JPH0788012A - Toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize the antibacterial and antiviral actions of a toothbrush by adding an antibacterial complex in which thiosulfato silver complex is supported by porous particles to the handle and filament. CONSTITUTION:A soln. of thiosulfato silver complex is obtained by adding a combination of Na2SO3.7H2O with either Na2S2O3.5H2O or K2SO3 to a soln. obtained by dissolving a water soluble silver salt, e.g. silver acetate, into water. Subsequently, porous particle carriers are added to the soln. so that a thiosulfatoargentate is adsorbed by the carriers which are then dried. An antibacterial complex is thus obtained by having the thiosulfato silver complex supported by the carriers. The antibacterial complex can be contained in the handle and filament of a toothbrush by either kneading and mixing it into the resin composing the handle or filament or sticking or bonding it to the surface of the handle and filament. A toothbrush demonstrating the stable effect of antibacterial and antiviral actions is provided because water insoluble silver chloride is not produced even in the presence of chloride ions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an antibacterial toothbrush.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when synthetic resin products are frequently used, and when they are used in fields in which hygiene is required, such as kitchen appliances, contamination of the surface of the synthetic resin by bacteria is a problem. Is becoming. In addition, there are problems such as fungi and mold buildup on the surface of caulking materials used as building materials, which leads to poor hygiene and appearance. As a countermeasure, there is used a method in which an antibacterial composition is mixed into a synthetic resin and the composition is eluted on the surface of the synthetic resin to sterilize the surface of the resin. An organic antibacterial and antifungal material such as thiabendazole is used in order to positively elute the antibacterial and antifungal material in the synthetic resin and obtain a bactericidal and fungicidal effect on the resin surface and its surroundings. In particular, it is known that the surface of the toothbrush is coated with an organic antibacterial material on the toothbrush filament material in order to prevent the growth of various bacteria such as mutans bacteria.
Specifically, as an antibacterial toothbrush, one having an antibacterial film mainly composed of an organic antibacterial agent such as gluconsanhexidine applied to the surface of a toothbrush filament has been commercially available.

[0003]

Since many of the conventionally known organic antibacterial and antifungal materials have volatility, inclusion of this in a synthetic resin pollutes the surrounding environment of the synthetic resin, and During drainage that comes in contact with the surface of synthetic resin,
Since the antibacterial and antifungal material is contained, this causes pollution of drainage environment, and there is a problem that it affects activated sludge during sewage treatment. Further, when the antibacterial material has volatility, when the antibacterial material is mixed with the resin, the antibacterial material evaporates due to heating during molding of the resin, so that the antibacterial material cannot be mixed. The above-mentioned antibacterial toothbrush has a strong initial antibacterial effect, but has a problem in terms of durability. Originally toothbrushes are consumables, so long-term sustainability is not a problem,
Improvements are required in terms of antibacterial properties after some use and darkening at the root of the toothbrush filament. That is, although an antibacterial effect can be expected by the addition of the antibacterial agent, it is less effective against so-called darkening in which foreign matters such as plaque accumulate at the root portion of the toothbrush filament. In general, organic antibacterial agents have low heat resistance, and few of them can withstand general processing temperatures. In addition, although the antibacterial effect is strong, the antibacterial spectrum is narrow, and there are few bacteria and viruses. However, as a recent consumer trend, hygiene products such as toothbrushes are required to have not only an antibacterial effect but also an antiviral effect.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an antibacterial toothbrush which exhibits a stable antibacterial and antiviral effect on the surface of a resin filament or a handle. Another object of the present invention is to provide an antibacterial toothbrush that is unlikely to cause environmental pollution even if the antibacterial agent is eluted from the resin.

[0005]

A toothbrush of the present invention is a filament for implanting a handle or a handle with an antibacterial composite comprising a thiosulfato silver complex, which is an antibacterial and antiviral material, supported on a porous particle carrier such as silica gel particles. Is added to or attached to. The above-mentioned antibacterial composite can be contained in these patterns and filaments by a method of kneading into the resin constituting the patterns or filaments or a method of adhering or adhering to the surface of the patterns or filaments.

