Patent Application
20050226911
The present invention relates to an article for inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms in biological and physiological fluids and is capable of removing metal-ions from biological and physiological fluids and the exudates of wounds.
In recent years people have become very concerned about exposure to the hazards of microbe contamination. For example, exposure to certain strains of Escherichia coli through the ingestion of under-cooked beef can have fatal consequences. Exposure to Salmonella enteritidis through contact with unwashed poultry can cause severe nausea. Mold and yeast (Candida albicans) may cause skin infections. There is, in addition, increasing concern over pathogens, such as Salmonella and E. coli:O: 157, present in medical environments and concern over viruses such as Influenza, SARS, AIDS, and hepatitis. Indeed, some forms of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus are resistant to all but a few or one known antibiotic.
Noble metal-ions such as silver and gold ions are known for their antimicrobial properties and have been used in medical care for many years to prevent and treat infection. In recent years, this technology has been applied to consumer products to prevent the transmission of infectious disease and to kill harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella. In common practice, noble metals, metal-ions, metal salts or compounds containing metal-ions having antimicrobial properties, and other antimicrobial materials such as chlorophenol compounds (Triclosan™), isothiazolone (Kathon™), antibiotics, and some polymeric materials, may be applied to surfaces to impart an antimicrobial property to the surface. If, or when, the surface is inoculated with harmful microbes, the antimicrobial metal-ions or metal complexes, if present in effective concentrations, will slow or even prevent altogether the growth of those microbes. In addition, such compounds can be formed into, or coated upon, articles such as bandages, wound dressings, casts, personal hygiene items, etc.
In order for an antimicrobial article to be effective against harmful micro-organisms, the antimicrobial compound must come in direct contact with micro-organisms present in the surrounding environment, such as food, liquid nutrient or biological fluid. Since physiological fluids are often extraordinarily complex, the treatment of a multitude of microbial contaminants may be difficult, if not impossible, with one antimicrobial compound. Further, the antimicrobial ions or compounds may be precipitated or complexed by components of the biological or physiological fluids and rendered ineffective. Still further, micro-organisms such as bacteria may develop resistance to antibiotics, biocides and antimicrobials, and more dangerous microbes may result.
It has been recognized that small concentrations of metal-ions may play an important role in biological processes. For example, Mn, Fe, Ca, Zn, Cu and Al are essential bio-metals, and are required for most, if not all, living systems. Metal-ions play a crucial role in oxygen transport in living systems, and regulate the function of genes and replication in many cellular systems. Calcium is an important structural element in the formation of bones and other hard tissues. Mn, Cu and Fe are involved in metabolism and enzymatic processes. At high concentrations, metals may become toxic to living systems and the organism may experience disease or illness if the level cannot be controlled. As a result, the availability and concentrations of metal-ions in aqueous and biological environments is a major factor in determining the abundance, growth-rate and health of plant, animal and micro-organism populations.
It has been recognized that iron is an essential biological element, and that all living organisms require iron for survival and replication. Although the occurrence and concentration of iron is relatively high on the earth's surface, the availability of “free” iron is severely limited by the extreme insolubility of iron in aqueous environments. As a result, many organisms have developed complex methods of procuring “free” iron for survival and replication; and depend directly upon these mechanisms for their survival.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,998 to Hedlund et al. describes a method for scavenging free iron or aluminum in fluids such as physiological fluids by providing in such fluids a soluble polymer substrate having a chelator immobilized thereon. A composition is described which comprises a water-soluble conjugate comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polysaccharide covalently bonded to deferoxamine, a known iron chelator. The conjugate is said to be capable of reducing iron concentrations in body fluids in vivo.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,234 to Meyer-Ingold et al. describes novel wound coverings, which can remove interfering factors (such as iron ions) from the wound fluid of chronic wounds. The wound coverings may comprise iron chelators covalently bonded to a substrate such as cloth or cotton bandages.
U.S. Patent application 2003/0078209 A1 to Schmidt et al. describes solid porous compositions, substantially insoluble in water, comprising at least 25% by weight of an oxidized cellulose and having a significant capacity to bind iron. The invention also provides a method of sequestering dissolved iron from aqueous environments. The compositions may be used for the prevention or treatment of infections by bacteria or yeast.
