or spherical or conical. Features are to be understood here basically as allowing some variants of the same geometric principles. For example, some "indentations" or "protrusions" may be present on the surface of each basic shape, or may accept some rounded portions on the edges of a cylinder such as shown in fig. 1.

In addition, the expression "basic shape" denotes a geometrically defined basic shape which here need not be rigid or achieve the principle ideal geometry, for example a cylinder, cube, sphere, ellipsoid or cone, which is meaningful here. For example, fig. 1 shows an ideal cylinder, which extends along a linear axis denoted by h. In addition, the term basic shape according to the invention encompasses embodiments in which the longitudinal axis of such a cylinder is not straight but, for example, curved or bent. Of course, the same applies to other cylindrical shapes, for example cubes as a special form of cylinder, or to an ellipsoid embodiment.

If the basic shapes are present as cylinders or ellipsoids, a comparison with linear basic shapes is preferred. In the case of a cylinder or cube having a straight path, there is a straight line, but it may also exist in a curved shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, starting from a cylindrical or cuboidal basic shape, the basic shape is coiled to form a helix or is present in the shape of randomly arranged lumps. This embodiment has the following effects: a more compact construction of the moulded article according to the invention is provided so that the antimicrobial effect can be concentrated on a minimum volume of space.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the maximum diameter of the base of the cylindrical or cuboidal basic shapes or of the ellipsoidal or spherical basic shapes is from 0.5 to 80 times, preferably from 1 to 60 times, particularly preferably from 2 to 30 times, the average particle diameter of the particulate antibacterial material.

For each basic shape, the following preferred absolute dimensions are made:

the length or height of the cylindrical or cuboidal molded article is preferably from 1mm to 100cm, more preferably from 5mm to 80cm, particularly preferably from 10mm to 60cm, and/or the maximum diameter of the base of the cylindrical or cuboidal basic body or of the ellipsoidal or spherical basic body is less than 5mm, preferably from 0.01mm to 0.9 mm.

In another preferred embodiment, the at least one particulate antimicrobial material is a particulate antimicrobial glass, in particular a particulate antimicrobial glass selected from the group consisting of: elemental glass, oxide glass, silicate glass, quartz glass, alkali silicate glass, soda lime glass, lead (alkali) glass, barium glass, borosilicate glass, phosphate glass, borate glass, fluoride glass, chloride glass, sulfide glass, carbonate glass, nitrate glass, sulfate glass, water-soluble glass, crystallized glass, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the particle surface of the at least one particulate antibacterial material is at least partially or completely covered with an antibacterial metal, in particular a metal selected from the group consisting of: silver, copper, zinc and/or mixtures or combinations thereof, and/or ions and/or colloids comprising the foregoing metals.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the average particle diameter of the particles of the particulate antibacterial material is from 0.05 μm to 50 μm, preferably from 0.1 μm to 25 μm, particularly preferably from 2 μm to 10 μm.

The preferred content of the metal and/or metal ion is from 0.01 wt% or more, preferably from 0.01 wt% to 50 wt%, relative to the total mass of the particulate antibacterial material.

In addition, the molding materials may comprise at least one particulate inorganic filler, which is preferably selected from barium and/or barium salts, silver or silver salts, silica, zeolites, kaolin, talc, zinc oxide and mixtures thereof.

The average particle diameter of these particulate inorganic fillers which may be additionally contained therein is preferably 0.1 μm to 10 μm.

Preferred synthetic resins which may form the matrix of the moulded article according to the invention are thus selected from the following:

a) thermoplastics, in particular polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins (ABS resins), acrylonitrile-styrene resins (AS resins), polystyrene, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamides, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), saturated polyesters, polyacetals, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonates, polyurethane resins, poly (meth) acrylates, polyacrylic acid, (partially) fluorinated resins, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVA) and/or combinations thereof,

b) thermally curable resins, in particular silicone resins, modified silicone resins, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl ester resins, phenol resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, urea formaldehyde resins, epoxy resins and/or combinations thereof,

c) rubber material, in particular based on natural or synthetic rubber and/or combinations thereof, and

d) mixtures of the foregoing resins.

The preferred content of the at least one particulate antimicrobial material relative to the molding material is thus at least 0.01% by weight, preferably from 0.01% by weight to 50% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.1% by weight to 15% by weight.

Furthermore, possibly, in case of additionally incorporating particulate inorganic fillers, the content of these particulate inorganic fillers with respect to the at least one particulate antibacterial material may be 3 to 50% by weight.

According to the invention, a method is also provided for the sterilization of formulations selected from liquids, solutions, dispersions, suspensions, gels, organogels, microemulsion gels, pastes and/or creams, in particular for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food applications, wherein at least one molded article according to the invention is brought into contact with the aforementioned formulations.

In addition, the invention relates to a storage container, wherein at least one molded article according to the invention is arranged in the interior of the storage container. The storage container is thus particularly suitable for the sterile storage of liquids, solutions, dispersions, suspensions, gels, organogels, microemulsion gels, pastes and/or creams, in particular with regard to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food applications, or can be used for this purpose. The aforementioned components, i.e. liquids, solutions, dispersions, suspensions, gels, organogels, microemulsion gels, pastes and/or creams, may for example be sterilized before introduction into a storage container and storage by methods known from the prior art. The molded article is then used to maintain sterility during storage.

However, it is also possible and conceivable for the aforementioned components to be introduced into the storage container without sterilization, which is effected on the first contact with the antibacterially effective molded article according to the invention. In both variants, sterility is ensured throughout the storage period.

