Antipathogenic Biomedical Implants, Methods and Kits Employing Photocatalytically Active Material

• US 20100331978A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Håkan Engqvist, Ken Welch, Strömme, Maria
• Original Assignee: Håkan Engqvist, Ken Welch, Strömme, Maria
• Inventors: Engqvist, Håkan, Welch, Ken, Strömme, Maria
• Application Number:
  US12/918,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/11.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 8/00 Means to be fixed to the jaw-bone for consolidating natural teeth or for fixing dental prostheses thereon; Dental implants; Implanting tools fastening of peg-teeth in the mouth A61C13/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/001 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/0089 containing inorganic fillers not covered by groups A61L24/0078 or A61L24/0084
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/446 with other specific inorganic fillers other than those covered by A61L27/443 or A61L27/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/128 containing other specific inorganic fillers not covered by A61L31/126 or A61L31/127
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials

Abstract

An antipathogenic biomedical implant is formed throughout its structure of a matrix material comprising at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active filler which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light. The photocatalytically active filler is arranged in the matrix material in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source. In another embodiment, an antipathogenic biomedical implant comprises at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active material which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light, wherein the photocatalytically active material is arranged in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source. Methods for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant, methods for reducing pathogens on a biomedical implant, methods for reducing the bioburden in a biomedical implant installation, and kits for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant employ the antipathogenic biomedical implants.

Claims

1. An antipathogenic biomedical implant, formed throughout its structure of a matrix material comprising at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active filler which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light, wherein the photocatalytically active filler is arranged in the matrix material in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source.

3. The biomedical implant of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytically active filler is arranged in the matrix in at least a surface layer of the biomedical implant.

4. The biomedical implant of claim 1, wherein the matrix material comprises ceramic, polymer, or a mixture thereof.

5. The biomedical implant of claim 4, wherein the matrix material comprises one or more of calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate, calcium aluminate, calcium silicate, polyurethane, silicone polymer, polyethylene, bisphenol-A diglycidylether methacrylate, and glass polyalkenoate.

6. The biomedical implant of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytically active filler comprises one or more of TiO₂, ZnO, ZnS, α

-Fe₂O₃, WO₃, SrTiO₃, K₄Nb₆O₁₇, CdS, and perovskite oxide.

9. The biomedical implant of claim 6, wherein the photocatalytically active filler is crystalline and has a grain size less than about 1 mm, less than about 100 μ

m, less than about 10 μ

m, or less than about 1 μ

m, and greater than about 1 nm or greater than about 5 nm.

10. The biomedical implant of claim 6, wherein the photocatalytically active filler has a surface area greater than about 0.1 m²/g, greater than about 10 m²/g, greater than about 30 m²/g, or greater than about 50 m²/g.

11. The biomedical implant of claim 1, comprising at least about 10 weight percent of the photocatalytically active filler and wherein the photocatalytically active filler comprises crystalline TiO₂ nanoparticles, at least about 50 weight percent of which are of a size less than about 100 nm and wherein at least about 50 weight percent of the TiO₂ nanoparticles of a size less than about 100 nm are of anatase phase.

12. A method for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant, comprising providing the biomedical implant of claim 1, and irradiating the biomedical implant with light of a wavelength and intensity effective to activate the photocatalytically active filler.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the biomedical implant comprises at least about 10 weight percent of the photocatalytically active filler and wherein the photocatalytically active filler comprises crystalline TiO₂ nanoparticles, at least about 50 weight percent of which are of a size less than about 100 nm and wherein at least about 50 weight percent of the TiO₂ nanoparticles of a size less than about 100 nm are of anatase phase.

14. A method for reducing pathogens on a biomedical implant, comprising installing the biomedical implant of claim 1 in a patient, wherein the implant is installed in a position such that the photocatalytically active filler is arranged to receive light irradiated from an external source, and irradiating the biomedical implant with light of a wavelength and intensity effective to activate the photocatalytically active filler.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the biomedical implant is installed in a skin penetrating location in the patient.

24. A kit for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant, comprising (a) the biomedical implant of claim 1, and (b) a light source operable to emit light of a wavelength and intensity sufficient to cause the photocatalytically active material to exhibit an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light from the light source.

25. The kit of claim 24, wherein the photocatalytically active material comprises TiO₂ nanoparticles of anatase phase, and wherein the light source emits photons with a wavelength in the range of from 400 nm to 315 nm, preferably in the range of from 385 nm to 315 nm.

2. (canceled)

7-8. -8. (canceled)

16-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method for reducing the bioburden in a biomedical implant installation, comprising irradiating light on a biomedical implant comprising at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active material which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light, wherein the photocatalytically active material is arranged in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source, the irradiating light being of a wavelength and intensity effective to activate the photocatalytically active material, and installing the irradiated implant in a patient.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the implant is installed in a position such that the photocatalytically active filler is arranged to receive light irradiated from an external source.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the biomedical implant comprises at least about 10 weight percent of the photocatalytically active material and wherein the photocatalytically active material comprises crystalline TiO₂ nanoparticles, at least about 50 weight percent of which are of a size less than about 100 nm and wherein at least about 50 weight percent of the TiO₂ nanoparticles of a size less than about 100 nm are of anatase phase.

21. A kit for providing an antipathogenic biomedical implant, comprising (a) a biomedical implant comprising at least about 1 weight percent of a photocatalytically active material which exhibits an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light, wherein the photocatalytically active material is arranged in the implant to receive light irradiated from an external light source, and (b) a light source operable to emit light of a wavelength and intensity sufficient to cause the photocatalytically active material to exhibit an antipathogenic effect upon irradiation with light from the light source.

22. The kit of claim 21, wherein the biomedical implant comprises at least about 10 weight percent of the photocatalytically active material and wherein the photocatalytically active material comprises crystalline TiO₂ nanoparticles, at least about 50 weight percent of which are of a size less than about 100 nm and wherein at least about 50 weight percent of the TiO₂ nanoparticles of a size less than about 100 nm are of anatase phase.

23. The kit of claim 21, wherein the photocatalytically active material comprises TiO₂ of anatase phase, and wherein the light source emits photons with a wavelength in the range of from 400 nm to 315 nm, preferably in the range of from 385 nm to 315 nm.