Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Heavy metal or compound thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-20
2003-12-30
Clardy, S. Mark (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Heavy metal or compound thereof
C424S405000, C424S407000, C424S443000, C424S445000, C424S446000, C424S447000, C424S489000, C424S600000, C424S613000, C424S617000, C424S639000, C424S646000, C424S647000, C424S648000, C424S653000, C424S724000, C424S725000, C424SDIG006, C424SDIG001, C514S165000, C514S772000, C514S772300, C514S788100, C514S836000, C514S904000, C514S905000, C514S925000, C514S928000, C514S950000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06669966
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to skin-growth-enhancing compositions including certain compounds having polyvalent cations in their crystal lattices, particularly certain inorganic metal oxides. Articles and methods of facilitating or enhancing skin growth to treat or manage certain conditions, such as burn therapy or skin grafts, using such skin growth compositions are included in the invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Animal and mammalian skin, in particular, human skin, is a multifunctional organ. Not only does the skin provide an external covering to protect the body, but it also performs several specialized functions, such as breathing, perspiring, sensory information processing, and oil production. Oil production, essential to the protective features of the skin, works when an oily substance known as seburn is released from the sebaceous glands, which are large glands located at the base of a hair follicle. This permits the skin to moisturize and waterproof itself, thereby protecting itself from the environment.
The skin is the most environmentally-stressed organ in mammals, particularly in humans. The skin is subjected to toxic chemicals and hostile environments, as well as being the only organ directly exposed to Ultraviolet (“UV”) light in the presence of oxygen. Lengthy exposure of the skin to UV light typically damages the skin, resulting, in sunburn, photoaging, carcinogenesis, and other related skin disorders.
In particular, human skin is a composite material of the epidermis and the dermis. The topmost part of the epidermis is the stratum corneum. This layer is the stiffest layer of the skin, as well as the one most affected by the surrounding environment. Below the stratum corneum is the internal portion of the epidermis. Below the epidermis, the topmost layer of the dermis is the papillary dermis, which is made of relatively loose connective tissues that define the micro-relief of the skin. The reticular dermis, disposed beneath the papillary dermis, is tight, connective tissue that is spatially organized. The reticular dermis is also associated with coarse wrinkles. At the bottom of the dermis lies the subcutaneous layer.
The principal functions of the skin include protection, excretion, secretion, absorption, thermoregulation, pigmentogenesis, accumulation, sensory perception, and regulation of immunological processes. These functions are detrimentally affected by the structural changes in the skin due to aging and excessive sun exposure. The physiological changes associated with skin aging include impairment of the barrier function and decreased turnover of epidermal cells, for example.
The mechanical properties of the skin, such as elasticity, are believed to be controlled by the density and geometry of the network of collagen and elastic fiber tissue therein. Damaged collagen and elastin lose their contractile properties, resulting in skin wrinkling and skin surface roughness. As the skin ages or becomes unhealthy, it acquires sags, stretch marks, burns, bruises or wrinkles, it roughens, and it has reduced ability to synthesize Vitamin D. Aged skin also becomes thinner and has a flattened dermoepidermal interface because of the alterations in collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans.
UV light exposure in the presence of oxygen results in the undesirable creation of free radicals, which is believed to lead to various skin disorders, diseases, or conditions. In the skin, these free radicals frequently trigger the release of inflammatory mediators, commonly manifested as sun burn; cytoskeletal alterations, breaking down the collagen in the skin; and may also result in structural DNA changes, such as DNA strand breaks and dimer formation. The body attempts to neutralize the free radicals generated by UV light through the use of antioxidants. Antioxidants are commonly found in two forms—enzymatic and non-enzymatic.
Various ingredients have been used alone or in certain combinations to form pharmaceuticals designed to prevent and treat certain cellular, skin, and other conditions, such as burns. Although a variety of compositions and methods for treating various skin conditions are presently available to those of ordinary skill in the art, the treatments are often not completely effective and often involve adverse effects, such as overdrying of the skin. Furthermore, some existing treatments simply address the symptoms and fail to treat the underlying condition, as well as helping to reduce the incidence of remission or the appearance of recurring or new disorders.
Multivalent silver molecules have also been disclosed for various uses, as they are reported to be non-toxic to animals and humans. M. Antelman, “Anti-Pathogenic Multivalent Silver Molecular Semiconductors,”
Precious Metals
, vol. 16:141-149 (1992); M. Antelman, “Multivalent Silver Bactericides,”
Precious Metals
, vol. 16:151-163 (1992). For example, tetrasilver tetroxide activated with an oxidizing agent is disclosed for use in bactericidal, fungicidal, and algicidal use, such as in municipal and industrial water treatment applications and for the treatment of AIDS.
A variety of sources also report the use of certain divalent silver compounds for water treatment, as well as the use of such compounds, typically in combination with certain oxidizing agents, metals, or other compounds, as disinfectants, bactericides, algicides, and fungicides. One source also reports a single in vitro study of the use of such compounds for the treatment of AIDS. These sources include M. Antelman, “Silver (II, III) Disinfectants,”
Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties
, pp. 52-59 (Mar., 1994), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,017,295; 5,073,382; 5,078,902; 5,089,275; 5,098,582; 5,211,855; 5,223,149; 5,336,416; and 5,772,896.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,499 discloses tetrasilver tetroxide and persulfate compositions having certain in vitro anti-pathogenic properties, i.e., bactericidal, fungicidal, viricidal, and algicidal, in certain concentrations as low as 0.3 ppm, particularly in nutrient broth cultures. The persulfate or another oxidizing agent is required to activate the tetroxide crystals. Also disclosed are: an in vitro study regarding the inhibition of yeast growth in nutrient broth and the formulation of a gynecological cream and douche based on these results, and a report of an in vitro AIDS test with the compositions indicating total suppression of the virus at 18.0 ppm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,520 discloses the use of molecular crystals of tetrasilver tetroxide, particularly with oxidizing agents to enhance the efficiency of such devices, for killing pathogenic microorganisms, such as staph infections. Amounts of 10 ppm sodium persulfate as an oxidizing agent were used with certain amounts of silver tetroxide in the reported in vitro testing. One human study involved in vivo curing of a gynecological yeast infection with 10 ppm of the silver tetroxide and 40 ppm sodium persulfate. Other in vivo topical studies report in conclusory fashion the cure of a single case of athlete's foot with a solution of 100 ppm of the composition and the cure of a single case of toenail fungus with a 25% suspension of the composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,977 discloses intravenously injected tetrasilver tetroxide crystals used for destroying the AIDS virus, AIDS synergistic pathogens, and immunity suppressing moieties (ISM) in humans. The crystals were formulated for a single injection at about 40 ppm of human blood. This reference also discloses the compositions cause hepatomegaly, also known as enlarged liver, albeit with no reported loss of liver function.
The aforementioned references report detailed descriptions of the mechanism via which the multivalent silver molecular crystal devices were believed to operate. A discussion of such results and concepts was presented at a Seminar entitled “Incurable Diseases Update” (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, Feb. 11, 1998). The title of this presentation was “Beyond Antibiotics, Non Toxic Disinfectants and Tetrasil™ (a composition including tetrasilver tetroxide).” I
Choi Frank
Clardy S. Mark
Marantech Holding LLC
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
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