The antibacterial composite used in the present invention can be produced as follows. That is, a water-soluble silver salt such as silver acetate is dissolved in water, and the solution is mixed with Na ₂ SO ₃
・ 7H ₂ O and Na ₂ S ₂ O ₃ .5H ₂ O or K ₂ SO ₃ and K ₂ S ₂ O ₃ are sequentially added in combination,
A silver thiosulfato complex solution is formed, and then a porous particle carrier is added, and the silver thiosulfato complex salt solution is adsorbed on the carrier and dried. Thus, the carrier is loaded with the thiosulfato silver complex to obtain an antibacterial composite. Further, it is preferable to hydrolyze a sol-gel solution composed of an alcohol solution of alkoxysilane on the outer surface of the composite having a carrier carrying a silver thiosulfato complex to form an outer shell coating layer composed of silicon dioxide.

The surface of the toothbrush filament or handle is preferably water-repellent and oil-repellent. As a method of imparting water repellency and oil repellency, a silicone resin is kneaded in a resin forming a filament or a handle,
There are a method of imparting water repellency and oil repellency to the surface, and a method of imparting water repellency and oil repellency to the surface by kneading at least one of a fluororesin and a fluoro oil into a resin. Further, there is a method of using polypropylene having water repellency and oil repellency. Further, the filament may be made of a hollow fiber polypropylene resin, or a columnar polypropylene resin having a triangular, quadrangular, or star-shaped cross section.

[0008]

The silver thiosulfato complex used as an antibacterial and antiviral material in the present invention does not form water-insoluble silver chloride even when coexisting with chloride ions, and thus a toothbrush having a stable antibacterial and antiviral effect can be obtained. Further, even if the above complex is eluted from the resin constituting the handle or filament, it is unlikely to cause environmental pollution. By covering at least a part of the antibacterial / antiviral composite of the present invention with a coating material, thermal stability is improved. From this, it is possible to provide a toothbrush that can inactivate or suppress the growth of mutans bacteria, viruses such as influenza, and other bacteria that adhere to the toothbrush filaments and remain and grow even after washing with water.

By imparting water repellency and oil repellency to the surface of the toothbrush, it becomes difficult for bacteria to adhere to the toothbrush filament and the handle, and the effect of cleaning the surface when the toothbrush is reused is exhibited. Furthermore, when the toothbrush is used for a while, darkening is likely to occur at the root portion of the filament-implanted hair, but it also has an effect of preventing it. Furthermore, in order to fully exhibit water repellency and oil repellency,
When polypropylene resin is used as the filament, the filament becomes softer.Therefore, the filament should be hollow fiber polypropylene resin, or the filament cross-sectional shape should be triangular, quadrangular, star-shaped, etc. Can be strengthened.

[0010]

EXAMPLES The preferred method for producing the antibacterial composite used in the present invention will be described below. First, the raw material CH ₃ COOA
Since g has a low solubility, 7.7 g / l, which is close to the solubility, is dissolved in pure water at a temperature of 60 ° C. or lower. This melting process
Since CH ₃ COOAg is decomposed when heated to a temperature higher than 60 ° C., a room temperature range of 60 ° C. or lower is preferable. next,
In the thiosulfato complex salt forming step, S ₂ O ₃ -Ag-S ₂
N corresponding to a stoichiometric amount so that a complex of O ₃ is formed
_{a 2 SO 3 · 7H 2 O} : CH 3 COOAg = 4.3g: 1g
Na ₂ SO ₃ .7H ₂ O was first added at a ratio of, and after sufficiently dissolved, Na ₂ S ₂ O ₃ .5H ₂ O: CH ₃ COOAg =
Na ₂ S ₂ O ₃ .5H ₂ O was added and dissolved at a ratio of 2.8 g: 1 g. The melting step at this time is preferably in the temperature range of 40 ° C. to room temperature. Here Na ₂ SO ₃ · 7H ₂ O and Na ₂ S ₂ O ₃
・ A combination of 5H ₂ O was used, but K ₂ S was used instead.
It is also possible to use a combination of O ₃ and K ₂ S ₂ O ₃ . Next, in the adsorption step, using a porous particle carrier such as silica gel having a desired particle size, preferably 1 to 10 μm, the carrier is sufficiently impregnated with the thiosulfato silver complex to a desired concentration. The temperature of this step is preferably 40 ° C to room temperature. Next, in the drying step, the pressure is atmospheric pressure or 10 ^-2 Tor to prevent decomposition of the silver thiosulfato complex.
It is preferable that the temperature r is 40 to 120 ° C. next,
An outer shell coating layer is formed on the surface of a carrier carrying a silver thiosulfato complex by the sol-gel method. This coating layer has the role of adjusting the duration of the therapeutic effect of the thiosulfato silver complex when used as an antibacterial agent or virus inhibitor, and changes the rapid-acting effect to a sustained-release function to improve the sustainability of the therapeutic effect. Improve.

