USE OF PBO-PEO-PBO BLOCK COPOLYMERS IN OPHTHALMIC COMPOSITIONS

• US 20110300019A1
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research, LLC (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Davis, James W., Ketelson, Howard Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,999,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/28
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/124 Hydrogen peroxide; Peroxy compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/142 Polymeric biguanides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/008 Polymeric surface-active agents
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0078 Compositions for cleaning contact lenses, spectacles or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3947 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions

Abstract

The use of poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymers in pharmaceutical compositions useful, for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses and other medical devices is disclosed. The present invention is based in-part on a discovery that this class of compounds is particularly efficient in wetting hydrophobic surfaces, such as the surfaces of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and other types of ophthalmic lenses, but do not induce foaming when used in conjunction with a peroxide-based contact lens disinfection regimen. Such compounds may also be useful for cleaning purposes. The use of the compounds as surfactants in peroxide-based compositions for disinfecting contact lenses therefore represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic composition for disinfecting contact lenses comprising an effective amount of at least one poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of 500 to 12,000 Daltons and a disinfecting amount of peroxide and an ophthalmically acceptable vehicle therefor.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer is of the formula (BO)_n(EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein m is an integer having an average value of 5 to 1000 and n is an integer having an average value of 2 to 100.

3. A composition according to claim 2, wherein the poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer is of the formula (BO)_n(EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein m is an integer having an average value of 9 to 182 and n is an integer having an average value of 3 to 21.

4. A composition according to claim 2, wherein the poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer is of the formula (BO)_n(EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein m is an integer having an average value of 5 to 1000 and n is an integer having an average value of 2 to 4.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein m ranges from 45 to 182.

6. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the average value of m is selected from the group consisting of 45, 90 and 182 and the average value of n is 3.

7. A composition according claim 1, wherein the poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer is of the formula

8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein R is independently selected from the group consisting of methyl and hydrogen, and the average value of m is selected from the group consisting of 45, 90 and 182, and the average value of n is 3.

9. A composition according to claim 1, further comprising an effective amount of a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer.

10. A composition according to claim 9, wherein the poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer is of the formula

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the solution contains said block copolymer at a concentration of 0.001 to 1% w/v.

12. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of m to n is in the range of 14:

1 to 60;

1.

15. A method of disinfecting a contact lens, said method comprising (a) contacting a contact lens with a composition according to any one of claims 1-13;

and (b) neutralizing said hydrogen peroxide by catalytic decomposition.

13. A composition comprising an effective amount of at least one poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer having a molecular weight in the range of 500 to 10,000 Daltons, whereby the composition, when combined with a peroxide disinfecting solution, does not cause excessive foaming upon neutralization.

14. A method of improving the wetting properties of a peroxide-based contact lens disinfection composition, said method comprising adding to a composition comprising peroxide and a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) block copolymer an effective amount of a poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer.