WO2021194428A1

WO2021194428A1 - Rinse-free sanitizer

Info

Publication number: WO2021194428A1
Application number: PCT/SG2021/050172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ing Jen CHEONG; Qingqing DOU; Weiren CHENG
Original assignee: Champs Innovations Pte. Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-03-27
Filing date: 2021-03-26
Publication date: 2021-09-30

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rinse-free sanitizer for disinfecting a surface containing microbes or suspected to contain microbes, wherein the sanitizer comprises one or more film formers, a disinfectant, a humectant and a solvent. In a preferred embodiment, the sanitizer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyacrylate crosspolymer and trimethylsiloxysilicate/polypropylsilsesquioxane as the film formers.

Description

RINSE-FREE SANITIZER

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of Singapore Patent Application No. 10202002904V, filed 27 March 2020, the content of it being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a sanitizer. The present disclosure also relates to a hand sanitizer.

Background

[0003] Most of the current available hand sanitizers may adopt an ethanol formulation following the guidelines set out by the World Health Organization (i.e. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care Is Safer Care. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. 12, WHO- recommended handrub formulations). Alternatively, current hand sanitizers may adopt an ethanol-free formulation instead having one or more bactericidal reagents.

[0004] However, there appears to be growing evidence that suggest biofilm secreted by bacteria, offers the bacteria a protective barrier against existing disinfectants and sanitizers, whether ethanol or non-ethanol based. Moreover, the use of existing sanitizers tends not to physically remove remnants and toxins of dead bacteria, and hence offers neither elimination of potential health hazard for its user nor improves hygiene thereof.

[0005] In a recent finding, it was reported that almost-dead bacteria may be resurrected and further developed into antibiotic-resistant cells, having increased resistance against existing hand sanitizers and disinfectants. In addition, the remnants and toxins from any dead microbes residing on a surface after sanitization may cause undesirable effects if they end up in the bloodstream through an open wound. The contaminants, e.g. remnants of the dead bacteria and toxins from microbes, may invoke an immune response and damage body tissues of a user. Another potential concern is that the residue of the dead and/or live microbes may serve as a nutrient reservoir to promote growth and proliferation of any new microbes, rendering a user hands more dirty than it was and this may escalate a compromise in the hygiene of a surface more quickly. [0006] There is thus a need to provide for a solution that addresses one or more of the limitations mentioned above. The solution should at least provide for a sanitizing formulation which physically removes dead and live microbes from a surface (e.g. a hand).

Summary

[0007] In one aspect, there is provided a sanitizer for disinfecting a surface containing microbes or suspected to contain microbes, the sanitizer includes: one or more film formers; a disinfectant; a humectant; and a solvent, wherein, as the solvent dries off, the one or more film formers form a film on the surface over microbes present thereon and are driven toward microbes present on the surface to encapsulate microbes present thereon, wherein the film formed is physically removable by rubbing the film on the surface, wherein the film breaks into pieces by action of the rubbing and the pieces of the film detach microbes present from the surface by having any remaining microbes present on the surface adhere thereto, and wherein microbes present on the surface are removed therefrom by rubbing of the pieces of the film having (i) microbes encapsulated therein and/or (ii) microbes adhered thereon.

Detailed Description

[0008] Features that are described in the context of an embodiment may correspondingly be applicable to the same or similar features in the other embodiments. Features that are described in the context of an embodiment may correspondingly be applicable to the other embodiments, even if not explicitly described in these other embodiments. Furthermore, additions and/or combinations and/or alternatives as described for a feature in the context of an embodiment may correspondingly be applicable to the same or similar feature in the other embodiments.

[0009] The present disclosure relates to a sanitizer. The term “sanitizer” herein includes reference to a mixture of chemicals used to disinfect a surface, for example, by removing, deactivating or killing microbes, including but not limited to, viruses, bacteria, microorganisms, etc. The term “disinfect” and grammatical variants thereof herein means to remove the physical presence of microbes that compromise hygiene. Disinfection may include deactivating or killing the microbes. Specifically, the term “disinfectant” herein refers to a chemical or mixture of chemicals of a sanitizer that deactivates or kills microbes on surfaces. The term “deactivating” and grammatical variants thereof herein refer to having a microbe lose its bacterial, viral, or any biological activity that compromises hygiene. Deactivating a microbe may include rendering the microbe dormant, suppressing growth of the microbe temporarily or permanently, or having the microbe lose any activity that compromises hygiene. A dormant microbe is herein considered a microbe that is still alive. The term “killing” of a microbe, and grammatical variants of “killing”, herein refer to having the microbe completely dead. The surface may include reference to a hand of a human, that is, the sanitizer of the present disclosure may be used as a hand sanitizer.

[0010] The present sanitizer provides a hygiene level greater than existing sanitizers and confers a sanitization effectiveness better than existing sanitizers, closer to that of washing of hands with soap. In other words, the present sanitizer is able to physically remove dead and live microbes without washing of hands, e.g. with soap, and hence termed a “rinse-free” sanitizer.

[0011] The present sanitizer is based on a formulation that renders physical removal of microbes (whether dead or alive) from a surface applied with the sanitizer, e.g. hands of human. The present sanitizer, including its formulation, includes one or more film formers.