There is a problem in that the above compositions are expensive to manufacture and do not bind metal-ions, such as iron, very strongly. There is a further problem in that the compositions above are difficult to apply to surfaces other than those specified, and are difficult to render transparent once applied to a surface.
Articles, such as bandages, personal hygiene items, and medical instruments, are needed that are able to provide for the general safety and health of the public. Articles are needed to protect the public from the spread of infectious disease and to prevent microbial contamination in health care environments. Materials and methods are needed to prepare articles having antimicrobial properties that are less, or not, susceptible to microbial resistance. Methods are needed that are able to target and remove specific, biologically important metal-ions, while leaving intact the concentrations of beneficial metal-ions.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article for inhibiting the growth of microbes in biological and physiological fluids, the article having a support structure and comprising derivatized particles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant for inhibiting the growth of the microbes, wherein the derivatized particles have a stability constant greater than 1010 with iron (III).
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for inhibiting growth of microbes in biological and physiological fluids, comprising the steps of;
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
The articles of the invention may comprise health care items such as band-aids, bandages, and wound healing items, and personal care items such as diapers, tampons, feminine napkins, gauze and cotton and other articles. The articles of the invention are useful for preventing microbial growth in biological and physiological fluids. The articles of the invention may provide for the health and safety of the general public. The articles of the invention may also provide for the health and safety of animals. The articles of the invention do not release chemicals that can be harmful to humans or that may leach into aquatic or surrounding environments, and are cleaner and safer in preventing microbial contamination and infectious disease. The articles of the invention are able to remove or sequester metal-ions such as Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe which are essential for biological growth, and thus may inhibit the growth of harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi in physiological fluids within or upon the user of said article. The articles of the invention when placed in contact with physiological fluids, removes essential biological metal-ions, and thus “starves” the micro-organisms present in such fluids of minute quantities of essential nutrients (metal-ions) and limits their growth; thereby reducing the risk due to bacterial, viral and other infectious diseases.
The invention provides an article for inhibiting the growth of a microbes in biological and physiological fluids, said article having a support structure and comprising derivatized particles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant for inhibiting the growth of said microbes, wherein the derivatized particles have a stability constant greater than 1010 with iron (III). It is further preferred that said derivatized particles have a stability constant greater than 1020 with iron (III). This is preferred because iron is an essential metal-ion nutrient for virtually all micro-organisms. The term stability constant will be defined in detail below. It is preferred that said support structure is made of fibers, fabric, textiles, plastic or paper.
The derivatized particles of the invention have an attached metal-ion sequestrant. The metal-ion sequestrants are attached to particles in order to “anchor” them in place and prevent the diffusion of the sequestrant. In this manner, metal-ions chelated or complexed by the sequestrant are thereby “anchored” to the particles and may not diffuse away. It is preferred that the derivatized particles are further immobilized on a support structure. This is preferred because the derivatized particles may then sequester metal-ions within the support structure. Particles suitable for practice of the invention are inorganic or organic particles. Inorganic particles include colloids and other particulates such as silica oxides, alumina oxides, boehmites, titanium oxides, zinc oxides, tin oxides, zirconium oxides, yttrium oxides, hafnium oxides, clays or alumina silicates, and more preferably comprise silicon dioxide, alumina oxide, clays or boehmite. The term “clay” is used to describe silicates and alumino-silicates, and derivatives thereof. Some examples of clays, which are commercially available, are montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, and synthetic derivatives such as laponite. Other examples include hydrotalcites, zeolites, alumino-silicates, and metal (oxy)hydroxides given by the general formula, MaOb(OH)c, where M is a metal-ion and a, b and c are integers. Organic particles include latexes and ion exchange resins.
The articles made in accordance with the invention comprises a derivatized particle having an attached metal-ion sequestrant having a high-affinity for metal-ions. It is preferred that the metal-ion sequestrant has a high-affinity for biologically important metal-ions such as Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe. It is further preferred that the metal-ion sequestering agent has a high-selectivity for biologically important metal-ions such as Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe. In a particular embodiment, it is preferred that said derivatized particles are immobilized on the support structure and have a high-affinity for biologically important metal-ions such as Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe. It is further preferred that said derivatized particles are immobilized on the support structure and have a high-selectivity for biologically important metal-ions such as Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe. It is still further preferred that said derivatized particles are immobilized on the support structure and have a stability constant for iron greater than 1020, more preferably greater than 1030.
