EP4683992A1

EP4683992A1 - A composition for reducing urine malodour

Info

Publication number: EP4683992A1
Application number: EP24706109.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yugandhar Bommaihpalle Sudhakar REDDY; Samiran Mahapatra; Srilaxmi Venkata MEDEPALLI; Sandeep Varma
Original assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV
Current assignee: Unilever Global IP Ltd; Unilever IP Holdings BV
Priority date: 2023-03-20
Filing date: 2024-02-19
Publication date: 2026-01-28
Also published as: WO2024193924A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition that is used to reduce malodour originating from urine. Particularly, the present invention relates to a composition that reduces urine malodour by specifically targeting bacteria that have been identified as causing the malodour. This has been achieved by combining certain polysaccharides with bacteriophages that lyse the malodour causing bacteria.

Description

A COMPOSITION FOR REDUCING URINE MALODOUR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composition that is used to reduce malodour originating from urine. Particularly, the present invention relates to a composition that reduces urine malodour by specifically targeting bacteria that have been identified as causing the malodour.

Background of the Invention

People like the surfaces at homes to be kept clean and free of dust and soil. Additionally, they also like to have cleanliness in other common spaces like offices, restaurants, hotels and public places like bus and train stations and airports. In addition to visual appearance of cleanliness and apparent hygienic conditions, they also like to have a pleasant odour when occupying such places. In addition to common areas, toilets and bathroom are areas where a higher degree of cleanliness and deodorization is desired.

Cleaning and deodorization could be achieved by using high level of surfactants in the cleaning composition or by including bleaching agents like chlorine or peroxides in them. Such chemicals ensure solubilization of the soil responsible for the soiled appearance and killing of the germs responsible for generation of malodor.

While chemicals like surfactants and bleaches are effective in providing instant cleaning they suffer from the following disadvantages. Firstly, such cleaning methods do not provide for long lasting cleaning and deodorization. A few hours after the cleaning and disinfection action, soil tends to accumulate followed by concomitant malodor formation. Secondly the use of harsh chemicals sometimes tends to leave an unpleasant chlorine odor which is also not liked by many people. To mask harsh chemical odors and to overpower residual malodor, pleasant smelling perfumes are added to the cleaning compositions, but such perfumes also have a limited effectiveness and tend to dissipate quickly. The above problems are further compounded in areas meant for human excrement and ablution like bathrooms and toilets. Such areas are used by people at regular intervals where in spite of using copious amounts of water for flushing, there remains a constant level of urine malodor which is difficult to mask.

The present inventors in seeking to solve the above problem used their knowledge and experience in the area of targeted hygiene where biochemical or microbiological methods are used for specifically targeting only the bacteria responsible for the malodor generation e.g. bacteriophages that specifically lyse the identified malodor causing bacteria.

Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses that attach only to their specific hosts bacteria and kill them by bacterial lysis. Phages are thus very specific in that they only attack their targeted bacterial hosts. They cannot infect human or other eukaryotic cells.

While it may be considered obvious to use such bacteriophages, the present inventors found to their surprise that the combination of such bacteriophages with certain select polysaccharides delivered improved benefit in reducing the generation of such malodor. Not only is the malodor benefit observed immediately after the surface is treated, but is found to be effective for a long time (48 to 96 hours) after the surface is treated. The composition and method of the present invention is thus seen to provide long term malodor reduction benefit.

Thus, the use of such natural and ecofriendly actives provides for control of undesirable bacteria which may cause serious problems like diseases, and contamination or imbalance in the microbiome with associated malodor issues. The present approach of using bacteriophages and polysaccharides thus offers a good sanitation method that is sustainable, effective in removing specific bacteria while offering a solution which has minimal side effects usually caused by usage of chemical actives.

In addition to providing the reduction in malodor, the present invention was also surprisingly found to inhibit limescale formation.

US2016215273 (Intralytix) discloses isolated bacteriophages having specificity and lytic activity against strains of Shigella species, methods of using the bacteriophages, progeny and derivatives derived therefrom, to control the growth of Shigella species in various settings. This publication though disclosing use of bacteriophage as a general method, it does not teach how this approach can be used for urine malodour reduction by interaction with specific polysaccharides.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for a composition for reducing urine malodour.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for such urine malodour reduction which is seen to be long lasting thus ensuring reduced malodour for up to 48 hours post treatment. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a composition that inhibits limescale formation.

