Antimicrobial polymer, contact lens and contact lens-care articl

Details Antimicrobial polymer, contact lens and contact lens-care articl Antimicrobial polymer, contact lens and contact lens-care articl

1995-03-13

1996-05-28

Schofer, Joseph L.

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Solid synthetic organic polymer as designated organic active...

Polymer from ethylenic monomers only

526278, 5253295, 5253297, 525340, A61K 3174, C08F 3002

Patent

active

055209106

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an antimicrobial polymer having excellent antimicrobial activity which is obtained by homo- or copolymerizing a phosphonium type vinyl monomer. The invention also relates to an antimicrobial contact lens and an antimicrobial contact lens-care article which are resist contamination from bacteria, fungi, etc. and are safe and easy to handle.


BACKGROUND ART

The demands for sterilization has been increasing in daily life as well as in industrial, agricultural and food fields, and a variety of organic or inorganic antimicrobial agents are now in use.
Most of the conventional antimicrobial agents are synthetic ones with not a little toxicity. Recently, there has been progress in research in pursuit of reducing in toxicity, and development of polymer type fixed antimicrobial agents. The polymer type fixed antimicrobial agents are capable of imparting bactericidal activity to the surface of various objects and find broad application, for example, on the surface of fibers to provide antimicrobial and deodorizing fibers. Polymer type fixed antimicrobial agents heretofore reported include those comprising polymer chains, such as a vinyl polymer, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyesters or polyamides, to which an antimicrobial agent is fixed as a pendant group. For example, an alkylpyridinium salt or an alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt can be fixed to a vinyl polymer chain; a biguanide compound to a polyacrylate or polymethacrylate chain; and an alkylpyridinium salt to a polyester or polyamide chain.
Most of the reported fixed antimicrobial agents that have been put to practical use or under study are of the quaternary ammonium salt type. Although quaternary ammonium salt type fixed antimicrobial agents exhibit broad antimicrobial spectra, their antimicrobial effects produced through short time contact are insufficient.
Phosphonium salt type fixed antimicrobial agents so far proposed include polyvinylbenzylphosphonium salts as disclosed in WO92/14865.
Certain phosphonium salt compounds are known as a biologically active substance for their broad active spectra on bacteria, fungi, and algae similarly to various nitrogen-containing compounds (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57-204286, 63-60903, 1-93596, 2-240090, and 62-114903). However, the antimicrobial activities of these phosphonium salt type antimicrobial agents are insufficient similar to the quaternary ammonium salt type.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-266912 discloses an antimicrobial polymer which exhibits sufficient antimicrobial effect through short time contact as well as a broad antimicrobial spectrum. However, since the monomer essential to the polymer has a low rate of polymerization, which is allowable when the monomer is homopolymerized, it is difficult to copolymerize with other monomers having greatly different polymerization rates. Further, that monomer has insufficient hydrophilic properties and, in particular, with its alkyl chain greatly extended, has poor compatibility to hydrophilic comonomers. Furthermore, the copolymers have low activities.
On the other hand, contact lenses in general use, either hard or soft, are apt to be contaminated with bacteria and fungi as microorganisms easily grow between the contact lens and the cornea with adequate moisture, temperature and nutrients.
Hard contact lenses tend to mechanically damage the cornea, causing infection with microorganisms. Those for continuous wear, which have recently been increasing are particularly dangerous. Further, bacteria, fungi, etc. may grow on the surface of hard contact lenses in a lens container, sometimes causing corneal infectious diseases.
Water-containing soft contact lenses, while comfortable to apply, are susceptible to bacteria and fungi both on the surfaces and in the inside thereof because of their own hydrophilic properties as well as their high water content, tending to cause serious infectious diseases. Moreover, they demand care in handling and involve tedious treatment for sterilization.
Under these circumstanc

REFERENCES:
patent: 3919126 (1975-11-01), Rakshys, Jr. et al.
patent: 4043948 (1977-08-01), Rakshys, Jr. et al.
CA 115: 159895 pp. 25 and 5, Khashimova et al--1990.

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