5/24/2018: The background is important in appreciating the value of this patent.
Before antibiotics, bacteria were free floating in the body as individual bacteria.
There response to anti biotics was to mutate and or form colonies covered with a protective coating of a biofilm that the antibiotic could not penetrate. A total joint implant becomes infected when the first step the bacteria do is to produce a biofilm on the implant and from there, they grow the covered colony.
This US patent is important in that the solution applied to a total joint implant blocks the attachment of a biofilm and therefor the bacteria remain vulnerable to the protocatechuic acid (PCA) which destroys the biofilm and the bacteria.
This patent also provides a means to coat bandages in the manufacturing process. The PCA dries. When applied to a moist wound, the PCA is activated and kills the bacteria and causes would healing acceleration.
Allowed Claims
1. A method of reducing growth or development of a biofilm on a surface, comprising: contacting the surface with a composition comprising about 10% to about 50% of an anthocyanin metabolite or an anthocyanidin metabolite selected from protocatechuic acid and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and mixtures and combinations thereof, wherein the contacting step reduces an initial attachment of a biofilm or a biofilm forming microorganism to the surface, thereby reducing the growth or development of the biofilm on the surface.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biofilm forming microorganism is selected from a Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is selected from a liquid, a sanitizer, a disinfectant, a swab, a salve, soap, foam, cream, solution, gel, spray, powder, crystals, antibacterial treatments, wipes, a lotion and combinations thereof.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is selected from a solid surface, a smooth surface, a porous or semi-porous surface, and a cloth-like surface.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is on an implant, a bandage, a catheter, a dressing, a heart or vascular grafts, or a wound.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is a ceramic surface.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step is selected from wiping the surface, spraying the surface, soaking the surface, imbedding crystals of the anthocyanin metabolite or an anthocyanidin metabolite on or in the surface, or applying a bandage or wound dressing impregnated with the composition to the surface.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the anthocyanin metabolite or an anthocyanidin metabolite is present in an amount of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the composition.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the anthocyanin metabolite or an anthocyanidin metabolite is present in an amount of from about 20% to about 30% by weight of the composition.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anthocyanin metabolite or an anthocyanidin metabolite is protocatechuic acid.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is contacted with the composition for up to two years.
12. The method of claim 3, wherein the composition comprises protocatechuic acid or 2,4,6–trihydroxybenzaldehyde or a mixture or combination thereof dissolved in a solution.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the solution further comprises a carrier.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carrier is selected from water, isopropyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the isopropyl alcohol is present at a concentration of about 70% to about 91%.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the solution comprises 10% to 30% protocatechuic acid dissolved in about 70% isopropyl alcohol.