GB2495491A - Pre-biotic skin wipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible webbing comprising at least one prebiotic. The prebiotic may be a carbohydrate or oligosaccharide, preferably asoluble fibre carbohydrate, fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosacharides or mannan oligosaccharides, more specifically inulin. The prebiotic may be a powder, liquid or suspension. The webbing may be biodegradable, non-biodegradable or both. Also disclosed is a kit for applying a prebiotic to a surface.

Description

PREBIOTIC WEBBING

This invention relates to prebiotic webbing, and more particularly the present inventLon relates to wipe or tissue comprising at least one prebiotic.

BACKGROUND

Skin including human skin plays a key role in protecting the body from pathogens, and comprises a dermal and an epidermal layer. In its normal healthy state the skin is a host for many different types of microorganisms which do not cause it harm. However under certain conditions such as for example when a person has recently taken a course of antibiotics, are taking steroids, have diabetes, are overweight, have had thngal skin infections in the past, have a weakened immune system caused, for example, by cancer or HIV/AIDS, or the skin has suffered trauma, wound or abrasion the skin can be subjected to aberrant skin infection in the form of viral infection, flingal infection and bacterial infection. Left untreated in some instances these infections can become life threatening.

For example common thngal infections of the skin include Athlete's foot (Tinea ped[s and Tinea manuum) is caused by a combination of fringi and bacteria, causing your skin to become itchy, dry, scaly and red, especially between your toes; Onychomycosis is the name for any fungal nail infection. Tinea unguium ringworm of your nails) is a common infection; Ringworm of the groin (Tinea eruris) causes an itchy, red rash in your groin and the surrounding area; Ringworm on the body (Tinea corporis) This often affects exposed areas of your body, such as your abdomen (tummy) or your limbs, causing red raised or flat patches and rings that can merge, grow and spread. The rings are scaly at the edge with clear skin at the centre; lntertrigo is a yeast infection of skin folds caused by the fungus Candida albicans, which lives on your skin and in your digestive system; Pityriasis versicolor is a yeast infection causes dark patches to form on pale or nntanned skin and light patches on tanned or darker skin; Thrush (Candida albicans) usually lives in harmony with us and rardy causes problems. However, in certain situations, such as if you're ill, have poorly controlled diabetes, are pregnant or using antibiotics, the fungi multiply and cause problems.

The most common bacteria to cause skin infections arc: Staphylococcus aureus which causes conditions such as Folliculitis, Furunculosis (boils), Impetigo, Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, and Botryomycosis (pyodcrma vcgctans) ; Streptococcus pvogenes which causes Cellulitis, Erysipclas, Impetigo, Necrotising fasciitis, Rheumatic fever, erythema marginatum.

Other less common bacterial skin conditions are for example Haemophilus species, cause of chancroid and cellulitis in young children Helicohacterpylori; Klebsiella rhinoscieroinatis, cause of rhino seleroma.

It is often the case that these conditions are treated with anti-fungal medicines (e.g. clotrimazole, Econazoic, ketoconazole, miconazole, sulconazoe, nystatin), steroids such as corticosteroids and antibiotics.

Nappy rash is a common condition thought to affect up to a third of nappy-wearing babies at any given time. It causes the baby's skin to become sore and irritated in the area around the nappy, and covered in pink or red spots or blotches. Nappy rash is usually caused by your baby's skin coming into contact with urine and faeces in their nappy and can be a cause of a bacterial or fungal skin infection. Similar problems are associated with juveniles and adults who suffer from incontinent. One commonly used means to prevent infection of the skin where nappy rash is like'y to occur is to protect that area of the skin with a barrier cream such as zinc oxide based creams. In more severe cases it may be necessary to treat the condition with medicaments described above.

However, the above treatments all rely on either a skin barrier being formed that prevents infection or the treatment of an infection with an antiseptic or mcdicament. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide compositions and treatment methods that will help prevent the growth of aberrant microorganisms on the surface of the skin either before during or post infection.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth andior activity of bacteria in the digestive system in ways claimed to be beneficial to health. They were first identified and named by Marcel Robcrfroid in 1 995 (Dietwy modulation of the human colon/c ni/crab/ow: introducing the concept ofprehioiics. J Nutr. 1995 Jun;125(6): 1401-12. PMID).

Typically, prebiotics are carbohydrates (such as oligosaccharides), but the definition may include non-carbohydrates. The most prevalent forms of prebiotics arc nutritionally classed as soluble fibre. To some extent, many forms of dietary fibre exhibit some level ofprebiotic effect.