[0012] The one or more film formers of the present disclosure form a film that covers microbes present on a surface as the present sanitizer dries. Describing in more detail, the film former migrates closer to the microbes as the present sanitizer dries. Drying of the present sanitizer forces the film former to wrap over and/or around the microbes. Also, as the present sanitizer dries, the film former may form cross-linkages that trap microbes therein. The film former is hence able to encapsulate and detach microbes from a surface via more than one manner. When the present sanitizer is dried, the film former resides as a film on the surface. When the dried sanitizer is rubbed off (i.e. the film formed from the film former is rubbed), encapsulated microbes are removed from the surface as the dried sanitizer is rubbed off.

[0013] The one or more film formers are able to form hydrogen bonds. The one or more film formers are attracted to microbes by forming hydrogen bonds with the microbes. As the hydrogen bonds form, the film former wraps over and/or around the microbes. This encapsulates the microbes in the film former and subsequently allows for physical removal of the microbes from a surface by simply rubbing the dried sanitizer as described above.

[0014] The film former, including the film formed from the film former when the present sanitizer is dried, are sticky (i.e. adhesive) from its capability to form hydrogen bonds. As the film former forms hydrogen bonds with microbes, the microbes adhere to the film former. When the present sanitizer is dried and rubbed, any microbes on a surface not encapsulated can additionally be adhered to the film. Microbes adhered to the film can be detached from the surface. When the present sanitizer is dried and the film that is formed gets rubbed, the adhered microbes are physically removed from the surface together. Also, as the dried sanitizer is rubbed, the film formed from the film former may get broken into smaller pieces. The pieces aid in adhering more microbes as the pieces are rubbed around on the surface. The pieces, together with the adhered/detached microbes, can then be physically removed off the surface by the rubbing. Moreover, the pieces can aggregate during rubbing. This may trap microbes in the aggregate, providing another avenue of physically removing microbes from the surface.

[0015] As the present sanitizer contains one or more film formers that can encapsulate microbes as mentioned above, it can be described that the present sanitizer contains an encapsulating agent that encapsulates microbes. Subsequently, when the applied present sanitizer dries, a user is able to conveniently rub the dried sanitizer off the surface easily, thereby removing the encapsulated microbes together off the surface. In other words, the one or more film formers of the present disclosure is exchangeably termed herein an “encapsulating agent”. By encapsulating the microbes, the microbes are prevented from attaching to the surface or the microbes can be detached from the surface. The microbes then can be easily removed from the surface by a user simply rubbing off the dried sanitizer having the encapsulated microbes.

[0016] The encapsulating agent also serves as a “friction-enhancing agent” when the present sanitizer is dried, which facilitates the physical removal of the encapsulated microbes, such as a user easily rubbing off the dried sanitizer. Advantageously, the film formed from the film former when the present sanitizer is dried does not introduce rough surfaces to enhance friction. Rather, as the film residing on the surface is adhesive from its capability to form hydrogen bonds, the adhesiveness of the film renders friction when being rubbed. For example, a hand of the user may be applied with the present sanitizer. When the present sanitizer is dried, the user can use the other hand (or another surface), whether applied or not applied with the present sanitizer, for rubbing. If the other hand (or another surface) is applied with the present sanitizer, the film on both hands (or the hand and surface) may form hydrogen bonds with each other, which makes the film sticky. If the other hand (or surface) is not applied with the present sanitizer, the film can form hydrogen bonds with the skin of the other bare hand (or bare surface), hence rendering the film a sticky feel to the user. In both cases, the adhesion from such hydrogen bonds helps pull off the film on one or both hands as one hand moves away from the other during rubbing, thereby peeling or detaching the film off one or both hands. As a user may feel that the adhesion works against the rubbing motion, it can be described that “friction” is introduced and hence the term “friction enhancing agent” is used herein. Even though the user may feel that the adhesion works against rubbing, it is reiterated that the adhesion actually helps to pull the dried sanitizer (i.e. the film) off the surface by rubbing with another surface that is applied or is not applied with the present sanitizer.

[0017] The present sanitizer not only addresses the hygiene and health issues arising from residues, remnants and toxins from the microbes, but also prevents dead and almost-dead microbes from reviving on the surface and having new microbes growing thereon with improved resistance against hand sanitizers. The terms “almost-dead” and “partially dead” herein interchangeably refer to a microbe capable of regaining any bacterial, viral, or any biological activity that was lost and may then continue to compromise hygiene. The terms “revive”, “resurrect”, and their grammatical variants, herein means to restore a microbe of its original activity or life.

[0018] Conversely, sanitizers (e.g. hand sanitizers) traditionally do not work in such a manner, as sanitizers traditionally deactivate or kill the microbes by relying on a disinfectant, such as a bactericide, instead of removing the presence of microbes entirely. The limitations with such traditional sanitizers include (i) the microbes has to be easily deactivated or killed, which is not always the case, (ii) not all microbes are completely deactivated or killed, and (iii) any residue of dead and/or almost-dead microbes remaining on a surface may revive and then proliferate with improved resistance, thereby posing a health hazard and compromising hygiene.

[0019] In addition, traditional sanitizers potentially suffer from limited efficacy due to a biofilm produced by the microbes. The biofilm undesirably shields the underlying microbes from the sanitizers. Even if traditional sanitizers deactivate or kill the microbes completely, the traditional sanitizers may not sufficiently address the toxins released when the microbes were dead or alive. Traditional sanitizers hence do not adequately address the potential hazards posed by remnants and toxins of dead and almost-dead microbes. However, with the present sanitizer, the biofilm may be circumvented as it encapsulates the microbes even with a biofilm, which allows for the microbes to be removed therefrom by rubbing off the dried sanitizer. The present sanitizer also encapsulates any residue, remnants and toxin together with the microbes for removal from the surface.