A measure of the “affinity” of metal-ion sequestrants for various metal-ions is given by the stability constant (also often referred to as critical stability constants, complex formation constants, equilibrium constants, or formation constants) of that sequestrant for a given metal-ion. Stability constants are discussed at length in “Critical Stability Constants”, A. E. Martell and R. M. Smith, Vols. 1-4, Plenum, N.Y. (1977), “Inorganic Chemistry in Biology and Medicine”, Chapter 17, ACS Symposium Series, Washington, D.C. (1980), and by R. D. Hancock and A. E. Martell, Chem. Rev. vol. 89, p. 1875-1914 (1989). The ability of a specific molecule or ligand to sequester a metal-ion may depend also upon the pH, the concentrations of interfering ions, and the rate of complex formation (kinetics). Generally, however, the greater the stability constant, the greater the binding affinity for that particular metal-ion. Often the stability constants are expressed as the natural logarithm of the stability constant. Herein the stability constant for the reaction of a metal-ion (M) and a sequestrant or ligand (L) is defined as follows:
M+n L⇄MLn
where the stability constant is βn=[MLn]/[M][L]n, wherein [MLn] is the concentration of “complexed” metal-ion, [M] is the concentration of free (uncomplexed) metal-ion and [L] is the concentration of free ligand. The log of the stability constant is log βn, and n is the number of ligands, which coordinate with the metal. It follows from the above equation that if βn is very large, the concentration of “free” metal-ion will be very low. Ligands with a high stability constant (or affinity) generally have a stability constant greater than 1010 or a log stability constant greater than 10 for the target metal. Preferably the ligands have a stability constant greater than 1015 for the target metal-ion. Table 1 lists common ligands (or sequestrants) and the natural logarithm of their stability constants (log βn) for selected metal-ions.
EDTA is ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and salts thereof, DTPA is diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and salts thereof, DPTA is Hydroxylpropylenediaminetetraacetic acid and salts thereof, NTA is nitrilotriacetic acid and salts thereof, CDTA is 1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetic acid and salts thereof, PDTA is propylenediammine tetraacetic acid and salts thereof. Desferroxamine B is a commercially available iron chelating drug, desferal®. MECAMS, 4-LICAMS and 3,4-LICAMS are described by Raymond et al. in “Inorganic Chemistry in Biology and Medicine”, Chapter 18, ACS Symposium Series, Washington, D.C. (1980). Log stability constants are from “Critical Stability Constants”, A. E. Martell and R. M. Smith, Vols. 1-4, Plenum Press, NY (1977); “Inorganic Chemistry in Biology and Medicine”, Chapter 17, ACS Symposium Series, Washington, D.C. (1980); R. D. Hancock and A. E. Martell, Chem. Rev. vol. 89, p. 1875-1914 (1989) and “Stability Constants of Metal-ion Complexes”, The Chemical Society, London, 1964.
In many instances, the growth of a particular micro-organism may be limited by the availability of a particular metal-ion, for example, due to a deficiency of this metal-ion. In such cases, it is desirable to select a metal-ion sequestrant with a very high specificity or selectivity for a given metal-ion. Metal-ion sequestrants of this nature may be used to control the concentration of the target metal-ion and thus limit the growth of the organism(s), which require this metal-ion. However, it may be necessary to control the concentration of the target metal, without affecting the concentrations of beneficial metal-ions such as potassium and calcium. One skilled in the art may select a metal-ion sequestrant having a high selectivity for the target metal-ion. The selectivity of a metal-ion sequestrant for a target metal-ion is given by the difference between the log of the stability constant for the target metal-ion, and the log of the stability constant for the interfering (beneficial) metal-ions. For example, if a treatment required the removal of Fe(III), but it was necessary to leave the Ca-concentration unaltered, then from Table 1, DTPA would be a suitable choice since the difference between the log stability constants 28−10.8=17.2, is very large. 3,4-LICAMS would be a still more suitable choice since the difference between the log stability constants 43−16.2=26.8, is the largest in Table 1.
It is preferred that said metal-ion sequestrant has a high-affinity for iron, and in particular iron (III). It is preferred that the stability constant of the sequestrant for iron (III) be greater than 1010. It is still further preferred that the metal-ion sequestrant has a stability constant for iron greater than 1020. It is still further preferred that the metal-ion sequestrant has a stability constant for iron greater than 1030.
