JPH1147243A - Neutralizing/reducing agent and disinfectant for contact lens - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a neutralizing/reducing agent for a contact lens as fed into a hydrogen peroxide solution by filling a capsule having a water-soluble cellulose derivative as base agent with a compound for neutralization and reduction of the hydrogen peroxide or a composition for neutralization and reduction containing it in the washing and disinfection of the contact lens with the hydrogen peroxide solution. SOLUTION: This neutralizing/reducing agent is effectively used in the case of accomplishing the disinfection and sterilization of a soft contact lens by a hydrogen peroxide solution and the neutralization and the reduction of the hydrogen peroxide in one process and accurately acts on the hydrogen peroxide to neutralize and reduce it after the washing of the lens by the hydrogen peroxide. The agent is suitable for handy and complete disinfection of the soft contact lens. This also only requires the filling of a capsule with a water-soluble cellulose derivative as base material with a composition for neutralization and reduction, thereby enabling production easily and at a lower cost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a neutralizing / reducing agent used for neutralizing / reducing hydrogen peroxide when disinfecting a contact lens, particularly a soft contact lens with a hydrogen peroxide solution, and a disinfectant for the lens. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wearer of a soft contact lens needs to sterilize and use bacteria and fungi contaminating the soft contact lens. Disinfection methods for soft contact lenses include a high-temperature disinfection method using heat and a low-temperature disinfection method using a chemical disinfectant, and a low-temperature disinfection method using a hydrogen peroxide solution is suitably used. Hydrogen peroxide solutions are very effective in killing bacteria and fungi that contaminate soft contact lenses, but when used in soft contact lenses, it is necessary to decompose hydrogen peroxide remaining on disinfected lenses, If the hydrogen peroxide solution is not completely neutralized and reduced, it will irritate the eyes,
It can cause damage to the cornea.

For this reason, various neutralizing / reducing agents for a hydrogen peroxide solution have been conventionally proposed. In addition, since it is troublesome to add a neutralizing / reducing agent after disinfecting the lens with a hydrogen peroxide solution, the neutralizing / reducing agent is tabletted and released by forming a coating layer on it. Delay,
At the same time as disinfecting the lens with the hydrogen peroxide solution, this delayed release tablet is added to the hydrogen peroxide solution, and after the lens is disinfected with the hydrogen peroxide, the neutralizing / reducing agent in the tablet is eluted and the peroxide is oxidized. A method of neutralizing and reducing a hydrogen solution has also been proposed.

[0004] However, the conventional method in which disinfection and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide are performed in one step uses a delayed release tablet as described above. The neutralizing / reducing agent is partially eluted before the sterilization is completed, and hydrogen peroxide is often neutralized and reduced. In addition, preparation of delayed release tablets is troublesome and costly. There were disadvantages such as becoming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to improve the above circumstances, and when a contact lens, particularly a soft contact lens, is added to a hydrogen peroxide solution at the same time as disinfecting the lens with the hydrogen peroxide solution, the lens is made of hydrogen peroxide. An object of the present invention is to provide a contact lens neutralizing / reducing agent and a contact lens disinfectant capable of reliably acting on hydrogen peroxide after neutralization and neutralizing and reducing the same.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Embodiments of the Invention The present inventors have conducted intensive studies in order to achieve the above object, and as a result, have found that a neutralizing / reducing compound for neutralizing / reducing hydrogen peroxide or a compound for neutralizing / reducing hydrogen peroxide. Is filled into a capsule based on a water-soluble cellulose derivative such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, when this is simultaneously added to a hydrogen peroxide solution for washing and disinfecting soft contact lenses, the lens with hydrogen peroxide It disintegrates after a desired time after sterilization, neutralizes and reduces hydrogen peroxide by eluting the neutralizing / reducing agent filled inside, and performs sterilization and hydrogen peroxide decomposition more effectively in one step. The inventors have found that the present invention can be obtained, and have accomplished the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to a neutralizing / reducing agent to be added to a hydrogen peroxide solution when the contact lens is washed and sterilized with the hydrogen peroxide solution. A neutralizing / reducing agent for contact lenses, characterized in that a compound or a neutralizing / reducing composition containing the compound is filled in a capsule based on a water-soluble cellulose derivative. The present invention also provides a disinfectant comprising the neutralizing / reducing agent and a hydrogen peroxide solution.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

The neutralizing / reducing agent for contact lenses of the present invention is intended to neutralize, reduce, and render harmless hydrogen peroxide when cleaning and sterilizing contact lenses, especially soft contact lenses, with a hydrogen peroxide solution. And a neutralizing / reducing compound for neutralizing and reducing hydrogen peroxide or a composition containing the same is filled in a capsule based on a water-soluble cellulose derivative.