Summary of the Invention

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a composition for reducing urine malodour comprising

(i) 10² to 10¹¹ PFU/ml Bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria selected from one or more of M. morganii, C. koseri, P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris and E. coir, and

(ii) 0.01 to 20wt% a polysaccharide which is a combination of pectin and one or both of dextrin and resistant dextrin.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of reducing urine malodour from a surface for up to 48 hours after cleaning the surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the first aspect, preferably diluted with water.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of inhibiting limescale formation on a surface comprising the step of treating the surface with a composition of the first aspect.

Detailed Description of the Invention

For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilised in any other aspect of the invention. The word "comprising" is intended to mean "including" but not necessarily "consisting of” or "composed of". Thus, the term "comprising" is meant not to be limiting to any subsequently stated elements, but rather to optionally also encompass nonspecified elements of major or minor functional importance. In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. Whenever the words "including" or "having" are used, these terms are meant to be equivalent to "comprising" as defined above. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Except in the examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word "about". Unless specified otherwise, numerical ranges expressed in the format "x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated. Unless specified otherwise, amounts as used herein are expressed in percentage by weight based on total weight of the composition and is abbreviated as “wt%”. The composition as per the present invention comprises a bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria selected from one or more of M. morganii, C. koseri, P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris and E. coli. Preferably, the composition comprises bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria C. koseri and a bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria P. vulgaris. More preferably, the composition comprises bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria C. koseri and a bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria P. vulgaris and a bacteriophage capable of lysing bacteria E.Coli. Most preferably the composition comprises a mixture of bacteriophages capable of lysing each of the bacteria M. morganii, C. koseri, P.mirabilis, P. vulgaris and E. coli. The bacteriophage is preferably included in an amount in the range of 10² to 10¹¹ PFU/ml of the composition.

The composition of the invention preferably comprises a polysaccharide which is a combination of pectin and one or both of dextrin and resistant dextrin.

Pectin is a structural acidic heteropolysaccharide contained in the primary and middle lamella and cell walls of terrestrial plants. Its main component is galacturonic acid, a sugar acid derived from galactose. It is produced commercially as a white to light brown powder, mainly extracted from citrus fruits, and is used in food as a gelling agent, particularly in jams and jellies. It is also used in dessert fillings, medicines, sweets, as a stabiliser in fruit juices and milk drinks, and as a source of dietary fibre. Pectin also known as pectic polysaccharides, are rich in galacturonic acid. Several distinct polysaccharides have been identified and characterised within the pectic group. Homogalacturonans are linear chains of a-(1-4)-linked D-galacturonic acid. Substituted galacturonans are characterised by the presence of saccharide appendant residues (such as D-xylose or D-apiose in the respective cases of xylogalacturonan and apiogalacturonan) branching from a backbone of D-galacturonic acid residues. Rhamnogalacturonan pectins (RG- I) contain a backbone of the repeating disaccharide: 4)-a-D-galacturonic acid-(1 ,2)-a-L- rhamnose-(1. From many of the rhamnose residues, sidechains of various neutral sugars branch off. The neutral sugars are mainly D-galactose, L-arabinose and D-xylose, with the types and proportions of neutral sugars varying with the origin of pectin. Another structural type of pectin is rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II), which is a less frequent, complex, highly branched polysaccharide.

Pectin consists predominantly of a-D galacturonic acid units, but also contains some amount of neutral sugars such as rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and glucose.

The percentage of galacturonic acid units is therefore the amount of galacturonic acid groups present relative to the total amount of the pectin. The galacturonic acid content of a sample can be determined by methods known in the art, such as for example the Saeman hydrolysis method (Englyst and Cummings (Analyst, 109(7), 937-942 (1984), Filisetti-Cozzi and Carpita (Analytical Biochemistry, 197, 157-162 (1991)).

Galacturonic acid typically has the following repeat unit structure:

It is possible to esterify galacturonic acids on the carboxylic acid group. The percentage of esterified units is called the degree of esterification (DE). The degree of esterification can be determined according to methods known in the art, such as the base titration method (Shultz, 1965) as proposed by the Food Chemical Codex (FCC (1981). 3rd ed., (1981) National Academy of Science, Washington, DC), quantification of methanol released during de-esterification using gas chromatography (GC) (Walter et al. (1983), Journal of Food Science, 48: 1006-10070), colorimetry (Hou et al. (1999), Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sincia, 40:115-119), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Levigne S., et al. (2002), Food Hydrocolloids 16: 547-550), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (Rosenbohm et al. (2003) Carbohydrate Research, 338: 637-649) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) (Williams et al. (2003), Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry, 51 : 1777-1781).