The alkoxysilane and alcohol used herein preferably have an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Here, the standard formulation of tetraethoxysilane (CH
₃ CH ₂ O) ₄ Si and ethyl alcohol are used. The silica gel particles supporting the silver thiosulfato silver complex were added at a ratio of 1 g to a liquid prepared by mixing 1 ml of each, and after mixing well, about 0.2 ml of pure water was added dropwise to hydrolyze tetraethoxysilane. Forming a coating layer of silicon dioxide. The temperature in this step is from room temperature to 4
0 ° C is preferred. Next, in the drying process, the pressure is 760 mmHg to 10 ^-2 so that the thiosulfato silver complex is not decomposed.
Torr and temperature are preferably 120 ° C to 40 ° C. As described above, the antibacterial composite is obtained.

[Example 1] A water- and oil-repellent material (trade name: Silicone Concentrate manufactured by Toray Silicone Dow Corning Co., Ltd.) obtained by kneading a silicone gum component in a polypropylene resin of 50% by weight (hereinafter referred to simply as%) was used as a mother. A resin compound is prepared by kneading 5% of the material polypropylene resin and 1% of the base material polypropylene resin with the antibacterial composite prepared by the above method. Using this compound, a filament having a diameter of about 0.2 mm and a quadrangular cross section is formed. A water-repellent and oil-repellent material obtained by kneading a silicone gum component in a 50% polyacetal resin (trade name: DURACON) is contained in a base material polyacetal resin in an amount of 5%, and the antibacterial composite prepared by the above production method is added in the base material polyacetal resin. 1
% To form a toothbrush handle using a kneaded resin compound. The filament is planted on the handle of the toothbrush to form a toothbrush.

Next, the operation of the antibacterial toothbrush of the present invention thus constructed will be described. After the use of the toothbrush, some moisture and other bacteria such as mutans and plaque remain on the filament of the toothbrush. Moisture containing plaque originally collects at the root of the filament-implanted filament due to a capillary phenomenon if the filament is hydrophilic, and causes darkening. Suppress the occurrence. Furthermore, the same thing can be exhibited by the handle of the toothbrush, and the adhesion of plaque generated between the transplanted hairs can be reduced. Further, since the filament and the handle of the toothbrush are kneaded with the antibacterial composite, they exhibit an antibacterial effect against miscellaneous bacteria adhering to each surface and keep each surface clean. Figure 1 shows the Streptococcus mutans (Streptoco smutans) attached to the surface of the filament part of the toothbrush.
3 shows the growth rate of microorganisms including ccus mutans). The vertical axis represents the amount of microorganisms, and the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time from the time of washing with water after using the toothbrush. A is a conventional product not subjected to antibacterial treatment, and B is a product of the present invention. As described above, the antibacterial toothbrush of the present invention can always be kept clean.