Roberfroid offered a refined definition in the 2007 Journal of Nutrition (Prehiotics: The Concept Revisited. J Nutr. 2007; 137: 8305) stating: "A prebiotic is a selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora that confers benefits upon host well-being and health." As a functional food component, prebiotics, like probiotics, are conceptually intcrmediate between foods and drugs.

Currently the use of prebiotics is confined to dietary use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexible webbing such as a surgical tissue or disposable wipe comprising one or more prebiotics. It is anticipated that gentle rubbing of the surface of the skin with the webbing will transfer the prebiotic from the webbing to the skin.

Advantageously the application of the prebiotic to the skin will promote the growth of "friendly" microorganism on the skin. Such growth may prevent the growth of non-friendly microorganisms on the skin, or reduce the growth of non-friendly microorganisms by competition between the friendly and non-friendly microorganisms.

Advantageously a webbing comprising one or more prebiotics allows for easy storage, use, and application of the prebiotic to the skin.

A thrther advantage is that using the wipe it is possible to apply the prebiotic either in a highly specific and/or localised way or generally over a large surface area.

The prebiotic can be applied only to the surface of the webbing, or can be impregnated into the webbing. The prebiotic can be applied to the webbing as a solid, liquid or suspension.

In a preferred embodiment the prebiotic is selected from one or more of the following group: soluble fibre carbohydrate, fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosacharides or man nan oligosaccharides.

In a most preferred embodiment the prebiotic is inulin.

The flexible webbing can be made from a biodegradable material, non-biodegradable material, or a mixture of biodegradable and non-biodegradable material.

Preferably the biodegradable material is one or more of the following: a wood pulp, a cellulose, a corn starch, a cotton, a silk, a viscose, or functional derivative thereof, or a combination of any one or more of a wood pulp, a cellulose, a corn starch, a cotton, a silk, a viscose or a naturally derived product comprising or functional derivative thereof Preferably the non-biodegradable material is made from synthetic fibres of the following groups: polyamides, polyester, acrylic, polyolefin, rayon or cellulose acetate.

The optionally the flexible webbing may also be made using spunlaee, airlaid, wet laid, non-woven, woven or scrim reinforced methods.

It is anticipated that the webbing comprising one or more prebiotics may have medical use and cosmetic uses for the prevention and treatment of aberrant microorganisms on the skin.

It is further anticipated that the webbing comprising one or more prebioties may have a specific use in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by nappy rash and incontinence in juveniles and adults.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail.

EXAMPLE

This invention relates to a flexible webbing to which has been added one or more prebioties.

The human skin is susceptible to many different types of aberrant skin infections which include infections by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Such infections can manifest as acne, skin blemishes and rashes. The most common form of skin problem in young adults is as a result of acne. Acne is when the sebaeeous glands in the skin become blocked with sebum. The sebaceous glands and surrounding area can in some instances get infected by bacteria such as P. aenes, P. granulosum and members of the staphylococcus family. Treatment of infected acne is with antibacterial compounds such as topical benzoyl peroxide. retinoids, antibiotics, or azelaic acid.

Nappy rash is causes the baby's skin to become sore and irritated in the area around the nappy, and covered in pink or red spots or blotches. Nappy rash is usually caused by your baby's skin coming into contact with urine and faeces in their nappy and can be a cause of a bacterial or fungal skin infection. Similar problems are associated with juveniles and adults who suffer from incontinent. One commonly used means to prevent infection of the skin where nappy rash is likely to occur is to protect that area of the skin with a barrier cream such as zinc oxide based creams. In more severe cases it may be necessary to treat the condition with medicaments described above.

Other examples of bacterial and fungal skin infections include Athlete's foot, Onychomycosis, Ringworm, Intertrigo, Pityriasis versicolor, Thrush, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus, Helicobacter pylon Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis.

It is often the case that these conditions are treated with anti fungal medicines (e.g. clotrimazole, Econazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, sulconazole, nystatin), steroids such as corticosteroids and antibiotics.

However, the above treatments all rely on either a skin barrier being formed that prevents infection or the treatment of an infection with an antiseptic or medicament. Tt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition and treatment methods that will help prevent the growth of aberrant microorganisms on the surface of the skin either before during or post infection.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of bacteria in the digestive system in ways claimed to be beneficial to health. Typically, prebioties are carbohydrates (such as oligosacchanides, but the definition may include non-carbohydrates.

