AU2015268649B9 - A composition and method of applying same & a composition that assists healing burns and wounds with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions - Google Patents

Abstract

A topical skin composition including borax in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; zinc oxide in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; and rheum officinale in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g assists healing bums and wounds with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions 00 5471A-WO

Description

A composition and method of applying same & a composition that assists healing burns and wounds with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions

Field of the Invention The invention relates to topical skin creams, powders and sprays.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in treating victims with burn wounds with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application

Background Art Burns can be minor medical problems but can also significantly affect a person over a long period of time. In practice, many burns are caused by scalding water, especially with children. Electrical and chemical burns are, however, relatively common and are usually more serious than boiling water burns. Scalding liquids are the most common cause of burns in children. Burns and skin wounds can be infected with bacteria or fungus which makes the injury more serious.

Whilst sunburns and scalds even with blisters can usually be treated by protecting the area and possibly keeping it moist (e.g. sorbolene), deep burns need specialised medical treatment. In the worst cases, skin grafts are necessary to cover large open wounds. These remain a serious potential source of infection.

By way of summary, skin essentially consists of an outer layer known as epidermis and a subcutaneous layer disposed underneath, known as the dermis. The epidermis serves as a barrier preventing entry of infection and the like to a person. The epidermis also essentially acts as a waterproofing layer. The dermis is formed from connective tissue that provides elasticity and strength.

The mildest burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned, where the skin is not burned all the way through. This is termed a first degree burn where skin is reddened and usually painful. A second degree burn is defined when the first layer of

5471A-WO 1 skin (epidermis) has been burned completely through and the second (dermis) layer of skin also is burned but not completely through. In such cases, blisters form and there is significant pain and swelling of the affected area.

For minor burns which include first-degree burns and second-degree burns limited to a small area, the burn is cooled under running water for a period of time, preferably 20min or until any pain subsides. A cold compress can alternatively be used. The burn may also be covered with a gauze bandage to protect the skin. In this case, however, the burn inflicted area is isolated from infection (eg bandage) and little else is provided to assist in healing. Second and third degree burns are at increased risk of infection from bacteria or fungus and antibacterial or anti-fungal treatments are often applied to reduce this risk.

It is known that the most serious burns involve all layers of the skin and cause permanent tissue damage; this is termed a third degree burn and requires specialised medical treatment. Intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics are usually delivered. A variety of burns creams can be applied to the burn to help keep it moist, reduce pain, prevent infection and speed healing, however, these are typically not particularly efficient in actually assisting in the healing of the wound.

Genesis of the Invention The Genesis of the invention is a desire to provide a topical composition to assist in the healing of burns with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions, or to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a composition comprising all of: borax in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; zinc oxide in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; and rheum officinale in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g.

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According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating a skin wound or condition with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions on a person, the method comprising the step of applying a predetermined amount of the composition according to the first aspect of the invention to the skin wound or condition periodically over a predetermined period of time.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an adhesive strip configured to be adhered to the skin of the person over a skin wound, the adhesive strip including a predetermined area of non- adhesive material configured to be disposed on the wound, the non-adhesive material being impregnated with a predetermined amount of the composition according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a skin dressing configured to be applied over a skin wound of a person, the dressing being impregnated with a predetermined amount of the composition according to the first aspect of the invention.

It can therefore be seen that there is advantageously provided a topical composition, method of providing same and a method of treating skin wounds that advantageously assists in their healing. The topical composition most advantageously assists the healing of burn wounds as well as in cases where a skin surface is broken or an open wound is present.

Detailed Description A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following example.

According to the preferred embodiment, there is provided a topical skin composition used for treating skin wounds or conditions. The topical composition includes borax in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g of composition. Zinc oxide is also included in the topical composition in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g of composition together with rheum officinale (rhubarb) also in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g of

5471A-WO 3 composition. It can therefore be seen that the topical composition can have a minimal total amount of these three components totalling in the amount of 1.5mg/g of composition up to as much as 900mg/g of these ingredients per gram of composition.

In respect of the aforementioned three ingredients in the varying amounts of the skin composition, borax is known for many uses including in talcum powder and cosmetics, PH buffers or water softening agents amongst a host of other. Borax is formed from disodium tetraborate having the chemical formula (Na2B40 7 ). Hydrates of this in the form of sodium tetraboratepentahydrate or decahydrate (Na2B407-5H 20) or (Na2B407- 10H 2 0) are also included within the term borax. That is, hydrates

disodium tetraborate are equivalent for the present purposes. It will be appreciated that borax can be formed and mined from natural deposits and can also be industrially manufactured. The borax of the preferred embodiment of the skin composition is of BP, USP or Ph Eur grade. Most preferably, the borax is sourced from a powder that has an average particle size of less than 100tm and most preferably less than 10tm. The smaller the particle size the more uniform distribution of the borax through the topical skin composition.

Zinc oxide is an inorganic compound having the simple formula ZnO where the zinc and oxygen are ionically bonded. Zinc oxide can be found in a raw mineral form in zincite and can be industrially produced, such as by vapourising metallic zinc in the presence of oxygen. In the topical skin composition of a preferred embodiment, the zinc oxide is added in powdered form having an average particle size of less than 100[tm, most preferably less than 10tm to allow uniform mixing in the composition. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that the zinc oxide can come from any preferred form. This includes, for example calamine formed from a mixture of zinc oxide and ferric oxide or zinc oxide with ferric oxide and some proportion of zinc carbonate. Any calamine included in the preferred embodiment is added so that the total zinc oxide content in the topical skin composition of the preferred embodiment is in the range of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g.it will be appreciated that zinc oxide is commonly used in sunscreens up to about 20% in Australia and 25% in the United States of America.

