Antimicrobial And Biological Active Polymer Composites And Related Methods, Materials and Devices
AssigneeIasis Molecular Sciences
InventorDavid J. VACHON
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Abstract
Biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salts are made by exchanging biologically active ionic agents onto ion-exchange polymers. The activated polymers are uniquely surface active and stable to thermal degradation and chemical and other forms of decomposition. The activated ion-exchange polymer salts may be processed and combined with polymer precursors using novel methods and materials to produce stable, biologically activated polymer composites, including antimicrobial and antifouling polymer composites.
Claims163
A biologically activated, stable polymer composite comprising a fine particulate polymer salt ionically associated with a biologically active ionic agent, the polymer salt dispersed within a thermoset, thermoplastic or other curable polymer or curable polymer-containing mixture to form a biologically activated, curable polymer composite, wherein the biologically active agent remains intact and biologically active in the composite during preparation and after hardening or curing of the thermoset or thermoplastic or other curable polymer to form a solid-cured composite material or coating.
A process for preparing a fine particulate ion-exchange polymer salt material biologically activated by ionic association with a biologically active ionic agent comprising:
- providing a plurality of particles of a water-insoluble polysulfonated, polycarboxylated, polyaminated, or polyphosphorylated polymer salt, the particles having a porous construction wherein individual particles define a channel, void or pore space surrounded by a wall or partition of polymer salt material;
- combining the particles of ion-exchange polymer salt material with a biologically active ionic agent in an aqueous medium to substitute the biologically active ionic agent by salt-exchange for a counter-ion initially associated with the ion-exchange polymer salt material, to yield a biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particle having the biologically active ionic agent ionically associated with the ion-exchange polymer salt material, whereby the biologically active ionic agent is rendered insoluble and will not freely dissociate from the biologically activated polymer salt material in deionized water;
- drying the biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particles to remove water;
- milling the biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particles by a high energy milling process in the presence of a non-solvent liquid added to occupy channel, void and pore spaces within the polymer salt particles, whereby the non-solvent liquid provides compression resistance against interior surfaces of the particle walls and partitions opposing pressure and mechanical forces imparted on exterior surfaces of the walls and partition during the high energy milling, said compression resistance enhancing efficiency and uniformity of particle size reduction during milling by facilitating structural failure of walls and partitions throughout the porous polymer salt particle in response to the pressure and mechanical forces, yielding the fine particulate biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salt material.
A process for preparing a biologically activated polymer composite comprising:
- providing a plurality of particles comprising a water-insoluble polysulfonated, polycarboxylated, polyaminated, or polyphosphorylated polymer salt, the particles having a porous construction wherein individual particles define a channel, void or pore space surrounded by a wall or partition of polymer salt material;
- combining the particles of ion-exchange polymer salt material with a biologically active ionic agent in an aqueous medium to substitute the biologically active ionic agent by salt-exchange for a counter-ion initially associated with the ion-exchange polymer salt material, to yield a biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particle having the biologically active ionic agent ionically associated with the ion-exchange polymer salt material, whereby the biologically active ionic agent is rendered insoluble and will not freely dissociate from the ion-exchange polymer salt material in deionized water;
- drying the biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particles to remove water;
- milling the biologically activated porous ion-exchange polymer salt particles by a high energy milling process in the presence of a non-solvent liquid added to occupy channel, void and pore spaces within the polymer salt particles, whereby the non-solvent liquid provides compression resistance against interior surfaces of the particle walls and partitions opposing pressure and mechanical forces imparted on exterior surfaces of the walls and partition during the high energy milling, said compression resistance enhancing efficiency and uniformity of particle size reduction during milling by facilitating structural failure of walls and partitions throughout the porous polymer salt particle in response to the pressure and mechanical forces, yielding the fine particulate biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salt material;
- blending the fine particulate biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salt material with one or more thermoset, thermoplastic, photocuring or other curable polymer precursors to form a fluid or semi-solid thermoset or thermoplastic or photocuring polymer and biologically activated ion-exchange polymer salt composite mixture.
A method of regenerating the surface of a biologically stable composite comprising a fine particulate ion-exchange polymer salt ionically associated with an ionic biologically active agent, admixed in a fine particulate form with a secondary polymer and hardened to form a composite, comprising abrading the surface to remove an exhausted outer portion of the composite material wherein the biologically active agent is integrated within a hardened surface of the composite.
A method of regenerating surface biological activity of a biologically activated polymer composite comprising a polymer salt ionically associated with a biologically active ionic agent admixed in a fine particulate form with a secondary polymer and thermoset or hardened to form a biologically activated composite material, comprising abrading the surface to remove an exhausted outer portion of the composite material to newly expose biologically active agent at a polished surface of the composite material.
A method of regenerating surface biological activity of a biologically activated polymer composite material comprising a fine particulate polymer salt ionically associated with a biologically active ionic agent admixed in a fine particulate form with a secondary polymer and thermoset or hardened to form a biologically activated composite material, comprising exposing the surface to an ion-exchange liquid that mediates ion-exchange addition of new biologically active ionic to recharge initial polymer salt associations at a partially or fully exhausted surface of the composite material.
A method of activating surface biological activity of a polymer composite comprising a fine particulate polymer salt ionically associated with a biologically active ionic agent admixed in a fine particulate form with a secondary polymer and thermoset or hardened to form a biologically activated composite material, comprising exposing the surface to peroxide.
A method of recharging surface biological activity of a polymer composite comprising a fine particulate polymer salt ionically associated with a biologically active ionic agent admixed in a fine particulate form with a secondary polymer and thermoset or hardened to form a biologically activated composite material, comprising exposing the surface to peroxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.