A method to separate pectin into fractions with different DE is described, for example, by Strom, et al. (2005), Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 60, Issue 4, 20 June 2005, Pages 467-473.

In nature, the carboxylic groups are typically methylated to varying degrees to provide pectin methyl esters. The number fraction of carboxylic acid groups methylated is known as the degree of methyl esterification.

The pectin used in the composition of the present invention preferably has a degree of methyl esterification higher than 50%, more preferably 52.5% or higher, further more preferably 55% or higher, yet more preferably 57.5% or higher and most preferably 60% or higher.

The pectin used according to the invention preferably has a molecular weight of higher than 50kDa, more preferably higher than 100kDa. Typical upper limits of pectin molecular weights are preferably of the order of 1000kDa, more preferably 800kDa. Thus, the pectin for use in the composition of the invention preferably has a molecular weight of between 50 kDa and 1000kDa. The polysaccharide may also be dextrin. It is preferably prepared by partial hydrolysis of starches from corn, potato, arow root, tapioca starch or wheat. The hydrolysis may be by thermal or enzymatic means. Dextrin is a combination of D-glucose units linked through a(1 - 4) or a(1 - 6) glycosidic bonds. Dextrin generally has the chemical formula (CeHwOs A preferred dextrin is one having CAS No. 9004-53-9. It generally has a pH in the range of 4 to 5 when a 20% solution is measured at 25 °C. It is usually sold as a pale yellow powder which is odourless. The power usually has a particle size in the range of 100 to 200 .m. It is soluble in water at 20 °C. The viscosity is low since a 50% solution in water at 20 °C is measured to have a value in the range of about 50 to 200 mPa.s. A preferred supplier of dextrin is Roquette Freres, France who sell it under the brand name Nutriose^R FB 06.

The polysaccharide may also be resistant dextrin. Resistant dextrin is also known by some as maltodextrin. It is usually prepared by highly controlled partial hydrolysis of corn, potatoes, barley or wheat. It usually contains 3 to 20 D-glucose units that are linked by a(1 -4) glycosidic bond. It usually has the chemical formula C6nH( n+2)O(5n+i). A preferred resistant dextrin has the CAS No. 9050-36-6. It is usually sold as an off-white powder which is odourless. It is soluble in water. A preferred supplier of resistant dextrin is ADM Bio Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China who sell it under the brand name Fbersol^R 2.

Of the polysaccharides, pectin is preferred for inclusion in the composition of the invention. Pectin when included is preferably derived from one or more of a fruit chosen from pear, apple, guava, plum, gooseberry, orange or any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus. It is preferably from apple or citrus fruit. The composition preferably comprises the polysaccharide which is a combination of pectin and one or both of dextrin and resistant dextrin. The polysaccharide is preferably included at a concentration of 0.01 to 20%, preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight of the composition.

The composition of the invention may be formulated as a cleansing composition which is usually used to clean floors (in which case it may be known as a floor cleaner) or used to clean toilets (in which case it may be known as a toilet cleaner). It may also be used to clean other hard surfaces like furniture, table tops, kitchen platforms and other surfaces in homes, offices, restaurants and other public places. It is preferred that the composition of the invention is formulated as a general purpose or a toilet cleaning composition additionally comprising an anionic or non-ionic surfactant. The surfactant is generally anionic in nature. Preferred anionic surfactants are of the organic sulfates and sulfonates having alkyl radicals containing from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, the term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. Examples of such materials include alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkaryl sulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates and mixtures thereof. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulfates may contain from one to ten ethylene oxide or propylene oxide units per molecule, and preferably contain one to three ethylene oxide units per molecule. The counterion for anionic surfactants is generally an alkali metal such as sodium or potassium; or an ammoniacal counterion such as monoethanolamine, (MEA) diethanolamine (DEA) or triethanolamine (TEA). Mixtures of such counterions may also be employed. Sodium and potassium are preferred.

Most preferred surfactants are of the alkylbenzene sulfonates type, particularly linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some alkyl sulfate surfactant (PAS) may be used, such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulphates with an alkyl chain length of from 10 to 18.