Here, as the compound for neutralizing and reducing hydrogen peroxide, a compound for neutralizing and reducing which has been conventionally used as a neutralizing and reducing agent for hydrogen peroxide is used. For example, sodium thiosulfate, One kind of neutralizing / reducing compounds such as sodium sulfite, sodium pyruvate and catalase can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. Of these, catalase is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of biocompatibility.

The composition containing the neutralizing / reducing compound may contain a buffering agent. After neutralizing and reducing the hydrogen peroxide solution, the pH of the solution is adjusted to 4.0 to 8.0.
0, preferably 5.5 to 8.0, more preferably 6.0.
It is preferable to keep it in the range of 7.5 to 7.5.
As the buffer, disodium hydrogen phosphate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, glucono delta lactone, citric acid, borax, baking soda, and the like can be used. One of these can be used alone, or two or more can be used in combination. Can be used.

It is preferable that the neutralizing / reducing composition is blended with an osmotic pressure adjusting agent such as sodium sulfate and sodium chloride in order to adjust the osmotic pressure of the hydrogen peroxide solution to 200 to 500 mOsm.

Further, when the neutralizing / reducing compound or the composition containing the same acts on hydrogen peroxide, bubbles are generated during the action, and the hydrogen peroxide solution overflows from the cleaning and disinfecting container during the promotion of neutralization. If there is a possibility that the neutralization and reduction may become unstable, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, lactose, starch and the like are blended as a retarder in order to gradually perform the neutralization and reduction. As a result, complete neutralization and reduction can be performed in about 1 to 2 hours, and the osmotic pressure can be adjusted to a state equivalent to that of the tear liquid.

The amount of the neutralizing / reducing compound used is sufficient to reduce hydrogen peroxide, and is used for cleaning and disinfecting the lens at a concentration of 2.5 to 3.5% by weight of peroxide. When using 10 ml of an aqueous hydrogen solution, use a neutralizing / reducing agent of 100 to
It can be about 500 mg, preferably about 150 to 400 mg, and more preferably about 180 to 280 mg. The total amount of the buffer is 15 to 140 m on the same basis.
g, especially 30 to 60 mg, and the osmotic agent can be 30 to 230 mg, especially 50 to 130 mg on a similar basis.
mg, the above-mentioned retarder can be 50-220 mg, especially 60-120 mg, on the same basis.

In this case, the neutralizing / reducing composition containing the neutralizing / reducing compound has a pH of the solution in the range of 4.0 to 8.0 after neutralizing and reducing hydrogen peroxide, Preferably it is in the range of 5.5 to 8.0, more preferably 6.0 to 7.5.
It is preferable to select the components and the amount to be used so that the osmotic pressure is in the range of 200 to 500 mOsm, preferably 270 to 320 mOsm, so that the solution adheres to the lens and is safe for eyes.

[0016] Specifically, neutralization and filling into one capsule
Preferred compositions of the reducing composition are as follows. Catalase 1.0-2.5mg Disodium hydrogen phosphate 12-60mg Glucono delta lactone 5-30mg Polyethylene glycol 20-100mg Sodium sulfate 40-150mg In addition, the composition for neutralization / reduction encapsulates a mixture of the above components. , Or granules, tablets and the like of the mixture.

In the present invention, the neutralizing / reducing composition is filled in a capsule based on a water-soluble cellulose derivative. In this case, the capsule has a pH of 3.5-8.0.
What dissolves in an aqueous liquid is preferred.

Here, as the water-soluble cellulose derivative, an alkyl group, especially a C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group and / or
Or a cellulose ether substituted with a hydroxy lower alkyl group is preferable, for example, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and the like, among which hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is an object of the present invention. Most preferred from above.