[Example 2] A hollow fiber filament having a diameter of about 0.2 mm was formed by using a resin compound prepared by kneading the antibacterial composite prepared by the above-mentioned method in a base material polypropylene resin at 1%. A toothbrush using a resin compound prepared by kneading 5% of a water / oil repellent material composed of a mixture of tetrafluoroethylene resin powder and fluorine oil in a base material polyacetal resin and 1% of an antibacterial composite prepared by the above-mentioned manufacturing method. Form the handle. Similar to the first embodiment, the filament of the first embodiment is implanted into the handle of the toothbrush to form a toothbrush. As in Example 1, the filament and the handle are kneaded with the antibacterial composite inside and on the surface of the constituent resin, so that the filament and the handle surface have an antibacterial and antiviral effect. That is, the thiosulfato silver complex salt, which is the main component of the antibacterial complex, exerts an inactivating effect on influenza virus.

As a test for confirming the above antiviral action, an experiment was conducted by the following method. Influenza viruses A and B are used as viruses. Toothbrush constituent resin 1g
And 30 ml of phosphate buffer were shaken for 30 minutes, and each virus solution was mixed at a volume ratio of 1: 1. After 30 minutes, canine kidney MDCK cells were infected for 30 minutes.
After a lapse of time, the infected cells were stained with rabbit antiserum against each virus, an antibody against rabbit immunoglobulin G and PAP (peroxidase rabbit anti-peroxidase complex) for evaluation. As a result of the above test, it was confirmed that the toothbrush of this example has an antiviral effect. On the other hand, as a control product, an aqueous solution of silver acetate as a starting material is prepared. This is not particularly limited to silver acetate, and any kind of water-soluble silver salt such as silver nitrate may be used. When this was adsorbed and supported on silica gel and an antibacterial material was used to form a toothbrush in the same manner as in Example 2, a test was conducted as a control product, and no virus suppressing effect was observed.

Next, a composite containing the thiosulfato silver complex of the present invention and a composite were prepared in the same manner except that the starting material silver acetate was not added, and this composite was used as an antibacterial material in Example 2 and When a toothbrush constructed by the same method was tested as a comparative example, it was found that it did not have a virus suppressing effect. Further, a test in which gluconsanhexidine as an organic antibacterial agent was applied as an antibacterial film on the surface of the toothbrush filament was tested as Comparative Example 2 and was found to have no virus suppressing effect. As described above, those containing no silver thiosulfato complex do not have an antiviral inhibitory effect. This effect was also confirmed in Example 1.

Next, 0.3 ml of a liquid containing indigenous bacteria collected from a toothbrush in normal use was dripped onto the bristles of the toothbrush of this example and the toothbrush of the comparative example containing no antibacterial complex. When the number of bacteria was measured after 24 hours at 0 ° C., the initial number of bacteria was 1.6 × 10 ⁵ CFU / ml, whereas the toothbrush of this example had 200 CFU / ml.
Below, in the comparative example, it was 3.3 × 10 ⁵ CFU / ml.

[0018]

As described above, the present invention can provide a toothbrush having a stable antibacterial and antiviral effect.
Further, the antibacterial material used has an advantage that it is unlikely to cause environmental pollution even if it is eluted from the toothbrush. According to the present invention, it is possible to inactivate or suppress the growth of mutans bacteria, viruses such as influenza, and other bacteria that adhere to toothbrush filaments and remain even after washing with water and proliferate. By imparting water repellency and oil repellency to the surface of the toothbrush, it becomes difficult for bacteria to adhere to the toothbrush filament and the handle, and it is effective in cleaning the surface when the toothbrush is used again. Further, when the toothbrush is used for a while, darkening is likely to occur at the root portion of the filament-implanted hair, which is also effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the growth rate of microorganisms attached to the surfaces of brush portions of toothbrushes of examples of the present invention and conventional examples.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A toothbrush formed by implanting filaments containing porous particles supporting a silver thiosulfato complex on a handle. 2. A toothbrush obtained by implanting filaments into a handle containing porous particles carrying a thiosulfato silver complex. 3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the filament or handle is water and oil repellent.