A preferred class of nonionic surfactant for use in the invention includes aliphatic Cs to Cis, more preferably C12 to C15 primary linear alcohol ethoxylates with an average of from 3 to 20, more preferably from 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Preferred non-ionic surfactants are the C16/18 alcohol ethoxylates. The composition of the invention preferably comprises from 1 to 30 % surfactant based on the total weight of composition.

Ingredients like amphoteric surfactant and sequestrant may be included in the composition of the present invention. General purpose cleaners and toilet cleaners may be diluted before use. When diluted, they may be diluted with water in a weight ratio in the range of 1 :10 to 1 :1000.

The composition of the invention may also be delivered as a rim block. By a rim block is meant a shaped solid composition that is hung on to the rim of the toilet usually in a plastic cage like container so that every time the toilet is flushed, a quantity of water passes over the solid composition, eroding a part thereof before flushing into the toilet bowl. The toilet rim block preferably additionally includes a perfume to provide a lingering pleasant odour after every toilet flush.

The composition of the invention may also be used to clean fabric. By fabric is meant clothes especially innerwear or those worn by babies and infants which may develop a urine malodour. Also included are bedsheets, blankets and other fabric used at homes and hospitals which may develop such malodour. The composition may be delivered as a laundry detergent composition, or as a fabric conditioning composition. The composition may also be delivered in a spray format.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a reducing urine malodour from a surface for up to 48 hours after cleaning the surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition of the invention preferably diluted with water.

The present invention also provides for a method of inhibiting limescale formation on a surface comprising the step of treating the surface with a composition of the present invention.

The invention will now be illustrated by way of the following non-limiting examples.

Examples

Examples A-C, 1-2: Urine malodour inhibition by MS2 phage

Inhibition of urine malodour was measured when using various actives and their combination as shown in Table -1 and the % inhibition is summarised therein. The protocol used to measure the % inhibition is given below:

Real Urine was collected in sterile sample cups from five volunteers and pooled. This was diluted in 1 :10 ratio with Artificial Urine. Into 100 ml glass bottles/ containers, 40ml of the urine solution was added and placed in one glass slide in each container. The mouth of the bottle was fitted with a disposable 0.22 pm filter (Nalgene filter), tightly sealed with parafilm. The test product was applied to the urine solution at different concentrations. Positive control was maintained without adding any product/actives.

The samples were incubated at 37°C for 24/48 hours for the odour to develop inside the container. After 24/48 h, the malodour measurements were done using a sniff test with positive control as maximum malodour (score 5) and no malodour as score 0. The slides were dried, labelled and stored. Pectin for use in the present invention was sourced from CP Kelco, UK. MS2 is a bacteriophage known to inhibit E. Coli and was sourced from ATCC, USA. Table -1

The data in Table -1 above indicates that compositions as per the invention (Examples 1 and 2) provides for vastly improved malodour inhibition as compared to individual actives (Examples B and C).

Examples D-F, 3-6: Further examples on combination of actives

Further experiments were carried out using combination of one or two polysaccharides with a bacteriophage MS2 as shown in Table -2 below and the results are summarized therein. Table-2:

The data in the table -2 above indicates improved odour inhibition through use of one polysaccharide (Examples 3,4) in combination with a bacteriophage (MS2). Further improvement is obtained when two polysaccharides are used in combination with MS2 (Examples 5,6).

Claims

1. A composition for reducing urine malodour comprising

(ii) 0.01 to 20 wt% a polysaccharide which is a combination of pectin and one or both of dextrin and resistant dextrin.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising bacteriophages capable of lysing bacteria C. koseri and P. vulgaris.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising bacteriophages capable of lysing bacteria C. koseri, P. vulgaris, and E. Coli.

4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising a mixture of bacteriophages capable of lysing bacteria M. morganii, C. koseri, P.mirabilis, P. vulgaris and E. coli..

5. A composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the pectin is derived from one or more of a fruit selected from pear, apple, guava, plum, gooseberry, orange and any other citrus fruit, preferably citrus fruit.

6. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is a general purpose or a toilet cleaning composition additionally comprising an anionic or non-ionic surfactant.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in liquid or in solid form.

8. A method of reducing urine malodour from a surface for up to 48 hours after cleaning the surface comprising the step of contacting the surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims preferably diluted with water.

9. A method of inhibiting limescale formation on a surface comprising the step of treating a surface with a composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.