5471A-WO 4

Rheum officinale is more commonly known as rhubarb from the family of plants polygonaceae from the genes rheum. The rheam officinale is most prominently cultivated in Asia and the plant may be used topical skin composition of the preferred embodiment in any form. For example, the rheum officinale may be added in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g of topical skin composition where the rheum officinale is preferably from the root of the plant, however, it may be from the leaves of the plant or the stem of the plant. It will be appreciated that a combination of rheum officinale roots and/or stems and/or leaves can be used in the composition. It will be appreciated that the rheum officinale can be provided in powered form, preferably in particle size less than 100tm and most preferably less than 10tm.

The topical composition of the preferred embodiment further includes a carrier substance in the form of paraffin or petroleum jelly. In this case, the borax, zinc oxide and rheum officinale are powdered and are mixed with the paraffin and/or petroleum jelly to suspend those ingredients within. The particles will remain suspended in the paraffin wax or petroleum jelly or any other relatively high viscosity of carrier substance the particles are maintained in distribution that is relatively uniform and that does not separate or become distorted over time.

In use, the composition of the preferred embodiment is applied to a skin wound or condition and left in place for a predetermined period of time, for example, half or a quarter of a day. The cream is re-applied as desired. It will be appreciated that the cream can be rubbed, daubed, sprayed or otherwise applied to the wound. In the case of a burn wound, spray application may be the least traumatic to the patient and it will be appreciated a carrier substance having a viscosity allowing it to be sprayed would be used.

Furthermore, the composition can be applied to a dressing that is then placed over the wound so the cream contacts it. The dressing is then retained over the skin wound. It will be appreciated that the dressing can be any desired such as a gauze or bandage. The dressing is replaced periodically, for example, daily or twice daily.

5471A-WO 5

In a particularly preferred embodiment, there is provided an adhesive strip similar to those commonly used to patch small grazes and cuts. Here, the adhesive strip is configured to be adhered to the skin of the person over a skin wound in a similar manner to the dressing above. The adhesive strip includes a predetermined area of non- adhesive material (such as a gauze) configured to be disposed on the wound. The non-adhesive material is impregnated or otherwise coated or immersed in a predetermined amount of the composition the preferred embodiment.

In other preferred embodiments, the composition can include emollients, other lubricants or oils, humectants, preservatives, and minerals. Furthermore, in other preferred embodiments the composition can include antioxidants, citric acid; parabens; methionine; phenoxyethanol; hydroxybenzoates; and diazolininyle urea. All of these can serve as preservatives or anti-microbial agents.

It will be understood that the preferred embodiment of the composition is a cream, it can be in the form of an ointment or lotion. In the case of a lotion, this may be made to have a relatively low viscosity to allow it to be sprayed onto a skin wound.

Most advantageously, the composition of the preferred embodiments is a topical composition that when applied to a skin wound assists in its healing and prevent infection. The topical composition most advantageously of assistance to the healing of burn wounds and eczema as well as in cases where a skin surface is broken or an open wound is present.

The foregoing describes only preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term "comprising" (and its grammatical variations) as used herein is used in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of'.

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Claims (11)

1. A composition comprising the following ingredients: borax in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; zinc oxide in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g; and rheum officinale in the amount of 0.5mg/g to 300mg/g. assists healing bums and wounds with antibacterial and anti-fungal actions

2. A composition according to claim 1 including any one or more of the following selected from the group consisting of: emollients, lubricants, oils, humectants, preservatives, and minerals.

3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 including any one or more of the following selected from the group consisting of: paraffin, seed oil, water, octylmethoxycinnamate, triethanolamine, vitamin E, glycerin, polysorbate, propylene glycol, vinyl alcohol, sugarand polymeric polyols, alpha-hydroxy acids, honey and carbomer or poly-acrylic acid.

4. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3 including any one or more of the following selected from the group consisting of: antioxidants; citric acid; parabens; methionine; phenoxyethanol; hydroxybenzoates; and diazolininyleurea.

5. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the zinc oxide is in the form of calamine.

6. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the boraxis selected from one or more of the group consisting of: disodium tetraborate (Na2 B 4 0 7 ); sodium tetraborate pentahydrate (Na2B 40 7.5H2 0); and sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na 2B 40 7 .10H 2 0).

7. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rheum officinale is selected from rhubarb roots and/or leaves and/or stem.

8. A composition according to any one of the preceding claims in theform of a cream, ointment, or lotion.

9. A method of treating a skin burn on a person, the method comprising the step of applying a predetermined amount of the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to the skin bum periodically over a predetermined period oftime.

10. An adhesive strip configured to be adhered to the skin of the person over a skin burn wound, the adhesive strip including a predetermined area of non- adhesive material configured to be disposed on the wound bum, the non-adhesive material being impregnated with a predetermined amount of the composition according to any one of claims I to 8.

11. A skin dressing configured to be applied over a skin wound of a person, the dressing being

impregnated with a predetermined amount of the composition according to any one of

claims 1 to 8.