The most prevalent forms of prebiotics are nutritionally classed as soluble fiber. Dietary sources of prcbiotics include soybeans, inulin sources (such as Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, and chicory root), raw oats, unrefined wheat, unrefined barley and yacon.

Longer-chain prebiotics, e.g. Inulin, contain 9-64 links per saccharide molecule, and tend to be fermented more slowly, nourishing bacteria predominantly in the left-side colon. Full-spectrum prebiotics provide the fill range of molecular link-lengths from 2-64 links per molecule, and nourish bacteria throughout the colon, e.g. Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin (OEI).

The prebiotic definition does not emphasize a specific bacterial group. Generally, however, it is assumed that a prcbiotic should increase the number and/or activity of bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria. Prebiotic oligosaccharides are incrcasingly added to foods for their health benefits.

Some oligosaccharides that arc used in this manner arc fructooligosaccharidcs (FOS), xyloo ligosaccharides (XOS),polydextrose and galactooligosaccharides (GOS). Some monosaccharides such as tagatose arc also used Chemically, dietary fiber consists of non-starch polysaccharides suchas arabinoxylans, cellulose and many other plant components such as resistant dextrins, inulin, lignin, waxes, chitins, pectins, bcta-glucans and oligosaccharidcs. [U Inulin is chemically defined as oligosaccharides occurring naturally in most plants, inulins have nutritional value as carbohydrates, or more specifically as fructans.polymerfructoselaulin is typically extracted by manufacturers from chicory roots or Jerusalem artichokes Inulin in the gut promotes an increase in thc mass and health of intcstinal Lactobacillus and Bitidohacterium populations.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also sometimes called oligofructose or oligofnictan, is a class of oligosaccharides used as an alternative sweetener. The term oligosaccharidc refers to a short chain of sugar molecules (in the case of FOS, fructose molecules). Two different classes of fructooligosaccharidc (FOS) mixtures arc produced commercially, based on inulin degradation or transfructosylation processes.

FOS can be produced by degradation of inulin, or polyftuctosc, a polymer of D-fructose residues linked by f3(2-*1) bonds with a terminal ri(l-*2) linked D-glucose. The degree of polymerization of inulin ranges from 10 to 60. Inulin can be degraded enzymatically or chemically to a mixture of oligosaceharides with the general structure Glu-(Fru)1, (GF) and Frum (F111). with n and mranging from I to 7. The main components of commercial products are kestose (GF2), nystose (GF3), fructosylnystose (GF4), biflurcose (OH), inulobiose (F2), inulotriose (F3), and inulotctraosc (F4).

The second class of FOS is prepared by the transfructosylation action of a -fructosidase of Aspergillus niger on sucrosc. The resulting mixturc has the general formula of GF, with ii ranging from Ito 5. Contrary to the inulin-derived FOS, not only is there (l -÷2) binding but other linkages do occur, however, in limited numbers. In the colon they are fermented by anaerobic bacteria. Fructooligosaccharides are more soluble than inulins and are, therefore, sometimes used as an additive to yoghur tand other (dairy) products.

FOS is extracted from fruits and vegetables such as bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, barley, wheat, jIeama, tomatoes, and leeks. The Jerusalem artichoke and its relative yaeOn have been found to have the highest concentrations of FOS of cultured plants. All inulin-type prebiotics, including FOS, are generally thought to stimulate the growth of Bifidobacteria species. Bfldohacteria are considered friendly" bacteria.

Galacto-oligosaceharides (GOS), also known as oligogalactosyllactose, oligogalactose, oligolactose or transgalactooligosaccharides (TOS), belong, because of their indigestible nature, to the group ofprebiotics. GOS generally comprise a chain of galactose units that arise through consecutive transgalactosylation reactions, with a terminal glucose unit. Commersial derivatives of 005 include Oligomate 55 in syrup form, Oligomate 5SF in powder form and TOS-lOO a purified version of 99% oligosaccharide content syrup (Cup-Oligo H70) and powder format (Cup-Oligo P), Vivinal GOS (in a syrup format containing 57% oligosaccharides on dry matter and in a powder format containing 29% oligosaccharides on dry matter), Bimuno, with 52% galaeto-oligosaceharide content on dry matter and syrup.

Mannan-oligosaccharides are widely used in nutrition. MOS has been shown to improve gastrointestinal health as well as overall health, thus improving wellbeing, energy levels and performance. Most MOS products are derive from the cell wall of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. MOS has been shown to reduction in the prevalence and concentration of different strains of salmonella and E. coli and increase lactobaeilli and bifidobacteria in the gut.

