# US 6,719,987 B2 · Antimicrobial bioabsorbable materials

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- Number: US 6,719,987 B2
- Document ID: US6719987B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/835,859
- Filed: 2001-04-16
- Published: 2001-12-27
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2001-04-16
- Assignees: Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp.
- Inventors: Robert Edward Burrell; Hua Qing Yin; Stojan Djokic; Rita Johanna Mary Langford
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719987B2

## CPC

- A61K 33/24: Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
- A61L 15/18: containing inorganic materials
- A61L 15/46: Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
- A61L 17/005: {containing a biologically active substance, e.g. a medicament or a biocide}
- A61L 17/145: {Coating}
- A61L 27/306: {Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/303 - A61L27/32}
- A61L 27/54: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L27/227 takes precedence)}
- A61L 27/58: Materials at least partially resorbable by the body
- A61L 31/088: {Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L31/084 or A61L31/086}
- A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)}
- A61P 17/00: Drugs for dermatological disorders
- A61P 31/00: Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
- A61L 2300/102: Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
- A61L 2300/104: Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
- A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
- A61L 2300/606: Coatings
- A61L 2300/622: Microcapsules
- A61L 2300/624: Nanocapsules
- A61L 2300/63: Crystals
- 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)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

The invention provides bioabsorbable materials with antimicrobial coatings or powders which provide an effective and sustainable antimicrobial effect. Specifically, this invention provides bioabsorbable materials comprising a bioabsorbable substrate associated with one or more antimicrobial metals being in a crystalline form characterized by sufficient atomic disorder, such that the bioabsorbable material in contact with an alcohol or water based electrolyte, releases atoms, ion, molecules, or clusters of at least one antimicrobial metal at a concentration sufficient to provide an antimicrobial effect. The one or more antimicrobial metals do not interfere with the bioabsorption of the bioabsorbable material, and do not leave behind particulates larger than 2 μm, as measured 24 hours after the bioabsorbable material has disappeared. Most preferably, the particulate sizing from the coating or powder is sub-micron that is less than about 1 μm, as measured 24 hours after the bioabsorbable material has disappeared. Particulates are thus sized to avoid deleterious immune responses or toxic effects. Such antimicrobial metals are in the form of a continuous or discontinuous coating, a powder, or a coating on a bioabsorbable powder. The antimicrobial coating is thin, preferably less than 900 nm or more preferably less than 500 nm, and very fine grained, with a grain size (crystallite size) of preferably less than 100 nm, more preferably less than 40 nm, and most preferably less than 20 nm. The antimicrobial coating is formed of an antimicrobial metal, which is overall crystalline, but which is created with atomic disorder, and preferably also having either or both of a) a high oxygen content, as evidenced by a rest potential greater than about 225 mV, more preferably greater than about 250 mV, in 0.15 M Na2CO3 against a SCE (standard calomel electrode), or b) discontinuity in the coating. The antimicrobial metal associated with the bioabsorbable substrate may also be in the form of a powder, having a particle size of less than 100 μm, or preferably less than 40 μm, and with a grain size (crystallite size) of preferably less than 100 nm, more preferably less than 40 nm, and most preferably less than 20 nm. Such powders may be prepared as a coating preferably of the above thickness, onto powdered biocompatible and bioabsorbable substrates; as a nanocrystalline coating and converted into a powder; or as a powder of the antimicrobial metal which is cold worked to impart atomic disorder. Methods of preparing the above antimicrobial bioabsorbable materials are thus also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bioabsorbable material comprising:
a bioabsorbable substrate having a surface; and
one or more antimicrobial metals associated with the bioabsorbable substrate, the one or more antimicrobial metals being in a crystalline form characterized by sufficient atomic disorder, such that the material in contact with an alcohol or water-based electrolyte, releases atoms, ions, molecules, or clusters of at least one antimicrobial metal at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial effect, and wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are associated with the bioabsorbable substrate such that particulates of the one or more antimicrobial metals formed during dissociation are sized to avoid deleterious immune responses or toxic effects,
