Stable sulfide compositions, uses, and process for preparation thereof

• US 5,948,392 A
• Filed: 05/26/1995
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MSD CONSUMER PRODUCTS Incorporated (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Schering-Plough Healthcare Products Incorporated (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Dever, Gerald R., Laughlin, Thomas J., Haslwanter, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Webman, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US08/452,451
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 424/61, 424/484, 424/488, 424/706, 424/707, 424/400
• US Class Current: 424/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/105 for the fingers; Finger-stalls; Nail-protectors devices for correcting deformities of the nails A61F5/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/04 Sulfur, selenium or tellurium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/23 Sulfur; Selenium; Tellurium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 3/00 Manicure or pedicure preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/04 Preparations for permanent waving or straightening the hair
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 9/04 Depilatories
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/20 Methods for preparing sulfides or polysulfides, in general ammonium sulfides or polysulfides C01C; sulfides or polysulfides of metals, other than alkali metals, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium, see the relevant groups of subclasses C01F or C01G, according to the metal
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/22 Alkali metal sulfides or polysulfides
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 17/42 Sulfides or polysulfides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/80 Compositional purity

Abstract

Stable sulfide-containing compositions have been developed. The stable sulfide-containing composition comprises a) a sulfide, a polysulfide or mixtures thereof, of an alkali or an alkaline earth metal, and b) a carrier, such that after maintaining the sulfide-containing composition at a temperature of about 37° to about 50° Celsius for about 2 weeks to one month, the sulfide content remaining in the sulfide-containing composition is about 90% or greater of the initial sulfide content. The sulfide-containing compositions can be used for relieving the pain of ingrown toenail by softening the nail, or as a depilatory for removing human hair or hair from animal hides.

Claims

1. A method for softening nails or for treating ingrown toenail, comprising contacting the nail with a stable sulfide-containing composition containing an inert atmosphere comprising:

a) a sulfide, a polysulfide or mixtures thereof, of an alkali or an alkaline earth metal; and

b) a carrier containing water, such that after maintaining the sulfide-containing composition at a temperature of about 37°

to about 50°

Celsius for about 2 weeks to one month, the sulfide content remaining in the sulfide-containing composition is about 90% to about 100% of the initial sulfide content;

for a time effective to soften the nail, and optionally, trimming the nail or ingrown toenail.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfide is a sulfide of an alkali earth metal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfide is sodium sulfide.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the carrier containing water is a gel.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the gel contains a non-ionic cellulosic material.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the non-ionic cellulosic material is hydroxyethyl cellulose.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is in the range from about 0.01 to about 10 percent (wt/wt of composition).

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is in the range from about 0.5 to about 5 percent (wt/wt of composition).

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is in the range from about 1 to about 3 percent (wt/wt of composition).

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is in the range from about 0.1 to about 2 percent (wt/wt of composition).

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is in the range from about 0.5 to about 1 percent (wt/wt of composition).

16. The method of claim 7 wherein the amount of sulfide in the composition is about 1 percent (wt/wt of composition).

2. A process for preparing a stable sulfide-containing composition containing an inert atmosphere comprising,

a) initially treating water, by removing entrapped and dissolved gases therein that can decompose the sulfide;

or alternatively, using treated water in which entrapped and dissolved gases have been removed that can decompose the sulfide;

b) followed by dispersing an inert gas into said treated water to replace said entrapped and dissolved gases; and

c) subsequently adding the sulfide and the carrier to the water prepared as in step b).

3. The process of claim 2 wherein in step (a), the water is initially treated by using agitation under vacuum to remove said entrapped and dissolved gases.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the sulfide is a sulfide of an alkali earth metal.

5. The process of claim 2 wherein the sulfide is sodium sulfide.