[0020] The sanitizer of the present disclosure may contain ethanol and/or isopropanol or the sanitizer of the present disclosure may be absent of ethanol and isopropanol. Ethanol and/or isopropanol can be a disinfectant in the present sanitizer. Said differently, the disinfectant of the present sanitizer can be alcoholic -based or non alcoholic based. The terms “alcohol-based” and “alcoholic” used in the context of the present disclosure refer to the present sanitizer containing specifically, ethanol and/or isopropanol (i.e. isopropyl alcohol) as the disinfectant. Accordingly, in the context of the present disclosure, the terms “non-alcohol based” and “non-alcoholic” refer to the present sanitizer that is absent of ethanol and/or isopropanol as a disinfectant. However, while ethanol and isopropanol may be alcohols suitable for being a disinfectant in the present sanitizer, not all alcohols nor any compounds containing a hydroxyl (i.e. -OH) group are suitable for being a disinfectant in the present sanitizer, as not all alcohols nor any compounds having a hydroxyl group can be safely used for sanitization. For example, a considerable number of alcohols may pose health hazards and thus have to be avoided. In other words, the present sanitizer, where it is non-alcohol based, can be absent of ethanol and isopropanol as the disinfectant. The present sanitizer, where it is alcohol-based, may contain ethanol and/or isopropanol as the disinfectant.

[0021] Advantageously, the present sanitizer is able to disinfect a surface through physical removal of microbes, whether dead or alive, with or without ethanol and/or isopropanol as disinfectant in the present sanitizer. Said differently, even if the present sanitizer contains an alcohol-based disinfectant, it does not solely rely on the alcohol- based disinfectant to sanitize a surface.

[0022] Further advantageously, the present sanitizer, with or without an alcohol-based disinfectant, provides a thin protective layer that shields or minimizes the direct attachment of microbes on a disinfected surface. This in turn renders easier removal of any microbes in subsequent sanitization even if the present sanitizer is not used for the subsequent sanitization. This thin protective layer may be termed herein “shielding layer” or “bio-shield”. The “bio-shield” shall be described in the examples further hereinbelow in more detail.

[0023] The sanitizer of the present disclosure containing a non-alcohol based disinfectant is advantageous for users with sensitive skin, children, kitchen use and personnels working with sparks/flames, e.g. chef. Such a version of the present sanitizer containining a non-alcohol based disinfectant shall be herein referred to exchangeably as a “non-alcohol based sanitizer”, “non-alcohol sanitizer” and “non-alcoholic sanitizer”. The non-alcohol sanitizer of the present disclosure may contain a bactericide for deactivating or killing microbes, including bacteria.

[0024] The alcohol-based version of the present sanitizer, that is, the sanitizer of the present disclosure that contains an alcohol-based disinfectant is suitably advantageous for the general population that have healthy skin and/or do not suffer allergies to alcohol-based disinfectant. The alcohol-based disinfectant in the present sanitizer may deactivate or kill the microbes. [0025] Regardless of whether the present sanitizer contains an alcohol-based or non alcohol based disinfectant, the sanitizer of the present disclosure works in the following manner, generally described in three phases.

[0026] In the first phase, after the present sanitizer (e.g. containing 70 wt.% ethanol and/or isopropanol) is applied on the surface (e.g. hands), the disinfectant effectively deactivates and/or kills the microbes present thereon. Alternatively, after the present sanitizer of the present disclosure (absent of ethanol and isopropanol) is applied on a surface (e.g. hands), a bactericide (if present) can effectively deactivates and/or kills the microbes on the surface. The term “bactericide” herein refers to a class of disinfectant that is absent of ethanol and isopropanol, which can deactivate and/or kill specifically bacteria and bacterial microbes. The bactericide of the present disclosure is a bactericide that is safe for human and animal use.

[0027] In the second phase, while the sanitizer, especially the solvent therein, dries up, the encapsulating agent therein wraps around the microbes and may form a thin film over the microbes and having the microbes encapsulated therein and/or adhered to. The formation of such a film facilitates removal of microbes (whether dead or alive), dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes, etc. when the dried film is simply rubbed off. The encapsulation of the microbes commences without delay once the sanitizer starts drying.

[0028] In the final third phase, the thin film rubbed off may leave behind a shelding layer, i.e. a “bio-shield”, over the surface which facilitates the removal of microbes more easily post-sanitization, i.e. subsequent applications of the present sanitizer, other sanitizers, or even washing of the surface, e.g. with water.

[0029] Regardless of whether the present sanitizer applied to a surface contains an alcohol-based disinfectant or non-alcohol based disinfectant, the present sanitizer, especially at least the solvent, has to dry off for the thin film to form on the surface and for the rubbing of the thin film to effectively remove the contaminants (e.g. microbes) from the surface.

[0030] Details of various embodiments of the present sanitizer and advantages associated with the various embodiments are now described below.

[0031] In the present disclosure, there is provided a sanitizer for disinfecting a surface containing microbes or suspected to contain microbes. The sanitizer, and its formulation, can include one or more film formers, a disinfectant, a humectant, and a solvent.

