Claims
- 1. An un-filled oral hygiene composition consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of an effective amount of at least one polymer and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, which polymer comprises one or more repeating units of general structure A ##STR32## and one or more repeating units of general structure B ##STR33## wherein X, which in the repeating units of structure A may be the same or different, and Y, which in the repeating units of structure B may be the same or different, are unsubstituted hydrocarbyl residues or residues substituted with groups such as hydroxy, alkoxy and halogen provided that the desired properties of the polymer are not adversely affected by such substituents, said residues providing a backbone for the polymer;
- R.sup.1, which in the same repeating unit of structure B (when n or q is 2 or more) or in different repeating units of structure B may be the same or different, is hydrogen or methyl;
- R.sup.2, which in the same repeating unit of structure B (when n or q is 2 or more) or in different repeating units of structure B may be the same or different, is hydrogen or methyl; except that R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 in a single unit (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O) cannot both be methyl;
- R.sup.3, which in the same repeating unit of structure B (when q is 2 or more) or in different repeating units of structure B may be the same or different, is hydrogen, or a lower alkyl group containing up to 5 carbon atoms, or an acyl group derived from an alkanoic acid having up to 5 carbon atoms;
- n is a number of from 1 to 60;
- p is a number of from 1 to 4, and q is a number of from 1 to 4;
- and wherein each (CO.sub.2 H) group is joined via an intermediary or intermediaries L to the hydrocarbyl residue X, and in cases where
- p is 2 to 4 may be joined by L to the same or different carbon atoms of X;
- and wherein L represents one or more intermediaries, and wherein L may be the same or different in the repeat units of structure A and is selected from one or more direct links and one or more groups of atoms each group providing a chain of one or more atoms for linking a (CO.sub.2 H) group with X, except that more than two (CO.sub.2 H) groups cannot be directly linked to the same carbon atoms in X;
- and wherein each (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n group is joined via an intermediary or intermediaries M to the hydrocarbyl residue Y, and in cases where q is 2 to 4 may be joined by M to the same or different carbon atoms of Y;
- and wherein M represents one or more intermediaries, and wherein M may be the same or different in the repeating units of structure B and is selected from one or more direct links and one or more groups of atoms each group providing a chain of one or more atoms for linking a (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n group with Y, except that more than two (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O) groups cannot be directly linked to the same carbon atom in Y;
- and wherein the ratio of the number of --CO.sub.2 H groups to the number of --CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O-- groups is within the range of from 1:20 to 20:1.
- 2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is present therein at a concentration of 0.05 to 30 weight % of the composition.
- 3. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in the form of a mouthwash, rinse, irrigating solution, abrasive or nonabrasive gel dentifrice, denture cleaner, coated dental floss, toothbrush bristle coating or impregnant, interdental stimulator coating, chewing gum, lozenge, breath freshener, foam or spray.
- 4. A composition according to claim 1 wherein L is selected from one or more direct links and one or more groups of atoms each providing a chain of one or more carbon and/or hetero atoms.
- 5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein M is selected from one or more groups of atoms each group providing a chain of one or more carbon and/or hetero atoms.
- 6. A composition according to claim 5 wherein M is selected from one or more --COO-- and --CONH-- groups.
- 7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein p in structure A is 1 or 2.
- 8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein q in structure B is 1 or 2.
- 9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein structure A is the repeat unit derived from the polymerization of a polymerisable olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid.
- 10. A composition according to claim 9 wherein said acid is acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic or fumaric acid, N-methacryloyl alanine, or N-acryloyl hydroxy glycine, whereby the corresponding structures A are respectively: ##STR34##
- 11. A composition according to claim 1 wherein structure B is the repeating unit derived from the polymerisation of a polymerisable olefinically unsaturated ester or amide formed from an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid (or an esterifiable or amidifiable derivative thereof) and a hydroxy compound of formula HO--CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n R.sup.3 (to form the ester) or an amine of formula H.sub.2 N--CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n R.sup.3 (to form the amide).
- 12. A composition according to claim 11 wherein the acid used for the ester or amide formation is methacrylic acid, and the corresponding structures B are respectively: ##STR35##
- 13. A composition according to claim 1 wherein both structures A and B are the repeat units resulting from the partial esterification or amidification of an already-polymerised olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid (or an esterifiable or amidifiable derivative thereof) using an alcohol of formula HO--CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n R.sup.3 or an amine of formula H.sub.2 N--CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n R.sup.3.
- 14. A composition according to claim 13 wherein said already-polymerized acid or acid derivative is the polymerized acid anhydride of maleic acid, or repeat unit ##STR36## and the resulting repeating units A and B after esterification or amidification comprising respectively ##STR37##
- 15. A composition according to claim 1 wherein substantially all the R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 groups are hydrogen so that (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.1 O).sub.n is (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n.
- 16. A composition according to claim 1 wherein one or more of, or all of, the R.sup.1 groups or one or more of, or all of, the R.sup.2 groups in one or more of the (CHR.sup.1 CHR.sup.2 O).sub.n chains are methyl.
- 17. An un-filled oral hygiene composition consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of an effective amount of at least one polymer and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, which polymer comprises repeating units of structure A and repeating units of structure B, wherein said polymer comprises one of the following pairs of structures for A and B:
- __________________________________________________________________________A B__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR38## ##STR39## ##STR40## ##STR41## ##STR42## ##STR43## ##STR44## ##STR45## ##STR46## ##STR47## ##STR48## ##STR49## ##STR50## ##STR51##and ##STR52## ##STR53##__________________________________________________________________________
- wherein the ratio of --CO.sub.2 H groups to --CHR.sup.1 CH.sub.2 O-- groups (where R.sup.1 is H or methyl as depicted above) is from 1:20 to 20:1.
- 18. A polymer according to either of claims 1 and 17 wherein said polymer has a weight average molecular weight within the range of from 5000 to 500,000.
- 19. A polymer according to either of claims 1 and 17 wherein the backbone of said polymer is derived from said repeating units A and said repeating units B and 0 to 50% w/w of at least one other repeating unit structure which does not adversely affect the properties of the oral hygiene composition.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/016,257, filed 2/19/87, which was abandoned upon the filing hereof, which is a Rule 60 Div. of Ser. No. 06/793,763, filed Nov. 1, 1985, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4471097 |
Uhl et al. |
Sep 1984 |
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Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
498062 |
Jan 1977 |
AUX |
555933 |
Nov 1982 |
AUX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
793763 |
Nov 1985 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
16257 |
Feb 1987 |
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