wherein the bioabsorbable substrate is in the form of a a microcapsule, a dressing, an implant, a wound closure, a suture, a staple, an adhesive, a mesh, a prosthetic device, a controlled drug delivery system, a wound covering or a filler.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The material of claim 1, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals associated with the bioabsorbable substrate are in the form of a continuous or discontinuous coating or a powder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The material of claim 1, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals associated with the bioabsorbable substrate are in the form of a coating on a powder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The material of claim 2, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are formed as discontinuous coatings and/or with sufficient high oxygen content that the particulate of the one or more antimicrobial metals formed during dissociation has a size of less than 2 μm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The material of claim 4, wherein the particulate has a size of less than 1 μm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The material of claim 2, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are provided in the form of a coating, having a thickness of less than 900 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The material of claim 6, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are provided in the form of a coating, having a thickness of less than 500 nm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The material of claim 2, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are provided in the form of a powder, having a particle size of less than 100 μm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The material of claim 8, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are provided in the form of a powder, having a particle size of less than 40 μm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The material of claim 2, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are in the form of a nanocrystalline coating or powder, formed with sufficient atomic disorder to provide sustained release of atoms, ions, molecules, or clusters of the one or more antimicrobial metals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The material of claim 10, wherein the nanocrystalline coating or powder has a crystallite size of less than 100 nm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The material of claim 10, wherein the nanocrystalline coating or powder has a grain size less than 40 nm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The material of claim 10, wherein the nanocrystalline coating or powder has a grain size less than 20 nm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The material of claim 13, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Ir, Sn, Cu, Sb, Bi, Zn, or alloys or compounds thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The material of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more antimicrobial metals is Ag or Au, or alloys or compounds thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The material of claim 11, wherein the antimicrobial metal is silver, or an alloy or compound thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The material of claim 14, wherein the coating or powder includes absorbed, trapped, or reacted atoms or molecules of oxygen.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The material of claim 17, wherein sufficient oxygen is incorporated in the coating or powder such that the particulate of the one or more antimicrobial metals during dissociation has a size less than 2 μm.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The material of claim 17, wherein sufficient oxygen is incorporated in the coating or powder such that the particulate of the one or more antimicrobial metals during dissociation has a size less than 1 μm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The material of claim 18, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are silver, or an alloy or compound thereof, and wherein the coating or powder has a ratio of its temperature of recrystallization to its melting temperature, in degrees K (Trec/Tm), less than 0.33.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The material of claim 20, wherein the ratio is less than 0.3.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The material of claim 21, wherein the temperature of recrystallization is less than about 140° C.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The material of claim 20, wherein the coating has a positive rest potential, when measured against a standard calomel electrode, in 0.15 M Na2CO3 or 0.15 M KOH.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The material of claim 23, wherein the positive rest potential is greater than 225 mV in 0.15 M Na2CO3.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The material of claim 23, wherein the positive rest potential is greater than 250 mV in 0.15 M Na2CO3.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The material of claim 23, wherein the bioabsorbable substrate is formed from a bioabsorbable polymer selected from:
(a) polyester or polylactone selected from the group comprising polymers of polyglycolic acid, glycolide, lactic acid, lactide, dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, polyanhydrides, polyesteramides, polyortheoesters, polyphosphazenes, and copolymers of these and related polymers or monomers;
(b) protein, selected from the group comprising albumin, fibrin, collagen, or elastin;
(c) polysaccharide, selected from the group comprising chitosan, alginates, or hyaluronic acid; or
(d) biosynthetic polymer, comprising 3-hydroxybutyrate polymers.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The material of claim 23, wherein the bioabsorbable substrate is an alginate dressing coated with a coating of the one or more antimicrobial metals or impregnated with a powder of the one or more antimicrobial metals.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The material of claim 23, wherein the bioabsorbable substrate is a chitosan powder coated with a coating of the one or more antimicrobial metals.