[0032] In various embodiments, as the solvent dries off, the one or more film formers form a film on the surface over microbes present thereon and are driven toward microbes present on the surface to encapsulate microbes present thereon. Advantageously, the film formed is physically removable by rubbing the film on the surface. The film breaks into pieces by action of the rubbing and the pieces of the film detach microbes present from the surface by having any remaining microbes present on the surface adhere thereto. Any microbes present on the surface are removed therefrom by rubbing of the pieces of the film having (i) microbes encapsulated therein and/or (ii) microbes adhered thereon.

[0033] The sanitizer, especially at least the solvent, has to dry off for a film to form on the surface and for the film to be rubbed so as to conveniently remove contaminants (e.g. microbes, dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes) encapsulated within the film, without the need for washing to completely disinfect a surface.

[0034] In various embodiments, the one or more film formers include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a polyacrylate crosspolymer, trimethylsiloxysilicate and polypropylsilsesquioxane, or a combination thereof. Not all compounds that form hydrogen bonds are suitable for use as a film former in the present sanitizer. For example, a film former has to be safe for use when applied on humans. The film former also has to be able to form or reside as a film on a surface when the present sanitizer is dried. The film former has to be an adhesive to at least microbes without depriving a surface (e.g. a hand) of moisture. [0035] In various embodiments, the one or more film formers can be present in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 0.05 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 0.5 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 5 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 10 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 20 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 30 wt.% to 40 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 30 wt.%, 0.01 wt.% to 30 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 5 wt.%, etc., of the present sanitizer. If the amount of film former exceeds 40 wt.%, the film formed after the present sanitizer may face difficulty being rubbed off. If too little (e.g. less than 0.01 wt.%) of film former is present, the present sanitizer is susceptible to not having the film formed and sanitization effectiveness may be compromised. [0036] In various embodiments, the disinfectant can include, but is not limited to, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, a quaternary ammonium compound, chlorhexidine, a formaldehyde releaser, a metal-based substance, an iodine-based compound, or a combination thereof. The quaternary ammonium compound can include, but is not limited to benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, methylbenzethonium chloride, cetalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, cetrimonium, cetrimide, dofanium chloride, tetraethylammonium bromide, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, and domiphen bromide. The metal-based substance can be silver ions, silver nanoparticles, zinc oxide, copper, etc. There can be one or more disinfectants in the present sanitizer. The one or more disinfectant may include a bactericide that is safe for human and animal use.

[0037] In various embodiments, the one or more disinfectants can be present in an amount ranging from 0.025 wt.% to 99 wt.%, 0.01 wt.% to 99 wt.%, 0.01 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 0.05 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 0.5 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 5 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 10 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 20 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 30 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 40 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 50 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 60 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 70 wt.% to 90 wt.%, 80 wt.% to 90 wt.% ,0.1 wt.% to 80 wt.%, 0.01 wt.% to 80 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 0.1 wt.% to 5 wt.%, etc., of the present sanitizer.

[0038] In various embodiments, the humectant includes glycerol, an alpha hydroxy acid, panthenol, carboxylic acid, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium pyrrolidine, urea, propylene glycol, gelatin, honey, or a combination thereof. Not all humectants and moisturizers are suitable for use in the present sanitizer, as a humectant or moisturizer has to produce a synergetic effect with the other various components of the present sanitizer. Specifically, a humectant of the present sanitizer does not absorb nor retain a significant level of moisture such that the present sanitizer is unable to dry off for the film former to reside as an adhesive film capable of adhering and encapsulating microbes.

[0039] In various embodiments, the humectant can be present in an amount ranging from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 0.5 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 2 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 3 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 4 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 5 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 6 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 7 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 8 wt.% to 10 wt.%, 9 wt.% to 10 wt.%, etc., of the present sanitizer. Too much humectant (more than 10 wt.% of present sanitizer) may hinder the present sanitizer from drying. On the other hand, an inconsiderable amount (less than 0.1 wt.% of present sanitizer) of humectant in the present sanitizer may deteriorate a surface condition (e.g. does not preserve moisture of skin and leads to dryness) to render the present sanitizer not suitable as a hand sanitizer.

[0040] In various embodiments, the solvent may include an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent. The solvent may include or consist of water, an alcohol, or acetone. The alcohol may include ethanol, isopropanol (i.e. isopropyl alcohol), or a combination thereof.

[0041] In various embodiments, the solvent may include 50 wt.% or more, 60 wt.% or more, 70 wt.% or more, 80 wt.% or more, 90 wt.% or more, 95 wt.% or more, 95 wt.% or more, of the present sanitizer.

[0042] In various embodiments, the sanitizer may further include an additive, wherein the additive comprises a preservative, a skin conditioner, an emollient, an anti- static agent, a surfactant, an emulsifier, an anti-oxidant, a rheology modifier, a pharmaceutical agent or a drug, a pH buffer or adjuster, a fragrance additive, or a combination thereof. The present sanitizer is advantageous in that such additive can be added without compromising the performance of the present sanitizer.

[0043] In certain embodiments, the sanitizer may include a disinfectant and the solvent includes water. The disinfectant can be ethanol, isopropanol, or ethanol and isopropanol. In certain embodiments, the sanitizer may be absent of ethanol, isopropanol, or ethanol and isopropanol.

