Sustained-release matrices for dental application

• US 5,998,431 A
• Filed: 04/16/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Canada Inc (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Philbrook, Carl M., Tseng, Mingchih M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US09/061,546
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 424/401, 424/484, 424/425, 424/435, 424/465, 424/469
• US Class Current: 514/300
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/00 Brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances, e.g. paints, pastes, water driven brush bodies A46B13/00; massage apparatus with liquid delivery A61H7/002, A61H2201/105; applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by liquid carrying members in general, e.g. by pads B05C1/00, B05D1/28
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/001 with means indicating the remaining useful life of brush
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/43 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/43 Guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8135 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an acyloxy radical of a saturated carboxylic acid, of carbonic acid or of a haloformic acid; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers, e.g. vinyl esters (polyvinylacetate)
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/86 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses

Abstract

A sustained-release matrix for dental application includes either an anti-microbial agent or a colorant that is released from the matrix when the matrix contacts water. The preferred matrices include a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble support resin.

Claims

1. A color-changing matrix comprising two joined layers being co-extruded or co-injection molded and comprising an outer layer comprising a water-soluble polymer and a first colorant, and an inner layer comprising a water-insoluble polymer and a second colorant different from said first colorant.

2. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyethylene oxide.

3. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer layer also includes a water-insoluble polymer.

4. The color-changing matrix of claim 3 wherein the water-insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene, styrene/rubber and ethylene/propylene.

5. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein the outer layer is adapted to dissolve away through repeated contact with water.

6. The color-changing matrix of claim 4 wherein the outer layer is adapted to dissolve away through repeated contact with water.

7. The color-changing matrix of claim 1 wherein the outer layer additionally comprises an antimicrobial agent.

13. A method of indicating wear comprising providing a color-changing matrix according to claim 1, or 8, and repeatedly contacting said matrix with water to cause said matrix to change color.

8. A color-changing matrix comprising two joined layers, an outer layer comprising a water-soluble polymer, a water-insoluble polymer, an antimicrobial agent and a first colorant, and an inner layer comprising a water-insoluble polymer, a water-soluble polymer and a second colorant different from said first colorant, wherein said matrix is adapted to change color corresponding to depletion of said antimicrobial agent.

9. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 wherein the water-soluble polymer comprises polyethylene oxide.

10. The color-changing matrix of claim 9 wherein the water-insoluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene, styrene/rubber and ethylene/propylene.

11. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 or 10 wherein said two joined layers are coextruded.

12. The color-changing matrix of claim 8 or 10 wherein the outer layer is adapted to dissolve away through repeated contact with water.