GB821113A - Improvements in and relating to cellulosic woven and sheet materials having bactericidal properties - Google Patents

Abstract

Cellulosic woven and sheet materials are impregnated with at least 0.001 per cent of their dry weight of a bis-biguanide (or a salt thereof) of the formula: <FORM:0821113/IV(c)/1> where A is a phenyl radical which may be substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halogen, X is a direct linkage or an alkylene radical of not more than 3 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aralkyl radical and n is an integer from 2 to 12 inclusive and wherein the polymethylene chain (CH2)n may optionally be interrupted by oxygen atoms and/or by aromatic nuclei, whereby the materials are given self-sterilizing and bactericidal properties. Suitable bis-biguanide salts are hydrochlorides and acetates and those derived from polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. D-gluconates, and from hydroxy alkane sulphonic acids, e.g. isethionates. The bis-biguanides may be applied in aqueous solutions, e.g. aqueous ethanol or aqueous propylene glycol, or in organic solvents, e.g. ethyl alcohol and/or acetone. Aqueous solutions preferably contain between 0.001 and 10 per cent by weight of the bis-biguanide and may also contain wetting agents and/or detergents, e.g. inorganic detergents and/or organic surface-active substances of the cationic or non-ionic kind. Suitable wetting agents are condensation products of ethylene oxide with alkyl phenols, e.g. octyl cresol, or with fatty alcohols, e.g. cetyl alcohol, or long-chain quaternary salts, e.g. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. Haemostatic agents, e.g. natural vegetable gums, such as alginic acid, and synthetic gums, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, may also be present. Specifications 705,838, [Group IV (b)], 710,105, [Group VI], 785,937, [Group VIII], 815,800 and 815,925, [both in Group VI], are referred to.ALSO:Cellulosic medical goods, e.g. surgical dressings, gauze, lint, cotton wool, and towelling, and handkerchief tissues, are given self-sterilizing and bactericidal properties by impregnating them with at least 0.001% of their dry weight of a bis-biguanide (or a salt thereof) of the formula <FORM:0821113/VI/1> where A is a phenyl radical which may be substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, nitro or halogen, X is a direct linkage or an alkylene radical of not more than 3 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aralkyl radical and n is an integer from 2 to 12 inclusive and wherein the polymethylene chain (CH2)n may optionally be interrupted by oxygen atoms and/or by aromatic nuclei. Suitable bis-biguanide salts are hydrochlorides and acetates and those derived from polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. D-glucanates, and from hydroxy alkane sulphonic acids, e.g. isothionates. The bis-biguanides may be applied in aqueous solutions, e.g. aqueous ethanol or aqueous propylene glycol, or in organic solvents, e.g. ethyl alcohol and/or acetone. Aqueous solutions preferably contain between 0.001 and 10% by weight of the bis-biguanide and may also contain wetting agents and/or detergents, e.g. inorganic detergents and/or organic surface-active substances of the cationic or non-ionic kind. Suitable wetting agents are condensation products of ethylene oxide with alkyl phenols, e.g. octyl cresol, or with fatty alcohols, e.g. cetyl alcohol, or long-chain quaternary salts, e.g. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. Haemostatic agents, e.g. natural vegetable gums, such as alginic acid, and synthetic gums, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, may also be present. Specifications 705,838, [Group IV (b)], 710,105, 785,937, [Group VIII], 815,800 and 815,925 are referred to.