[0044] In various embodiments, the one or more film formers, the disinfectant, the humectant and the solvent may be present in an amount in the ranges as described above, respectively, such that these components sum up to 100 wt.% of the present sanitizer. For example, the one or more film formers may range from 0.01 wt.% to 40 wt.%, the disinfectant may range 0.025 wt.% to 99 wt.%, the humectant may range from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.%, and the solvent constitutes the remaining wt.% (e.g. 50 wt.% or more) to render these components 100 wt.% of the present sanitizer. The combination of these components in such percentage renders a synergetic advantage wherein the present sanitizer is able to deactivate and/or kill microbes on a surface, and have the microbes physically removed therefrom simply by rubbing. The film former is able to form a film that encapsulates the microbes even in the presence of a humectant. The humectant prevents a surface from drying out by retaining a sufficient level of moisture, which at the same time allows the film former to reside as a film that can be rubbed off when the present sanitizer (e.g. the solvent) dries. Without moisture, the film former is susceptible to not being able to form a film that can be rubbed off. The level of moisture retained by the humectant does not render the film former wet or unable to dry off. Instead, the level of moisture retained by the humectant confers the film a moist sensory experience without the user feeling that the film is too dry. Too much film former may result in a film formed on the surface that is too thick to be properly rubbed off (e.g. the user may not be able to rubbed off the thick film easily, which may lead to undesirable abrasion of the surface as a user tries harder to mb off the thick film. Too much humectant also does not allow the film to dry sufficiently to be able to rub off easily (e.g. the film may remain as a wet coat on the surface). Too much disinfectant may cause skin irritation to users who have more sensitive skin. Too much solvents may require an undesirable amount of time for the present sanitizer to dry off and for the film to form properly. Too much film former and humectant also render the present sanitizer too sticky for comfortable usage. Therefore, the combination of components indeed confers a synergetic advantage.

[0045] Embodiments and advantages for the present sanitizer of the aspect described above can be analogously valid for formulation of the present sanitizer, and vice versa. As the various embodiments and advantages have already been described above and in the examples demonstrated hereinbelow, they shall not be iterated for the formulation of the present sanitizer for brevity.

[0046] The word “substantially” does not exclude “completely” e.g. a composition which is “substantially free” from Y may be completely free from Y. Where necessary, the word “substantially” may be omitted from the definition of the present disclosure. [0047] In the context of various embodiments, the articles “a”, “an” and “the” as used with regard to a feature or element include a reference to one or more of the features or elements.

[0048] In the context of various embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately” as applied to a numeric value encompasses the exact value and a reasonable variance. [0049] As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. [0050] Unless specified otherwise, the terms "comprising" and "comprise", and grammatical variants thereof, are intended to represent "open" or "inclusive" language such that they include recited elements but also permit inclusion of additional, unrecited elements.

Examples

[0051] The present disclosure relates to a formulation that can be used and/or applied for sanitization (e.g. disinfection) of a surface and hence termed herein a “sanitizer”. Non-limiting examples of the surface include the skin, the hand, and any solid surface of metal, plastic, and ceramics.

[0052] The formulation of the present disclosure, being a sanitizer, provides a sanitization mechanism without the need for rinsing, which can be based on a microbe encapsulation technology, forming a complete seal around live and dead microbes to facilitate convenient removal of the microbes from a surface, e.g. hands.

[0053] In addition, a thin protective layer, termed herein a “bio-shield”, can be retained on the surface (e.g. a hand) after application of the present sanitizer, and even after removal, of the present sanitizer. The protective layer forms a barrier against microbes that may land on the surface after the initial or first round of sanitization. The microbes are more easily removed during subsequent application with the present sanitizer, other sanitizers or even washing of the surface, e.g. with water, as the microbes are prevented from attaching to the surface by such a bio-shield.

[0054] The present sanitizer contains encapsulating agents to firstly encapsulate the microbes and other substances such as dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes. The encapsulating agent then acts as a friction-enhancing agent which facilitates physical removal, e.g. rubbing, of the dried sanitizer off the surface together with the encapsulated microbes and substances. The encapsulating agent becomes a friction-enhancing agent when the present sanitizer is dried. For example, when the present sanitizer is dried, a user may simply mb off the dried formulation from a hand applied with the present sanitizer. Microbes and other substances are then removed from the user’s hand. For brevity and as the encapsulating agent and friction enhancing agent are already described above, details of the encapsulating agent and friction- enhancing agent shall not be reiterated. [0055] The present sanitizer and its formulation are described in further details, by way of non-limiting examples, as set forth below.

[0056] Example 1: Formulation of the Present Sanitizer

[0057] The formulation of the present sanitizer includes mixing of various reagents. [0058] The present sanitizer includes one or more film formers. The film former is termed the “encapsulating agent”, as the film former can encapsulate the microbes and other substances, such as dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes, etc., for removal from a surface. Said differently, the film former is a component for encapsulating and for the physical removal of the contaminants.

[0059] Also, the film former becomes the “friction-enhancing agent”, as the film former resides as a film after the present sanitizer is dried to facilitate the physical removal of the film formed, such as simply by rubbing off the dried sanitizer from the surface applied therewith. Additionally, the film former leaves behind a thin protective layer, termed hereinabove as the “bio-shield”, on a surface after the dried sanitizer is rubbed off. This bio-shield prevents or minimizes detachment of microbes onto a surface disinfected with the present sanitizer, which facilitates the removal of microbes more easily post-sanitization, i.e. subsequent applications of the present sanitizer, other sanitizers, or even washing of the surface, e.g. with water.

