Long chain carboxybetaines in antimicrobial formulations

• US 6,242,486 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integrated Research Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Research Technology LLC
• Inventors: Nash, Kevin A., Thornton, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weddington, Kevin E.
• Application Number:
  US09/284,250
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 514/556
• US Class Current: 514/556
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/205 Amine addition salts of organic acids; Inner quaternary ammonium salts, e.g. betaine, carnitine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

Compositions containing long chain carboxybetaines, and their use in antimicrobial formulations, are described. The compositions and methods are especially useful against gram positive microorganisms such as Staphylococcus and gram negative microorganisms such as Escherichia, Salmonella and Pseudomonas.

Claims

1. A method for killing an infectious agent, wherein said method comprises exposing said agent to a composition comprising a salting-in n-alkyl carboxybetaine, wherein said carboxybetaine is present in said composition at a concentration effective in killing said agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said agent is a microorganism.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said microorganism is a gram positive microorganism.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said microorganism is a Staphylococcus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said Staphylococcus is Staph. aureus.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said Staphylococcus is Staph. epidermidis.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said microorganism is a gram negative microorganism.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said microorganism is a Salmonella, Pseudomonas or Escherichia.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said microorganism is an Escherichia.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said Escherichia is E. coli.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said microorganism is a Pseudomonas.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said Pseudomonas is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said microorganism is a Salmonella.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said Salmonella is Salmonella typhimurium.

15. The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein said n-alkyl carboxybetaine has the structure:

wherein R₁ is C₁₂ to C₂₂;

α

is —

CH₂—

, —

CH(OH)—

, —

(CO)—

NH—

CH₂CH₂CH₂—

, —

O—

, or —

(CO)—

;

n is 0 or 1;

R₂ is —

H, —

CH₃, —

C₂H₅, or —

C₃H_7;

R₃ is —

H, —

CH₃, —

C₂H₅, or —

C₃H_7;

R₄ is —

C₂H₄—

,—

C₃H₆—

, —

C₄H₈—

, —

C₅H₁₀—

, —

C₆H₁₂—

, —

CH₂—

C₆H₄—

, —

C_mH_2m—

, —

CH(OH)CH₂CH₂—

, —

CH₂CH(OH)CH₂—

, —

CH₂CH₂CH(OH)—

, or —

C_mH<sub>2m−

1</sub>(OH)—

, where m≧

2; and

the cation is a carboxylate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said n-alkyl carboxybetaine is CB-18.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the concentration of said n-alkyl carboxybetaine in said composition is 10 μ

M-10 mM.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said concentration is 40 μ

M-2 mM.

19. The method of any one of claims 1-18, wherein said composition is a disinfectant.

20. The method of any one of claims 1-18, wherein said composition is an antiseptic.

21. The method of any one of claims 1-18, wherein said composition is a preservative.

22. A method for decreasing the number of infectious agents on the surface of an inanimate object, said method comprising contacting said surface with a composition comprising a salting-in n-alkyl carboxybetaine, wherein said carboxybetaine is present in said composition at a concentration effective in decreasing the number of said infectious agents on said surface.

23. A method for decreasing the number of infectious agents on a living tissue, said method comprising contacting said tissue with a composition comprising a salting-in n-alkyl carboxybetaine, wherein said carboxybetaine is present in said composition at a concentration effective in decreasing the number of said infectious agents on said tissue.