Active substance-doped absorbing polymer particles, composition comprising polycondensate matrix and absorbant polymer for release of a wound treatment substance

1 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles comprising:

Φ1. an active substance in a quantity in the range from about 0.001 to about 30 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles; and

Φ2. an absorber matrix in a quantity in the range from about 70 to about 99.999 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles,

wherein the absorber matrix comprises a cross-linked polyacrylic acid to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the absorber matrix; and

wherein the cross-linked polyacrylic acid comprises, to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the cross-linked polyacrylic acid, an acrylic acid that is partially neutralized to at least about 30 mol. %.

23 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein the active substance comprises any one of a care substance, a wound-treating substance, or a care substance and a wound-treating substance.

24 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 23 , wherein the care substance comprises a skin care substance capable of any one of cleaning the skin, perfuming the skin, changing an appearance of the skin, protecting the skin, maintaining the skin in a good condition, or any combination of any of the preceding.

25 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein the active substance comprises a functional group including any one of a double bond, an OH group, an NH group, a COOH group, a salt of at least one of these groups, or any combination of any of the preceding.

26 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein the active substance comprises at least one wound-treating substance or a mixture of at least two wound-treating substances capable of disinfecting a wound area by any one of promoting homeostasis of a wound environment, stimulating cell growth in the wound area, stimulating a secretion of one or more proteins in the wound area, stimulating a secretion of proteoglucanes in the wound area, stimulating a secretion of messenger substances by the skin cells in the wound area, or any combination of any of the preceding.

27 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 23 , wherein the active substance comprises any one of an allantonin, a recutita, an arnica, a biotin, a coenzyme Q 10, a dexpanthenol, a honey or honey extract, an amino acid, a niacinamide, a vitamin C or its esters, a vitamin E or its esters, or any combination of any of the preceding.

28 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein the active substance comprises a substance substantially homogeneously distributed over the absorber matrix.

29 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles include a residual monomer content of the monomer on which the water-absorbing polymer particles are based of under about 500 ppm.

30 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 , wherein an active substance availability comprise at least about 40 wt. % according to the Extraction Test described herein.

31 . A water-absorbing composition comprising:

Γ1. a polycondensate matrix based on at least one polycondensate monomer with at least one polycondensate group; and

Γ2. a particulate water-absorbing polymer comprising an active substance including at least one functional group that can react with at least one polycondensate group to form a covalent link; or a particulate water-absorbing polymer comprising:

Φ1. an active substance in a quantity in the range from about 0.001 to about 30 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles; and

Φ2. an absorber matrix in a quantity in the range from about 70 to about 99.999 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles,

wherein the absorber matrix comprises a cross-linked polyacrylic acid to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the absorber matrix; and

wherein the cross-linked polyacrylic acid comprises, to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the cross-linked polyacrylic acid, an acrylic acid that is partially neutralized to at least about 30 mol. %,

wherein the particulate water-absorbing polymer is at least partially surrounded by the polycondensate matrix;

wherein at least the particulate water-absorbing polymer comprises the active substance; and

wherein the water-absorbing composition has an active substance availability of at least about 10 wt. % according to the Extraction Test described herein.

32 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 , wherein the active substance comprises any one of a care substance, a wound-treating substance, a salt of a care substance, a salt of a wound-treating substance, or any combination of any of the preceding.

33 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 , wherein the water-absorbing polymer has at least one of the following properties:

A1) a particle size distribution, whereby at least about 80 wt. % of the particles have a particle size in a range from about 20 μm to about 900 μm according to ERT 420.1-99;

A2) a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) of at least about 10 g/g, preferably at least about 20 g/g according to ERT 441.1-99;

A3) an Absorption Against Pressure (AAP) at about 0.7 psi of at least about 4 g/g according to ERT 442.1-99;

A4) a water soluble polymer content after about 16 hours extraction of less than about 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the water-absorbing polymer, according to ERT 470.1-99; or

A5) a residual moisture of at most about 15 wt. %, based on the total weight of the water-absorbing polymer, according to ERT 430.1-99.