[0060] The one or more film formers include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

[0061] The present sanitizer includes one or more disinfectants. The one or more disinfectants can include, but are not limited to, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, a quaternary ammonium compound (e.g. benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, methylbenzethonium chloride, cetalkonium chloride, cetylpyridinium chloride, cetrimonium, cetrimide, dofanium chloride, tetraethylammonium bromide, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, domiphen bromide), chlorhexidine, a formaldehyde releaser, a metal-based substance (e.g. silver ions, silver nanoparticles, zinc oxide, copper), an iodine-based compound, etc., or a combination thereof. The one or more disinfectants can deactivate or kill the microbes present on the surface. Deactivated or killed microbes may not be able to attach to a surface and/or may detach itself from a surface, making it easier for the microbes to be adhered and/or encapsulated by the film former and hence easier for physical removal by rubbing. The one or more disinfectant can be a bactericide safe for human and animal use.

[0062] The present sanitizer includes one or more humectants. A humectant of the present disclosure is a hygroscopic substance that maintains or keeps a surface sufficiently moist, and hence may be termed a “moisturizer”. This is advantageous for use of the present sanitizer as a hand sanitizer. For example, an existing sanitizer may not preserve moisture of the surface to which the existing sanitizer is applied, or an existing sanitizer may even absorb moisture from the surface. In such instances, where the existing sanitizer is applied on or contacted with the skin or hand, the skin or hand becomes very dry due to loss of moisture, for example, to the existing sanitizers. Use of such existing sanitizers is hence not desirable for users, including users that suffer from dry skin or skin problems. The present sanitizer overcomes such a limitation as it contains at least one humectant. The humectant attracts and draws water molecules, including those from the air in the form of water vapour, into the present sanitizer that is applied on a surface. Said differently, the sanitization provided by the present sanitizer is not compromised even if there is a humectant present therein. The present sanitizer is still able to dry off sufficiently for encapsulation of the microbes to be physically removed by rubbing and at the same time, preserves a sufficient amount of moisture for the user’s skin. The one or more humectants include, but are not limited to, glycerol, an alpha hydroxy acid, panthenol, carboxylic acid, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium pyrrolidine, urea, propylene glycol, gelatin, and/or honey. Additionally, as the one or more film formers of the present disclosure may form hydrogen bonds with the humectant. This helps retain a certain level of humectant and prevents humectant from completely drying off, which in turn retains a certain level of moisture. That said, the film former still allows the present sanitizer to dry off for the film former to reside as a film on the surface. As such, it can be seen that the various components, including the solvent described below, confers a synergetic effect of the present sanitizer being able to physically remove microbes without harming, for example, from a user’s skin.

[0063] The present sanitizer can include one or more solvents. The term “solvent” may be exchangeably used herein with the term “diluent”. The one or more solvents dissolve the one or more film formers and one or more humectants. The solvent of the present sanitizer is sufficiently volatile in the sense that the solvent can dry off, escaping from the film former and not held back by attractive forces from hydrogen bondings with the film former. When the present sanitizer is applied on a surface, the solvent starts to dry off. As the solvent starts to dry off, the reduction of solvent drives the one or more film formers to migrate toward the microbes. The one or more film formers then wrap over and/or onto one or more of the microbes to encapsulate one or more of the microbes. As the solvent evaporates, the film former may internally cross-link to form an interlocking network that traps and encapsulates microbes. The action of rubbing facilitates encapsulation of the microbes as the thin film broken into pieces can aggregate during rubbing, wherein aggregation of the pieces encapsulate the microbes. The one or more solvents may be an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent. The one or more solvents include, but are not limited to, water, alcohol, and/or acetone. The alcohol may be, for example, ethanol and/or isopropanol.

[0064] Other additives and/or active ingredients can be included in the present sanitizer. The additives may include a preservative, a skin conditioner, an emollient, an anti-static agent, a surfactant, an emulsifier, an anti-oxidant, a rheology modifier, a pharmaceutical agent or a drug, a pH buffer or adjuster, and/or a fragrance additive. Such additives or active ingredients, such as the skin conditioner, emollient, and even the humectant, provide for hand care purposes.

[0065] The pharmaceutical agent or drug can include, but is not limited to, an anti- inflammtory agent, anti-bacterial agent, an anti-viral agent, and/or an anti-fungal agent. [0066] The disinfectant (or bactericide) can include, but is not limited to, potassium sorbate, silver citrate, benzalkonium chloride, povidone-iodine, chloroxylenol, chlorhexidine, etc.

[0067] The rheology modifier can include, but is not limited to, carbopol (carbomer), polyethylene glycol, polyacrylate homopolymer or crosspolymer, microbial and vegetable gums like xanthan gum, pectin, gelatin, agar, or other suitable thickeners that do not compromise the performance of the present sanitizer, especially the film former, etc.

[0068] Non-limiting examples of the additives and active ingredients are also described in the examples below. [0069] To prepare the sanitizer formulation, the various components mentioned above may be mixed together in an aqueous medium. Alternatively, one or more film formers may be first prepared in an aqueous medium. The aqueous medium may be or may contain water or alcohol as the solvent to form an aqueous solution. During preparation of the aqueous solution containing the one or more film formers, heat may be applied to aid dissolution of the one or more film formers. The other components may be added into the aqueous solution at the same time or sequentially. For example, after a transparent solution is achieved from mixing a film former in the aqueous medium, the aqueous solution containing the film former can be subsequently added with the disinfectant, humectant and fragrance additive. The other components can be added and mixed at room temperature (e.g. 20 to 40°C).

