# US 2018/0020670 A1 · Antimicrobial material comprising synergistic combinations of metal oxides > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020670 A1 - Document ID: US20180020670A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/549,018 - Filed: 2015-02-08 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-08 - Assignees: Argaman Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Argaman Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Mechael KANOVSKY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020670A1 ## CPC - A01N 59/20: Copper - A01N 25/10: Macromolecular compounds - A01N 25/26: in coated particulate form - A01N 59/16: Heavy metals; Compounds thereof - A61K 9/7007: {Drug-containing films, membranes or sheets (A61K9/0041, A61K9/0043, A61K9/006, A61K9/0063 take precedence)} - A61K 33/30: Zinc; Compounds thereof - A61K 33/34: Copper; Compounds thereof - A61K 33/38: Silver; Compounds thereof - A61P 31/00: Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics - C08J 3/226: {using a polymer as a carrier} - D06M 11/42: Oxides or hydroxides of copper, silver or gold - C08J 2323/12: Polypropene - C08J 2367/00: Characterised by the use of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain; Derivatives of such polymers - C08J 2491/08: Mineral waxes - C08K 3/22: of metals - C08K 2003/2248: {of copper} - C08K 2003/2286: {of silver} - D06M 2101/04: Vegetal fibres - D06M 2101/32: Polyesters - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) ## Abstract Provided are materials having antimicrobial properties. The materials include a polymer having incorporated therein a synergistic combination of at least two metal oxide powders, including a mixed oxidation state oxide of a first metal and a single oxidation state oxide of a second metal. The powders may be incorporated substantially uniformly within the polymer. Further, the powders may have substantially different specific gravities and substantially similar bulk densities. In addition, the ions of the metal powders may be in ionic contact upon exposure of the material to moisture. Also provided are methods for the preparation of the materials and uses thereof, including in combating or inhibiting the activity of microbes or microorganisms. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A material having antimicrobial properties, said material comprising a polymer having incorporated therein a synergistic combination of at least two metal oxide powders, comprising a mixed oxidation state oxide of a first metal and a single oxidation state oxide of a second metal, the powders being incorporated substantially uniformly within said polymer, wherein the powders have substantially different specific gravities and substantially similar bulk densities and wherein the ions of the metal oxides are in ionic contact upon exposure of said material to moisture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidation state oxide is selected from the group consisting of tetrasilver tetroxide (Ag4O4), Ag2O2, tetracopper tetroxide (Cu4O4), Cu (I,III) oxide, Cu (II,III) oxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the single oxidation state oxide is selected from the group consisting of copper oxide, silver oxide, zinc oxide and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the synergistic combination of the at least two metal oxide powders comprises copper oxide and tetrasilver tetroxide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the mixed oxidation state oxide constitutes up to about 15% wt. of the total weight of the synergistic combination of the at least two metal oxide powders and wherein the mixed oxidation state oxide is present in the synergistic combination in a detectable amount. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide powders having the substantially similar bulk densities comprise particles which mean particle size is inversely proportional to the specific gravity thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide powders having the substantially similar bulk densities comprise particles which have substantially similar mean particles sizes and wherein said particles are coated with a coating, which thickness is proportional to the specific gravity of the metal oxide particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, acrylic, polyalkene, polysiloxane, nitrile, polyvinyl acetate, starch-based polymer, cellulose-based polymer, dispersions and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, wherein the combined weight of the at least two metal oxide powders constitutes from about 0.25% wt. to about 50% wt. of the total weight of the material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, being in a form of a master batch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The material according to claim 10, wherein the combined weight of the at least two metal oxide powders constitutes from about 0.5% wt. to about 50% wt. of the total weight of the master batch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, being in a form of a fiber, yarn, textile, fabric, film or foil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The material according to claim 12, wherein the combined weight of the at least two metal oxide powders constitutes from about 0.5% wt. to about 15% wt. of the total weight of the material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The material according to claim 12, further comprising a natural fiber, selected from the group consisting of cotton, silk, wool, linen, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The material according to claim 14, wherein the combined weight of the at least two metal oxide powders constitutes from about 0.25% wt. to about 5% wt. of the total weight of the material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The material according to claim 1, being in a form of a product selected from the group consisting of clothing items, bedding textiles, laboratory or hospital textiles, laboratory equipment, hospital equipment, medical textiles including bandages or sutures and textiles for internal use, personal hygiene articles, packaging or wrapping material, covers for consumer items, food equipment, birth-control devices, agricultural products, and sanitary products. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The material according to claim 12, wherein the polymer is selected from an extruded, molded, cast or 3D-printed polymer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method for combating or inhibiting the activity of microbes or micro-organisms, selected from the group consisting of gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, fungi, parasites, mold, spores, yeasts, protozoa, algae, acarii and viruses, the method comprising providing to health care facilities the material according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 A method for the preparation of a material having antimicrobial properties, said material comprising a polymer having incorporated therein a synergistic combination of at least two metal oxide powders comprising a mixed oxidation state oxide of a first metal and a single oxidation state oxide of a second metal, the powders being incorporated substantially uniformly within said polymer, wherein the powders have substantially different specific gravities and substantially similar bulk densities and are in ionic contact upon exposure of said material to moisture, the method comprising the steps of: (a) processing the at least two metal oxide powders to have substantially similar bulk densities; and (b) mixing said powders with at least one polymer, preferably wherein step b. comprises producing a master batch, comprising the metal oxide powders and a carrier polymer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising step c. comprising forming from the obtained mixture a product selected from a fiber, yarn, textile, fabric, film, foil, a textile product and a non-textile polymeric article.