In the capsule of the present invention, a gelling agent can be used to gel the above water-soluble cellulose derivative. Examples of the gelling agent include carrageenan, tamarind seed gum, pectin, curdlan, gelatin, furceleran, agar and the like, and among them, carrageenan is preferable. As carrageenan, kappa carrageenan and iota carrageenan can be suitably used.

The amount of the above-mentioned gelling agent is appropriately selected, but is preferably 0.4 to 100 parts by weight of the water-soluble cellulose derivative.
It is preferably 3.3 parts by weight, particularly preferably 0.5 to 2.7 parts by weight. If the amount is too small, sufficient gelation of the water-soluble cellulose derivative will not be achieved, and if the amount is too large, a large amount may adhere to the lens.

The gelling agent may be used in combination with a gelling aid. Examples of the gelling aid include compounds that supply one or more of potassium ion, ammonium ion, and calcium ion for kappa carrageenan, such as chlorides and sulfates of these cations. An ion supplying compound can be mentioned. The amount is
0.04 based on 100 parts by weight of the water-soluble cellulose derivative
To 3.3 parts by weight, especially 0.3 to 1.0 parts by weight.

The composition for forming a capsule based on the above water-soluble cellulose derivative may further contain mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, saccharose, polyethylene glycol and the like.

A method for preparing capsules from the composition for forming capsules may be a known method, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
79325. Also, the size and the like can be appropriately selected.

The neutralizing / reducing agent of the present invention is obtained by filling the above-mentioned compound for neutralizing / reducing or a composition containing the same into a hard capsule based on the above-mentioned water-soluble cellulose derivative and contacting it with a contact lens. When washing and sterilizing are simultaneously injected into a hydrogen peroxide solution, the capsule does not collapse immediately after the injection, so the lens is sterilized by hydrogen peroxide, and the capsule starts to collapse after a predetermined time,
The neutralizing / reducing compound or the composition containing the compound, which is encapsulated in the capsule, comes into contact with and dissolves in the hydrogen peroxide solution, starts neutralizing and reducing hydrogen peroxide, and gradually neutralizes and reduces. Finally, the hydrogen peroxide is completely neutralized and reduced, and the capsule is completely dissolved.

In this case, the disintegration of the capsule is preferably started several minutes to several tens of minutes after the introduction, and the disintegration start time of the capsule is adjusted by a gelling agent for forming the capsule,
It can be performed by adjusting the amount of the gelling aid.

As described above, the pH and the osmotic pressure of the lens cleaning / sterilizing hydrogen peroxide solution of about 3.5 and 900 mOsm can be adjusted by adjusting the components and amounts of the neutralizing / reducing composition. After summing and reducing, it is possible to adjust the pH to about 7.0 and the osmotic pressure to about 300 mOsm, which are almost the same as those of the tear liquid. It can be used safely without giving. The liquid after the completion of the washing and neutralization is transparent and odorless, is in a sterile state, and the disinfected lens is in a sterile state.

The above-mentioned effects cannot be achieved with ordinary gelatin-based capsules. That is, ordinary gelatin-based capsules are difficult to completely dissolve in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, remain in a liquid as a transparent residue even after neutralization and reduction, and may adhere to contact lenses. However, if the wearer wears the lens to the eye without noticing this adhesion, it may impair eyesight and cause corneal damage.However, capsules based on water-soluble cellulose derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose are subject to peroxidation. Such a disadvantage does not occur because it is completely dissolved in an aqueous hydrogen solution and no residue is generated.

In order to disinfect a soft contact lens with a hydrogen peroxide solution, disinfect the lens by immersing the lens in a hydrogen peroxide solution before neutralization and reduction for a certain period of time sufficient to kill bacteria and fungi. It is necessary to maintain the state in which the capsule does not dissolve and neutralization and reduction of the hydrogen peroxide solution do not start for the time required for this disinfection. Although the capsule of the present invention is water-soluble, as described above, the dissolution start time of the capsule in the hydrogen peroxide solution can be adjusted by the mixing ratio of the constituent gelling agents such as carrageenan.
In this case, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide enters through the gap between the capsule body and the cap, and the junction between the capsule body and the cap is band-sealed so that neutralization and reduction do not start from inside, and dissolution starts from the surface of the capsule. It is preferable to maintain a predetermined melting start time. It is preferable to use the same water-soluble cellulose derivative as described above as a sealing material for sealing the joint between the body and the cap.

