Compositions and methods for antimicrobial metal nanoparticles
OwnerDonald R. Uhlmann, Anoop Agrawal +1inventors
InventorsDonald R. Uhlmann, Anoop Agrawal, John P. Cronin
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a composition having antimicrobial activity comprising particles comprising at least one inorganic copper salt; and at least one functionalizing agent in contact with the particles, the functionalizing agent stabilizing the particle in a carrier such that an antimicrobially effective amount of ions are released into the environment of a microbe. The average size of the particles ranges from about 1000 nm to about 4 nm. Preferred copper salts include copper iodide, copper bromide and copper chloride. Preferred functionalizing agents include amino acids, thiols, hydrophilic polymers emulsions of hydrophobic polymers and surfactants.
Claims27
1-30. (canceled)
A composition having antimicrobial activity comprising the steps of:
- a. providing CuI powder;
- b. dissolving said CuI powder in a polar nonaqueous solvent to form a solution;
- c. incorporating an amount of functionalizing agent in the said solution;
- d. removing the solvent sufficient to form stabilized CuI particles whereby functionalizing agent-complexed CuI particles with an average size of less than about 1,000 nm are formed;
- e. dispersing the functionalizing agent-complexed CuI particles in an aqueous solution having a pH of from about 0.5 to about 6;
- and
- f. optionally drying said functionalizing agent-complexed stabilized CuI particles.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A composition having antimicrobial activity made according to the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing CuI powder;
- b. dissolving said CuI powder in a polar nonaqueous solvent to form a solution;
- c. incorporating an amount of polymer comprising PEG and/or PVP and their blends and copolymers to the said solution;
- d. removing the solvent sufficiently to to form polymer-complexed CuI particles having an average size of less than about 1,000 nm;
- e. dispersing the polymer-complexed CuI particles in an aqueous solution having a pH of from about 0.5 to about 6;
- and
- f. optionally drying said polymer-complexed CuI particles.
(canceled)
A composition having antimicrobial activity made according to the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing copper halide powder;
- b. dissolving said copper halide powder in a polar nonaqueous solvent to form a solution;
- c. incorporating an amount of polymer comprising PEG and/or PVP and their blends and copolymers to the said solution;
- d. removing the solvent sufficiently to form copper halide particles surface functionalized by the said polymer having an average particle size of less than about 1,000 nm;
- e. dispersing the polymer-complexed copper halide particles in an acidic aqueous solution;
- and
- f. optionally drying said polymer-complexed copper halide particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.