34 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 , wherein the water-absorbing polymer comprises:

(α1) about 0.1 to about 99.999 wt. % polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, acidic group-containing monomers or salts thereof or polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising a protonated or quaternated nitrogen, or mixtures thereof,

(α2) 0 to about 70 wt. % polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (α1),

(α3) about 0.001 to about 10 wt. % of one or more crosslinkers,

(α4) 0 to about 30 wt. % water soluble polymers, and

(α5) 0 to about 20 wt. % of one or more auxiliaries,

wherein the sum of the weight quantities (α1) to (α5) amounts substantially to about 100 wt. %.

35 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 , wherein the polycondensate matrix comprises at least about 10 wt. %, based on the polycondensate matrix, a polyurethane.

36 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 , wherein the polycondensate matrix comprises a foam.

37 . A composite comprising a water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 .

38 . A composite according to claim 37 , wherein the composite comprises at least one of the following properties:

VI) a viscose elasticity [tanδ (ω=0.3 rad/s)] in the range from about 0.1 to about 10;

V2) a liquid absorption of at least about 5 g/100 cm 2 ;

V3) a water vapor permeability of at least about 100 g/(m 2 ×24h); or

V4) an O 2 permeability of at least about 100 cm 3 /(m 2 ×24h).

39 . A composite according to claim 37 , further comprising a film.

40 . A composite according to claim 38 , further comprising a film.

41 . A composite according to claim 39 , wherein the film has a water vapor permeability in the range from about 100 to about 2000 g/(m 2 ×24h).

42 . A composite according to claim 40 , wherein the film has a water vapor permeability in the range from about 100 to about 2000 g/(m 2 ×24h).

43 . A composite according to claim 39 , wherein the composition is directly adjacent to a film.

44 . A composite according to claim 40 , wherein the composition is directly adjacent to a film.

45 . Active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 22 comprising a hygiene article.

46 . A water-absorbing composition according to claim 31 comprising a hygiene article.

47 . A composite according to claim 37 comprising a hygiene article.

48 . A process for producing a water-absorbing composition, the process comprising the step of:

a. providing a particulate water-absorbing polymer comprising an active substance;

b. forming a condensate matrix based on at least one polycondensate monomer; and

c. at least partially incorporating the particulate water-absorbing polymer into the condensate matrix,

wherein the particulate water-absorbing polymer comprises the active substance or

wherein an active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particle comprising:

Φ1. an active substance in a quantity in the range from about 0.001 to about 30 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles; and

Φ2. an absorber matrix in a quantity in the range from about 70 to about 99.999 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles,

wherein the absorber matrix comprises a cross-linked polyacrylic acid to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the absorber matrix; and

wherein the cross-linked polyacrylic acid comprises, to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the cross-linked polyacrylic acid, an acrylic acid that is partially neutralized to at least about 30 mol. %, is contacted with the polycondensate monomer before the end of the polycondensate matrix formation.

49 . A process according to claim 48 , wherein the active substance comprises any one of a care substance, a wound-treating substance, or a care substance and a wound-treating substance.

50 . A water absorbent composition obtainable by the process according to claim 48 .

51 . A water absorbent composition according to claim 50 , wherein the water-absorbing polymer has at least one of the following properties:

A1) a particle size distribution, whereby at least about 80 wt. % of the particles have a particle size in a range from about 20 μm to about 900 μm according to ERT 420.1-99;

A2) a Centrifuge Retention Capacity (CRC) of at least about 10 g/g according to ERT 441.1-99;

A3) an Absorption Against Pressure (AAP) at about 0.7 psi of at least about 4 g/g according to ERT 442.1-99;

A4) a water soluble polymer content after about 16 hours extraction of less than about 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the water-absorbing polymer, according to ERT 470.1-99; or A5) a residual moisture of at most about 15 wt. %, based on the total weight of the water-absorbing polymer, according to ERT 430.1-99.