[0029]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Example 1 A neutralizing / reducing composition having the following formulation was prepared. Catalase 1.875 mg Disodium hydrogen phosphate 37.5 mg Gluconodelta lactone 18.75 mg Polyethylene glycol 75.0 mg Sodium sulfate 116.875 mg On the other hand, based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose consisting of the following components No. 3 capsules (hereinafter referred to as HPMC capsules) were prepared. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 93.2% by weight Kappa carrageenan 1.3% by weight Potassium chloride 0.5% by weight Water 5.0% by weight Total 100.0% by weight

Next, the above-mentioned neutralizing / reducing composition is mixed with the above-mentioned HP
MC capsules are filled, and the joints of the capsules are sealed with a sealing machine (trade name: HICAPSEAL-
100).

Hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution (H ₂ O ₂ concentration 2.5 to
3.5% by weight, pH about 3.5, Osmotic pressure about 900 mOs
m) HPMC encapsulating the used soft contact lens and the above-described neutralizing / reducing composition in a container containing 10 ml.
Capsules were simultaneously charged (room temperature). In this case, as a container, the lens does not float in the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, the disinfection with hydrogen peroxide is sufficiently performed, and the mesh is used to prevent the lens from being affected by bubbles generated during neutralization and reduction. A special container was used to keep it in a basket and centered in the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution.

In the first few minutes after the simultaneous addition of the lens and the capsule, the capsule does not disintegrate, and before the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with the composition in the capsule is started, the lens is dissolved in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. Stable sterilization and disinfection was carried out. 5 to 6 minutes after the introduction, the capsules began to melt, and the reaction between the composition in the capsules and the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution was started. The reaction gradually progressed, and the neutralization and reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the solution were completed in 30 to 60 minutes. In this case, the time required for the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the lens to be reduced is required, but the time required for the hydrogen peroxide in the lens to be neutralized and reduced is about 90 minutes.

The aqueous solution after neutralization and reduction has a pH of 6.0.
浸透 7.5, the osmotic pressure was in the range of 250-350 mOsm, almost the same as the tear liquid, and the appearance was colorless and transparent. The above HPMC capsule was completely dissolved and no residue was generated.

Furthermore, a contact lens which is put into an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide at the same time as the capsule is disinfected before the neutralizing / reducing composition containing the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (3% oxidol) in the capsule acts. As a result of the test using a thioglycolate medium and a glucose peptone medium, no viable bacteria or fungi were found, and the soft contact lenses had been sterilized and disinfected. No fungi were found, and it was confirmed that they had been sterilized and disinfected. In addition, no colonies were found by the results of a general bacterial test using a normal agar medium.

[0036]

The neutralizing / reducing agent of the present invention is effectively used when sterilizing and disinfecting a soft contact lens with a hydrogen peroxide solution and neutralizing / reducing hydrogen peroxide in one step. After cleaning the lens with hydrogen oxide, it can reliably act on hydrogen peroxide to neutralize and reduce it. It is suitable for disinfecting soft contact lenses easily and completely. Since the composition is merely filled into capsules, its production is also easy and inexpensive.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A neutralizing / reducing agent to be added to a hydrogen peroxide solution when the contact lens is washed and sterilized with the hydrogen peroxide solution, the compound being used for neutralizing / reducing hydrogen peroxide or A neutralizing / reducing agent for contact lenses, characterized in that a neutralizing / reducing composition containing the same is filled in a capsule based on a water-soluble cellulose derivative. 2. The neutralizing / reducing agent according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is dissolved in an aqueous liquid having a pH of 3.5 to 8.0. 3. The neutralizing / reducing agent according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is based on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and contains carrageenan as a gelling agent. 4. The neutralizing / reducing composition according to claim 1, further comprising a pH buffer, for adjusting the pH of the hydrogen peroxide solution to a range of 4.0 to 8.0. 3. The neutralizing / reducing agent according to 3. 5. The composition for neutralization / reduction further comprises an osmotic pressure adjusting agent, and the osmotic pressure value of the hydrogen peroxide solution is from 200 to 5
The neutralizing / reducing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the neutralizing / reducing agent is adjusted to a range of 00mOsm. 6. A disinfectant for contact lenses, comprising a hydrogen peroxide solution and the neutralizing / reducing agent according to claim 1.