[0070] Example 2: Formulation of the Present Sanitizer Without Alcoholic Disinfectant

[0071] As already described above, the present sanitizer may be absent of ethanol and/or isopropanol as disinfectants. The present formulation being absent of alcoholic disinfectants of ethanol and isopropanol is termed herein a non-alcoholic formulation. A non-limiting example of a formulation of the present sanitizer absent of alcoholic disinfectants such as ethanol and isopropanol is presented in table 1A below.

[0072] Table 1A: Compositional Details of a Non-Limiting Example of the Present Sanitizer Without Alcoholic Disinfectant

[0073] In table 1A, the various chemicals used to formulate a version of the present sanitizer (absent of alcoholic disinfectants such as ethanol and isopropanol) and their respective composition in wt.% is listed. The various chemicals may be included such that all components sum up to a total of 100 wt.%. As can be seen from table 1A and table IB below, for a formulation of the present sanitizer absent of alcoholic disinfectants, water is used as the main diluent. The term “polyacrylate crosspolymer” refers to polyacrylate that are cross-linked. The cross-linkages formed are within the poly acrylate. [0074] Table IB below describes, for the same chemicals listed in table 1A, whether a chemical is a film former, disinfectant, humectant (i.e. moisturizer), solvent (i.e. diluent), or an additive.

[0075] Table IB: Function of Chemicals in Formulation

[0076] After applying the formulation on the hands as a non-limiting example, as the solvent dries up, the one or more film formers form a thin layer of film on the skin surface. Due to the sticky nature of the thin layer of film, as the hands are being rubbed together, the film encapsulates the microbes and/or breaks up to small pieces of film flakes that adhere and encapsulate the microbes. The part of the thin layer of film that are not rubbed off may form part of the “bio-shield” to minimize direct attachment of new microbes on the hands and can facilitate the removal of microbes post- sanitization more easily during subsequent rounds of sanitization, including hand washing.

[0077] The sanitizer of the present disclosure absent of an alcohol-based disinfectant (e.g. ethanol and/or isopropanol) is advantageous for users with sensitive skin, children, kitchen use and personnels working with sparks/flames, e.g. chef. The sanitizer of the present example may contain a bactericide for deactivating or killing microbes, including bacteria. The sanitizer of the present example works in the following manner, generally described in three phases.

[0078] In the first phase, after the sanitizer of the present example is applied on a surface (e.g. hands), a bactericide (if present) effectively deactivates and/or kills the microbes on the surface.

[0079] In the second phase, while the sanitizer, especially the solvent therein, dries up, the encapsulating agent therein wraps around the microbes and may form a thin film over the microbes and having the microbes encapsulated therein. The formation of such a film facilitates removal of microbes (whether dead or alive), dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes, etc. when the dried film is simply rubbed off. The encapsulation of the microbes commences without delay once the sanitizer starts drying.

[0080] In the final third phase, the thin film rubbed off may leave behind a shielding layer, i.e. a “bio-shield”, over the surface which facilitates the removal of microbes more easily post-sanitization, i.e. subsequent applications of the present sanitizer, other sanitizers, or even washing of the surface, e.g. with water.

[0081] In table 1A and table IB, other moisturizers can be used in place of glycerol, such as an alpha hydroxy acid, panthenol, carboxylic acid, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium pyrrolidine, urea, propylene glycol, gelatin, and honey, etc. Other disinfectant or bactericide can be used in place of potassium sorbate, like silver citrate, benzalkonium chloride, povidone-iodine, chloroxylenol, chlorhexidine, etc. Other rheology modifiers can be used in place of carbopol (a carbomer), like polyethylene glycol, a polyacrylate homopolymer or crosspolymer, microbial and vegetable gums like xanthan gum, pectin, gelatin, agar, etc. [0082] Example 3: Formulation of the Present Sanitizer With Alcoholic Disinfectant

[0083] As already described above, the present sanitizer may contain an ethanol or isopropanol disinfectant. Water as the diluent used in a formulation absent of alcoholic disinfectant may be replaced partially by an alcohol (e.g. ethanol) as the diluent for a formulation having alcoholic disinfectant. A non-limiting example of the present formulation of the present sanitizer is presented in table 2 A below.

[0084] Table 2A: Compositional Details of a Non-Limiting Example of the Present Sanitizer With Alcoholic Disinfectant

[0085] In table 2A, the various chemicals used to formulate a version of the present sanitizer having an alcoholic disinfectant (e.g. ethanol) and their respective composition in wt.% is listed. The various chemicals may be included such that all components sum up to a total of 100 wt.%. As can be seen from table 2A and table 2B below, in the present example, formulation of the present sanitizer has ethanol as the disinfectant. The term “polyacrylate crosspolymer” refers to polyacrylate that are cross-linked. The cross-linkages formed are within the polyacrylate.

[0086] Table 2B below describes, for the same chemicals listed in table 2A, whether a chemical is a film former, disinfectant, humectant (i.e. moisturizer), solvent (i.e. diluent), or an additive.