The present invention is described in more detail with reference to the following drawings, but the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown therein.

Fig. 1 shows a cylinder as a possible basic shape of a molded article according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows ellipsoids as a possible basic shape of the moulded article according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows another variant of an embodiment of the molded article according to the invention. This thus has a cylindrical basic shape which is coiled to form a helix of about 4, 5 turns. The preferred diameter of the base profile base, i.e. the circular base of the cylinder, is thus preferably 0.01mm to 0.9 mm.

Fig. 4 relates to another preferred geometrical embodiment of the basic shape according to the invention, which in this case appears as randomly arranged agglomerates. The basic shape is also a cylindrical basic shape which can be produced by corresponding coiling to form randomly arranged agglomerates. The diameter of the circular base of the cylinder is here also preferably 0.01mm to 0.9 mm.

Claims (15)

1. An antibacterially acting moulded article comprising or formed from a moulding material comprising at least one particulate antimicrobial material having an average particle size, said particulate antimicrobial material being dispersed in at least one synthetic resin,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the matrix of the molded article is

a) A substantially cylindrical or cuboidal basic body, the largest diameter of the base of which is at most 100 times the average particle diameter of the particulate antimicrobial material,

b) a substantially ellipsoidal or spherical basic body having a maximum diameter of at most 100 times the average particle diameter of the particulate antibacterial material, or

c) A conical basic body, the largest diameter of the base of which is at most 100 times the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material.

2. Moulded article according to claim 1, in which the basic shapes are substantially cylindrical or cuboidal basic shapes, which are coiled to form a helix, or are present in the form of randomly arranged lumps.

3. A moulded article according to any preceding claim, wherein the largest diameter of the base of the cylindrical or cubic basic shapes or the largest diameter of the ellipsoidal or spherical basic shapes is 0.5 to 80 times, preferably 1 to 60 times, particularly preferably 2 to 30 times the average particle size of the particulate antimicrobial material.

4. Molded article according to any of the preceding claims,

a) the length or height of the cylindrical or cuboidal molded article is from 1mm to 100cm, preferably from 5mm to 80cm, particularly preferably from 10mm to 60cm, and/or

b) The maximum diameter of the base of the cylindrical or cuboidal basic body or of the ellipsoidal or spherical basic body is less than 5mm, preferably 0.01mm to 0.9 mm.

5. A molded article according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base of the cylindrical basic shape is circular, oval, n-angular or irregularly shaped, wherein 3. ltoreq. n.ltoreq.10.

6. Molded article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one particulate antibacterial material is a particulate antibacterial glass, in particular a particulate antibacterial glass selected from: elemental glass, oxide glass, silicate glass, quartz glass, alkali silicate glass, soda lime glass, lead (alkali) glass, barium glass, borosilicate glass, phosphate glass, borate glass, fluoride glass, chloride glass, sulfide glass, carbonate glass, nitrate glass, sulfate glass, water-soluble glass, crystallized glass, and mixtures thereof.

7. Moulded article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the particle surface of the at least one particulate antibacterial material is at least partially or completely covered with an antibacterial metal, in particular a metal selected from the group consisting of: silver, copper, zinc and/or mixtures or combinations thereof, and/or ions and/or colloids comprising the foregoing metals.

8. Molded article according to the preceding claim,

a) the particles of the particulate antibacterial material have an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 50 μm, preferably 0.1 to 25 μm, particularly preferably 2 to 10 μm, and/or

b) The content of the metal and/or metal ion is 0.01 wt% or more, preferably 0.01 wt% to 50 wt%, with respect to the total mass of the particulate antibacterial material.

9. A molded article according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the molding material additionally comprises at least one particulate inorganic filler, preferably selected from barium and/or barium salts, silver and/or silver salts, silica, zeolite, kaolin, talc, zinc oxide and mixtures thereof.

10. Molded article according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the average particle size of the at least one particulate filler is from 0.1 μm to 10 μm.

11. Molded article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one synthetic resin is chosen from the following:

a) thermoplastics, in particular polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins (ABS resins), acrylonitrile-styrene resins (AS resins), polystyrene, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamides, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), saturated polyesters, polyacetals, polyvinyl alcohol, polycarbonates, polyurethane resins, poly (meth) acrylates, polyacrylic acids, (partially) fluorinated resins, ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVA) and/or combinations thereof,

b) thermally curable resins, in particular silicone resins, modified silicone resins, unsaturated polyesters, vinyl ester resins, phenol resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, urea formaldehyde resins, epoxy resins and/or combinations thereof,

c) rubber material, in particular based on natural or synthetic rubber and/or combinations thereof, and

d) mixtures of the foregoing resins.

12. Molded article according to any of the preceding claims,

a) the at least one particulate antimicrobial material is present in an amount of at least 0.01% by weight, preferably from 0.01% by weight to 50% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.1% by weight to 15% by weight, and/or relative to the molding material

b) The optional at least one particulate inorganic filler is present in an amount of from 3 to 50% by weight relative to the at least one particulate antimicrobial material.

13. A process for the sterilization of formulations selected from the group consisting of liquids, solutions, dispersions, suspensions, gels, organogels, microemulsion gels, pastes and/or creams, in particular for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food applications, wherein at least one molded article according to any of the preceding claims is brought into contact with the aforementioned formulations.

14. A storage container comprising at least one molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is arranged in the interior of the storage container.

15. Use of a storage container for the sterile and/or aseptic storage of a liquid, solution, dispersion, suspension, gel, organogel, microemulsion gel, paste and/or cream, in particular for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food applications.