ELECTROCHEMICAL ERADICATION OF MICROBES ON SURFACES OF OBJECTS

• US 20150073491A1
• Filed: 11/13/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York), Syracuse University
• Original Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York (State University of New York), Syracuse University
• Inventors: EHRENSBERGER, Mark, CAMPAGNARI, Anthony A., TAKEUCHI, Esther, LUKE-MARSHALL, Nicole, GILBERT, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 9,616,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30 Joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/482 Electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/03 Electric current
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

The invention describes a method of reducing or preventing the growth of microbes on the surface of an object, wherein the object is of such material that it can act as a working electrode. The method comprises the steps of providing a counter electrode, and a reference electrode. The object is used as the working electrode. Electrical current is passed through the working and counter electrodes. The current through the counter electrode is varied such that the electric potential of the working electrode is constant relative to the electric potential of the reference electrode. Also described is an apparatus for reducing or preventing microbes on an object using a potentiostatic device.

Claims

1. A method of treating the surface of an object, wherein the object is of such material that it can act as a working electrode, the method comprising:

providing a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and the object acting as the working electrode; and

passing electrical current through the working and counter electrodes, wherein the current through the counter electrode is varied such that the electric potential of the working electrode is substantially constant relative to the electric potential of the reference electrode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is implantable or implanted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of passing electrical current through the working and counter electrodes is performed using a potentiostatic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the potentiostatic device is a potentiostat.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an antimicrobial agent to the region surrounding the object.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the implantable or implanted object has an oxide layer on at least part of the surface of the object.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the implantable or implanted object is at least partially made from titanium.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the implantable or implanted object is at least partially made from stainless steel, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum or any combination thereof

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode is at least partially made from silver or silver chloride.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the counter electrode is at least partially made from platinum, graphite, or carbonized silicone rubber.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing of current results in reducing or preventing the growth of microbes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the microbes are a part of a biofilm.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the microbes are bacteria or fungi.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the constant electric potential of the working electrode is selected from the range of about −

0.5 to about −

10.0 V with respect to the reference electrode.

15. An apparatus for reducing or preventing the growth of microbes on the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising:

a reference electrode;

a counter electrode;

an electrical lead configured for attachment to the object such that, when attached, the object acts as a working electrode; and

a potentiostatic device in electrical communication with the electrical lead, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode, the potentiostatic device configured to;

pass electrical current through the working and counter electrodes when the object is attached to the electrical lead; and

vary the current through the counter electrode such that the electric potential of the working electrode is substantially constant relative to an electric potential of the reference electrode, and the electric potential of the working electrode is chosen such that the growth of microbes on the object is reduced or prevented.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the potentiostatic device is a potentiostat.