[0087] Table 2B: Function of Chemicals in Formulation

[0088] In the same manner as described for the present sanitizer in example 2, the sanitizer of the present example is applied on the hands (as a non-limiting example of a surface). As the solvent dries up, the one or more film formers form a thin layer of film on the skin surface. Due to the sticky nature of the thin layer of film, as the hands are being rubbed together, the film breaks up and encapsulates the microbes, within the small pieces of film flakes. The part of the thin layer of film that are not rubbed off can form part of the “bio-shield” to minimize direct attachment of new microbes on the hands and can facilitate the removal of post-sanitization microbes more easily during subsequent rounds of sanitization, including hand washing.

[0089] The present example of the present sanitizer, that is, the sanitizer of the present disclosure that contains ethanol and/or isopropanol as a disinfectant is suitably advantageous for the general population that have healthy skin and/or do not suffer allergies to such disinfectants. The disinfectant in the present sanitizer may deactivate or kill the microbes. The sanitizer of the present example works in the following manner, generally described in three phases.

[0090] In the first phase, after the present sanitizer (e.g. containing 70 wt.% ethanol and/or isopropanol) is applied on the surface (e.g. hands), the disinfectant effectively deactivates and/or kills the microbes present thereon. [0091] In the second phase, while the sanitizer, especially the solvent therein, dries up, the encapsulating agent therein wraps around the microbes and may form a thin film over the microbes and having the microbes encapsulated therein. The formation of such a film facilitates removal of microbes (whether dead or alive), dust, dirt, grease, remnants and toxins from the microbes, etc. when the dried film is simply rubbed off. The encapsulation of the microbes commences without delay once the sanitizer starts drying.

[0092] In the final third phase, the thin film rubbed off may leave behind a shielding layer, i.e. a “bio-shield”, over the surface which facilitates the removal of microbes more easily post-sanitization, i.e. subsequent applications of the present sanitizer, other sanitizers, or even washing of the surface, e.g. with water.

[0093] In table 2A and table 2B, other moisturizers can be used in place of glycerol, such as an alpha hydroxy acid, panthenol, carboxylic acid, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium pyrrolidine, urea, propylene glycol, gelatin, and honey, etc. Other disinfectant or bactericide can be used in place of potassium sorbate, like silver citrate, benzalkonium chloride, povidone-iodine, chloroxyienol, chlorhexidine, etc. Other rheology modifiers can be used in place of carbopol (a carbomer), like polyethylene glycol, a polyacrylate homopolymer or crosspolymer, microbial and vegetable gums like xanthan gum, pectin, gelatin, agar, etc.

[0094] Apart from ethanol, the formulation may use other organic solvent, including but limited to, other alcohol like isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol, i.e. IP A) or acetone. As a non-limiting example, acetone may be used if an ethanol or isopropanol formulation is not required and if an organic solvent is still needed to dissolve and dilute any of the chemical components.

[0095] While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the present disclosure is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Claims

1. A sanitizer for disinfecting a surface containing microbes or suspected to contain microbes, the sanitizer comprising: one or more film formers; a disinfectant; a humectant; and a solvent, wherein, as the solvent dries off, the one or more film formers form a film on the surface over microbes present thereon and are driven toward microbes present on the surface to encapsulate microbes present thereon, wherein the film formed is physically removable by rubbing the film on the surface, wherein the film breaks into pieces by action of the rubbing and the pieces of the film detach microbes present from the surface by having any remaining microbes present on the surface adhere thereto, and wherein microbes present on the surface are removed therefrom by rubbing of the pieces of the film having (i) microbes encapsulated therein and/or (ii) microbes adhered thereon.

2. The sanitizer of claim 1, wherein the one or more film formers comprise polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a polyacrylate crosspolymer, trimethyl siloxysilicate and polypropylsilsesquioxane, or a combination thereof.

3. The sanitizer of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more film formers are present in an amount ranging from 0.01 wt.% to 40 wt.% of the sanitizer.

4. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the disinfectant comprises ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, a quaternary ammonium compound, chlorhexidine, potassium sorbate, a formaldehyde releaser, a metal-based substance, an iodine-based compound, or a combination thereof.

5. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the disinfectant is present in an amount ranging from 0.025 wt.% to 99 wt.%.

6. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the humectant comprises glycerol, an alpha hydroxy acid, panthenol, carboxylic acid, sorbitol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, ammonium lactate, sodium pyrrolidine, urea, propylene glycol, gelatin, honey, or a combination thereof.

7. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the humectant is present in an amount ranging from 0.1 wt.% to 10 wt.% of the sanitizer.

8. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the solvent comprises an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent.

9. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the solvent comprises water, an alcohol, or acetone.

10. The sanitizer of claim 9, wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol, isopropanol, or a combination thereof.

11. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the solvent comprises 50 wt.% or more of the sanitizer.

12. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising an additive, wherein the additive comprises a preservative, a skin conditioner, an emollient, an anti static agent, a surfactant, an emulsifier, an anti-oxidant, a rheology modifier, a pharmaceutical agent or a drug, a pH buffer or adjuster, a fragrance additive, or a combination thereof.

13. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sanitizer comprises ethanol, isopropanol, or ethanol and isopropanol as the disinfectant and the solvent comprises water.

14. The sanitizer of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sanitizer is absent of ethanol, isopropanol, or ethanol and isopropanol as the disinfectant.