Webbing in the form of wipes and tissues are used to wipe surfaces or skin or as applicators for surfaces or skin. These tissues and wipes can be made from biodegradable or non-biodegradable materials or a mixture of both.

Nautural fibres are biodegradabe fibres and are general derived from vegetable products (but animal products are also available. Non limiting examples include fibres derived from examples of which are wood pulp, cellulose, corn starch, cotton, silk, and viscose.

Non biodegradable materials are generally synthetic in nature and can be made into fibres or non woven materials, and can be made from a diverse range of chemical groups. For example synthetic fibres can be made from polyamides, polyester, acrylic, polyolefin, rayon or cellulose acetatc. Examples of sub groups of these chemicals include polyaamides, polyethylene terephihalate, polyacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate, polyethylene, cellulose acetate, raylon, mondacrylie, polyvinyl chloride, or polyvinylidene chloride, Spunlacing is a process of entangling a web of loose fibers on a porous belt or moving perforated or patterned screen to form a sheet structure by subjecting the fibers to multiple rows of fine high-pressure jets of water. Various steps are of importance in the hydroentangling process.

While some of them are typical in a nonwoven process, some of them arc uniquc to the process of spunlacing. The steps characteristic for producing hydroentangled nonwoven fabric include: Precursor web formation, Web entanglcment, Water circulation and Web drying Air-laid paper is a textile-like material categorized as a nonwoven fabric made from fluff pulp.

Compared with normal wet-laid paper and tissue, air-laid paper is very bulky, porous and soft. It has good water absorption properties and is much stronger compared with normal tissue. Unlike the normal papermaking process, air-laid paper does not use water as the carrying medium for the fibre. Fibres arc carried and formed to the structure of paper by air. The air-laid structure isisotropic. The raw material is long fibered softwood fluff pulp in roll form.

Wet-laid nonwovens are nonwovens made by a modified papermaking process. That is, the fibers to be used are suspended in water. Papermaking fibers being short and fine are able to pack together into a dense structure. Chemical groups attached to their surfaces are able to form hydrogen bonds with similar groups on neighboring fibers very easily. In paper, the fibers overlap randomly and pack densely.

Nonwoven fabric is a fabric-like material made from long fibres, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. Nonwoven fabrics are broadly defined as sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fibre or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibres or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibres to yarn.

Nonwoven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellence, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, filtering, use as a bacterial barrier and sterility.

A woven is material is formed by weaving. It only stretches in the bias directions (between the warp and weft directions), unless the threads are elastic. Woven materials usually frays at the edges, unless measures arc taken to counter this, such as the use of pinking shears or hemming.

Woven fabrics arc worked on a loom and made of many threads wovcn on a warp and a wcft. It is strctchy only along thc bias.

The technique of scrim as a reinforce where scrim is a strong loose weave of fibres laminated into the matcrial to provide extra strcngth and stability.

An embodiment of the present invention is a flexible webbing, characterised in that the webbing comprises at least one prebiotic.

Optionally the prebiotic may bc placed on the surfacc, or within the webbing. Prcfcrably the prebiotic is a carbohydrate or oligosaccharidc and is selected from onc or more of the following group: soluble fibre carbohydrate, fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosacharidcs or mannan oligosaccharides. Non limiting examples of these groups include oligofructose (oligofructan), inulin, oligomate 55, ologomate SSp, TOS -100, cup-oligo H70, alpha glucan oligosaccharide, or bimuno, or functional derivatives thcrcof Preferably the webbing is made from a biodegradable material, non-biodegradable material, or a mixture of biodegradable and non-biodegradable material. When the webbing comprises a biodegradable material it is optional that this material is a naturally derived product, or derivative thereof. Examples of such materials includewood pulp, cellulose, com starch, cotton, silk, viscose. When the webbing comprises a non biodcgradablc it is a optional that the material is made from polyamides, polyester, acrylic, polyolefin, rayon or ccllulosc acetate non limiting examples includc polyaam ides, polycthylenc tcrephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, vinyl acctatc, mcthyl acrylate, polyethylene, cellulose acetate, raylon, mondacrylic, polyvinyl chloride, or polyvinylidene chloride.

Optionally the webbing can be made using spunlace, airlaid, wet laid, non-woven, woven or scrim reinforced methods.Optionally the prebiotic is added to the webbing in a powdered form, a liquid form or suspension form. In its post preferred embodiment the prebiotie is inulin or alpha glucan oligosaeeharide.