52 . A water absorbent composition according to claim 50 , wherein the water-absorbing polymer comprises:

(α1) about 0.1 to about 99.999 wt. % polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated, acidic group-containing monomers or salts thereof or polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising a protonated or quaternated nitrogen, or mixtures thereof,

(α2) 0 to about 70 wt. % polymerized, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (α1),

(α3) about 0.001 to about 10 wt. % of one or more crosslinkers,

(α4) 0 to about 30 wt. % water soluble polymers, and

(α5) 0 to about 20 wt. % of one or more auxiliaries,

wherein the sum of the weight quantities (α1) to (α5) amounts to about 100 wt. %.

53 . A water absorbent composition according to claim 50 , wherein the polycondensate matrix comprises at least about 10 wt. %, based on the polycondensate matrix, of a polyurethane.

54 . A water absorbent composition according to claim 50 , wherein the polycondensate matrix comprises a foam.

55 . A composite comprising a water absorbent composition according to claim 50 .

56 . A composite according to claim 55 , with at least one of the following properties:

VI) a viscose elasticity [tanδ (ω=0.3 rad/s)] in the range from about 0.1 to about 10;

V2) a liquid absorption of at least about 5 g/100 cm 2 ;

V3) a water vapor permeability of at least about 100 g/(m 2 ×24h); or V4) an O 2 permeability of at least about 100 cm 3 /(m 2 ×24h).

57 . A composite according to claim 55 , further comprising a film.

58 . A composite according to claim 57 , wherein the film has a water vapor permeability in the range from about 100 to about 2000 g/(m 2 ×24h).

59 . A composite according to claim 57 , wherein a water absorbent composition is directly adjacent to the film.

60 . A water absorbent composition according to claim 50 comprising a hygiene article.

61 . A composite according to claim 55 comprising a hygiene article.

62 . A composite according to claim 60 comprising a hygiene article.

63 . A method comprising using a composition according to claim 32 to release a wound-treating substance.

64 . A method comprising using a composition according to claim 50 to release a wound-treating substance.

65 . A method comprising using a water-absorbing polymer to release a wound-treating substance from a polycondensate matrix.

66 . A method comprising using active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles according to claim 32 to treat a wound of a higher vertebrate organism or for preventing the formation of a wound at or in a higher vertebrate organism.

67 . A method comprising using a composition according to claim 50 to treat a wound of a higher vertebrate organism or for preventing the formation of a wound at or in a higher vertebrate organism.

68 . A method comprising using a composite according to claim 55 to treat a wound of a higher vertebrate organism or for preventing the formation of a wound at or in a higher vertebrate organism.

69 . Using any one of:

(a) active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles comprising:

Φ1. an active substance in a quantity in the range from about 0.001 to about 30 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles; and

Φ2. an absorber matrix in a quantity in the range from about 70 to about 99.999 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles,

wherein the absorber matrix comprises a cross-linked polyacrylic acid to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the absorber matrix; and

wherein the cross-linked polyacrylic acid comprises, to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the cross-linked polyacrylic acid, an acrylic acid that is partially neutralized to at least about 30 mol. %;

(b) a water-absorbing composition comprising:

Γ1. a polycondensate matrix based on at least one polycondensate monomer with at least one polycondensate group; and

Γ2. a particulate water-absorbing polymer comprising an active substance including at least one functional group that can react with at least one polycondensate group to form a covalent link; or a particulate water-absorbing polymer comprising:

Φ1. an active substance in a quantity in the range from about 0.001 to about 30 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles; and

Φ2. an absorber matrix in a quantity in the range from about 70 to about 99.999 wt. %, based on the active substance-doped water-absorbing polymer particles,

wherein the absorber matrix comprises a cross-linked polyacrylic acid to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the absorber matrix; and

wherein the cross-linked polyacrylic acid comprises, to at least about 90 wt. %, based on the cross-linked polyacrylic acid, an acrylic acid that is partially neutralized to at least about 30 mol. %,

wherein the particulate water-absorbing polymer is at least partially surrounded by the polycondensate matrix;

wherein at least the particulate water-absorbing polymer comprises the active substance; and

wherein the water-absorbing composition has an active substance availability of at least about 10 wt. % according to the Extraction Test described herein;

(c) a composite comprising a water-absorbing composition according to (b); or

(d) at least two thereof in a hygiene article or a wound treatment article.