In a preferred embodiment, the derivatized particles comprise derivatized nanoparticles comprising inorganic nanoparticles having an attached metal-ion sequestrant, wherein said inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 200 nm and the derivatized nanoparticles have a stability constant greater than 1010 with iron (III). It is further preferred that the derivatized nanoparticles have a stability constant greater than 1020 with iron (III). The derivatized nanoparticles are preferred because they have very high surface area and may have a very high-affinity for the target metal-ions. It is preferred that the nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than 100 nm. It is further preferred that the nanoparticles have an average size of less than 50 nm, and most preferably less than 20 nm. Preferably greater than 95% by weight of the nanoparticles are less than 200 nm, more preferably less than 100 nm, and most preferably less than 50 nm. This is preferred because as the particle size becomes smaller, the particles scatter visible-light less strongly. Therefore, the derivatized nanoparticles can be applied to clear, transparent surfaces without causing a hazy or a cloudy appearance at the surface. This allows the particles of the present invention to be applied to articles without changing the appearance of the article. It is preferred that the nanoparticles have a very high surface area, since this provides more surface with which to covalently bind the metal-ion sequestrant, thus improving the capacity of the derivatized nanoparticles for binding metal-ions. It is preferred that the nanoparticles have a specific surface area of greater than 100 m2/g, more preferably greater than 200 m2/g, and most preferably greater than 300 m2/g. For applications of the invention in which the concentrations of contaminant or targeted metal-ions in the environment is high, it is preferred that the nanoparticles have a particle size of less than 20 nm and a surface area of greater than 300 m2/g. Derivatized nanoparticles are described at length in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled DERIVATIZED NANOPARTICLES COMPRISING METAL-ION SEQUESTRAINT by Joseph F. Bringley (docket 87428).
The inorganic nanoparticles of the invention preferably comprise silica oxides, alumina oxides, boehmites, titanium oxides, zinc oxides, tin oxides, zirconium oxides, yttrium oxides, hafnium oxides, clays or alumina silicates, and more preferably comprise silicon dioxide, alumina oxide, clays or boehmite. The nanoparticles may comprise a combination or mixture of the above materials. The term “clay” is used to describe silicates and alumino-silicates, and derivatives thereof. Some examples of clays which are commercially available are montmorillonite, hectorite, and synthetic derivatives such as laponite. Other examples include hydrotalcites, zeolites, alumino-silicates, and metal (oxy)hydroxides given by the general formula, MaOb(OH)c, where M is a metal-ion and a, b and c are integers.
It is preferred that the derivatized nanoparticles have a high stability constant for the target metal-ion(s). The stability constant for the derivatized nanoparticle will largely be determined by the stability constant for the attached metal-ion sequestrant. However, the stability constant for the derivatized nanoparticles may vary somewhat from that of the attached metal-ion sequestrant. Generally, it is anticipated that metal-ion sequestrants with high stability constants will give derivatized nanoparticles with high stability constants. For a particular application, it may be desirable to have a derivatized nanoparticle with a high selectivity for a particular metal-ion. In most cases, the derivatized nanoparticle will have a high selectivity for a particular metal-ion if the stability constant for that metal-ion is about 106 greater than for other ions present in the system.
Metal-ion sequestrants may be chosen from various organic molecules. Such molecules having the ability to form complexes with metal-ions are often referred to as “chelators”, “complexing agents”, and “ligands”. Certain types of organic functional groups are known to be strong “chelators” or sequestrants of metal-ions. It is preferred that the sequestrants of the invention contain alpha-amino carboxylates, hydroxamates, or catechol, functional groups.
Hydroxamates, or catechol, functional groups are preferred. Alpha-amino carboxylates have the general formula:
R—[N(CH2CO2M)—(CH2)n—N(CH2CO2M)2]x
where R is an organic group such as an alkyl or aryl group; M is H, or an alkali or alkaline earth metal such as Na, K, Ca or Mg, or Zn; n is an integer from 1 to 6; and x is an integer from 1 to 3. Examples of metal-ion sequestrants containing alpha-amino carboxylate functional groups include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), Hydroxylpropylenediaminetetraacetic acid (DPTA), nitrilotriacetic acid, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid, N,N-bis(o-hydroxybenzyl) ethylenediamine-N,N′ diacteic acid, and ethylenebis-N,N′-(2-o-hydroxyphenyl)glycine.