In a preferred embodiment the prebiotic is formed into a micro emulsion prior to incorporation into the webbing. The process comprises A) Mix phase A comprising Prebiotic (about 0.5% to 1% v/v),TECO Wipe DF PE (about 5% v/v), isohexadecane (about 0.5% v/v) perfume (optional) (about "% v/v) with phase B comprising demineralised water (about 6%), B) Stir until a micro-emulsion phase is obtained C) Add phase C) while stirring (EUXYL PE 9010 (pherioxyethanol, ethylhehylglyccrin) (about 0.4%).

D) Dilute with phase D comprising demineralised water (about 86.4% v/v), glycerine (0 to 0.5% v/v depending on concentration of prebiotic) panthenol (about 0.5%v/v) It is also anticipated that the compositions described above will find use in medicine including the treatment of aberrant skin conditions and in cosmetic uses to promotr the growth of beneficial microorganisms on the surface of the skin, said method comprising: a. Applying the flexible webbing according to any one of claims Ito 14 to the surface of unbroken skin such that the prcbiotic is transferred from the webbing to the skin, and b. Repeat application when necessary.

In a second embodiment it is envisaged a kit for applying a prebiotic to a surface, comprising the flexible webbing as described above and a closure to protect unused webbing.

It is intended that the claims as filed also form part of the description.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A flexible webbing, characterised in that the webbing comprises at least one prebiotic.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The flexible webbing according to claim 1, characterised in that the prebiotie is on the surface, or within the webbing.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The flexible webbing of claim 1 or claim 2, charactcrised in that the prebiotic is a carbohydrate or oligosaceharide.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The flexible webbing according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the prebiotic is selected from one or more of the following group: soluble fibre carbohydrate, fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosacharides or mannan oligosaccharides.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The flexible webbing according to anyone or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the prebiotic is selected from one or more of the following: oligofructose (oligofructan), inulin, oligomate 55, ologomate SSp, TOS -100, cup-oligo H70, alpha gluean oligosaccharidc, or bimuno, or functional denvatives thereof 6. The flexible webbing according to any one or more of claims I to 5, characterised in that the webbing is a biodegradable material, non-biodegradable material, or a mixture of biodegradable and non-biodegradable materiaL 7. The flexible webbing according to claim 6, eharacterised in that the biodegradable material is a naturally derived product, or derivative thereof 8. The flexible webbing according to claim 7, charaeterised in that the naturally derived product is, a wood pulp, a cellulose, a corn starch, a cotton, a silk, a viscose, or ifinctional derivative thereof, or a combination of any one of a wood pulp, a cellulose, a corn starch, a cotton, a silk, a viscose or a naturally derived product comprising or functional derivative thereof 9. The flexible webbing according to claim 6, characterised in that the non biodegradable material is a synthetic fibre including synthetic fibres made from one or more of the following groups: polyamides, polyester, acrylic, polyolefin, rayon or cellulose acetate.10. The flexible webbing according to claim, charaeterised in that the non biodegradable material is selected from one or more of the following groups: polyaamides, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, methyl aerylate, polyethylene, cellulose acetate, raylon, mondacrylie, polyvinyl chloride, or polyvinylidene chloride, 11. The flexible webbing according to claim 6, characterised in that webbing comprises a biodegradable and a non biodegradable material is selected from the the materials of claims 7 to 10.12. The flexible webbing according to any one or more of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the webbing is made using the spunlace, airlaid, wct laid, non-woven, woven or scrim reinforced methods.13. The flexible webbing according to any one of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the prebiotic is added to the webbing in a powdered form, a liquid form or suspension form.14. The flexible webbing according to any one of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the prebiotic composition is inulin or alpha glucan oligosaccharide.15. The flexible webbing according to any one of the proceeding claims, characterised in that the prebiotic is about 0.5% to 1% of the webbing solution.16. A flexible webbing according to and one of claims Ito 15 for use as a medicament.17. A flexible webbing according to any one of claims Ito 15 in the treatment or prevention of aberrant infection of the skin.18. A method of promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms on the surface of the skin, said method comprising: c. Applying the flexible webbing according to any one of claims Ito 15 to the surface of unbroken skin such that the prebiotic is transferred from the webbing to the skin, and d. Repeat application when necessary.19. A kit for applying a prebiotic to a surface, comprising the flexible webbing according to any one of claims 1 to 15 aad a closure to protect unused webbing.20. A composition substantially as described according to the description and drawings herein.</claim-text>