Hydroxamates (or often called hydroxamic acids) have the general formula:
where R is an organic group such as an alkyl or aryl group. Examples of metal-ion sequestrants containing hydroxamate functional groups include acetohydroxamic acid, benzohydroxamic acid and desferroxamine B, the iron chelating drug desferal.
Catechols have the general formula:
Where R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be H, an organic group such as an alkyl or aryl group, or a carboxylate or sulfonate group. Examples of metal-ion sequestrants containing catechol functional groups include catechol, disulfocatechol, dimethyl-2,3-dihydroxybenzamide, mesitylene catecholamide (MECAM) and derivatives thereof, 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-sulfonic acid, and 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene-6-sulfonic acid.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the metal-ion sequestrant is attached to the particle, by reaction of the particle with a metal alkoxide intermediate of the sequestrant having the general formula.
M(OR)4-xR′x;
wherein M is silicon, titanium, aluminum, tin, or germanium;
In a preferred embodiment the metal-ion sequestrant is attached to a particle by reaction of the particle with a silicon alkoxide intermediate having the general formula:
Si(OR)4-xR′x;
It is preferred that substantially all (greater than 90%) of the metal-ion sequestrant is covalently bound to the particles, and is thus “anchored” to the particle. Metal-ion sequestrant that is not bound to the particles may dissolve and quickly diffuse through a system; and may be ineffective in removing metal-ions from the system. It is further preferred that the metal-ion sequestrant is present in an amount sufficient, or less than sufficient, to cover the surfaces of all particles. This is preferred because it maximizes the number of covalently bound metal-ion sequestrants, since once the surface of the particles is covered, no more covalent linkages to the particle may result.
It is preferred that the article(s) of the invention comprise a polymer, or polymeric layer containing said derivatized particles. The article may comprise the polymer itself containing said derivatized particles, or alternatively, the derivatized particles may be contained with a polymeric layer attached to a support structure. It is preferred that said polymer is permeable to water. It is important that the polymer is permeable to water because permeability facilitates the contact of the target metal-ions with the metal-ion sequestrant, which, in turn, facilitates the sequestration of the metal-ions within the polymer or polymeric layer. A measure of the permeability of various polymeric addenda to water is given by the permeability coefficient, P which is given by
P=(quantity of permeate)(film thickness)/[area×time×(pressure drop across the film)]
Permeability coefficients and diffusion data of water for various polymers are discussed by J. Comyn, in Polymer Permeability, Elsevier, N.Y., 1985 and in “Permeability and Other Film Properties Of Plastics and Elastomers”, Plastics Design Library, NY, 1995. The higher the permeability coefficient, the greater the water permeability of the polymeric media. The permeability coefficient of a particular polymer may vary depending upon the density, crystallinity, molecular weight, degree of cross-linking, and the presence of addenda such as coating-aids, plasticizers, etc. It is preferred that the polymer has a water permeability of greater than 1000 [(cm3 cm)/(cm2sec/Pa)]×1013.
It is further preferred that the polymer has a water permeability of greater than 5000 [(cm3 cm)/(cm2sec/Pa)]×1013. Preferred polymers for practice of the invention are polyvinyl alcohol, cellophane, water-based polyurethanes, polyester, nylon, high nitrile resins, polyethylene-polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose nitrate, aqueous latexes, polyacrylic acid, polystyrene sulfonate, polyamide, polymethacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or polyacrylonitrile. It is preferred that the metal-ion sequestrant comprises 0.1 to 50.0% by weight of the polymer, and more preferably 1% to 10% by weight of the polymer.
In a preferred embodiment, the article(s) of the invention may further comprise a barrier layer, wherein the polymeric layer is between the surface of the article and the barrier layer and wherein the barrier layer does not contain the derivatized particles. It is preferred that the barrier layer is permeable to water, and has a thickness preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10.0 microns. It is preferred that microbes cannot pass or diffuse through the barrier layer. The barrier layer may provide several functions including improving the physical strength and toughness of the article and resistance to scratching, marring, cracking, etc. However, the primary purpose of the barrier layer is to provide a barrier through which micro-organisms cannot pass. It is important to limit, or eliminate, the direct contact of micro-organisms with the metal-ion sequestrant or the layer containing the metal-ion sequestrant, since many micro-organisms, under conditions of iron deficiency, may bio-synthesize molecules which are strong chelators for iron, and other metals. These bio-synthetic molecules are called “siderophores” and their primary purpose is to procure iron for the micro-organisms. Thus, if the micro-organisms are allowed to directly contact the metal-ion sequestrant, they may find a rich source of iron there, and begin to colonize directly at these surfaces. The siderophores produced by the micro-organisms may compete with the metal-ion sequestrant for the iron (or other bio-essential metal) at their surfaces. The barrier layer of the invention does not contain the derivatized particles, and because micro-organisms are large, they may not pass or diffuse through the barrier layer. The barrier layer thus prevents contact of the micro-organisms with the polymeric layer containing the metal-ion sequestrant of the invention. Materials suitable for barrier layers are described at length in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled COMPOSITION OF MATTER COMPRISING POLYMER AND DERIVATIZED NANOPARTICLES by Joseph F. Bringley et al. (docket 87708).
The articles of the invention are useful for preventing microbial growth in biological and physiological fluids, and may be used to treat or prevent infection in wounds, and to prevent infection resulting from contact with physiological fluids such as blood, urine, fecal matter, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the article is designed to be placed against the skin of an individual. In another preferred embodiment, the article comprises a bandage. It is preferred that the bandage includes a liquid permeable barrier layer for allowing said biological or physiological fluids to come in contact with the derivatized particles. In a preferred embodiment, the article comprises a diaper. It is preferred that said diaper includes a liquid permeable membrane for allowing said biological or physiological fluids to come in contact with the derivatized particles.
Referring to
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In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the article comprises gauze with the derivatized particles 75 incorporated therein as is shown by the pad 65 in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the article is designed to be placed within a living animal such as a human, and relates to fibrous articles intended for absorption of body fluids and, in particular, to tampons and similar catamenial devices. As shown in FIGS., 7, 8, 9 and 10, the fibrous absorbent article 100 comprises fibrous material 105 capable of absorbing body fluids such as catamenial fluids and the like. The fibrous material 105 may be arranged to form a woven or non-woven structure. The fibrous absorbent article 100 is, in the particular example of
Referring again to
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the article is a disposable diaper made in accordance with the present invention comprising low-density absorbent fibrous foam composites including a water-insoluble fiber and a superabsorbent material. The superabsorbent material has a weight amount between about 10 to 70 weight percent and the water-insoluble fiber has a weight amount between about 20 to 80 weight percent, wherein weight percent is based on total weight of the absorbent composite.
Referring to
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In all the embodiments discussed above, it is preferred that the article is replaced with another identical article after the time in which the effectiveness of the article substantially decreases. The details and specifications of the articles, support structure, derivatized particles, and metal-ion sequestrant are the same as those described above for the article.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention, the present invention being defined by the claims set forth herein.
Reference is made to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled ARTICLE FOR INHIBITING MICROBIAL GROWTH by Joseph F. Bringley, David L. Patton, Richard W. Wien, Yannick J. F. Lerat (docket 87834), U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled CONTAINER FOR INHIBITING MICROBIAL GROWTH IN LIQUID NUTRIENTS by David L. Patton, Joseph F. Bringley, Richard W. Wien, John M. Pochan, Yannick J. F. Lerat (docket 87472); U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled USE OF DERIVATIZED NANOPARTICLES TO MINIMIZE GROWTH OF MICRO-ORGANISMS IN HOT FILLED DRINKS by Richard W. Wien, David L. Patton, Joseph F. Bringley, Yannick J. F. Lerat (docket 87471); U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled DERIVATIZED NANOPARTICLES COMPRISING METAL-ION SEQUESTRAINT by Joseph F. Bringley (docket 87428); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled COMPOSITION OF MATTER COMPRISING POLYMER AND DERIVATIZED NANOPARTICLES by Joseph F. Bringley, Richard W. Wien, Richard L. Parton (docket 87708), U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ filed herewith entitled COMPOSITION COMPRISING INTERCALATED METAL-ION SEQUESTRANTS by Joseph F. Bringley, David L. Patton, Richard W. Wien (docket 87765), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
