Powder-Free Anti-Blocking Coated Glove
Provided herein are powder-free elastomeric articles exhibiting therapeutic properties, and anti-blocking properties. Also provided herein are methods for the manufacture of such articles that are substantially free from interfering materials, as well as packaging means for maintaining therapeutic efficacy.
1 . A powder-free glove, comprising:
an elastomeric layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
a therapeutic fluid coating disposed on the interior surface of the elastomeric layer; and
an anti-blocking film coating disposed on the therapeutic fluid coating.
2 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic fluid coating comprises an antimicrobial agent, a fragrance, a warming composition, a cooling composition, a skin-nourishing composition, or combinations thereof.
3 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric layer comprises a cured latex selected from the group consisting of natural latex, synthetic latex, and blends of natural and synthetic latex.
4 . The glove of claim 3 , wherein the synthetic latex is selected from the group consisting of polychloroprene, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, polyisoprene, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene, and combinations thereof.
5 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic fluid coating comprises one or more fragrances.
6 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic fluid coating comprises a skin-conditioning agent that comprises a silicone composition.
7 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the anti-blocking film coating comprises a cellulosic water-soluble polymer; and optionally, a water-insoluble occlusive moisturizer.
8 . The glove of claim 7 , wherein the cellulosic water-soluble polymer of the anti-blocking film coating is selected from the group consisting of hydroxylpropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC) polyvinylpyrrolidinone (PVP), and combinations thereof.
9 . The glove of claim 7 , wherein the water-soluble polymer has a lower critical solution temperature greater than 40° C. permitting dissolution of anti-blocking film coating by skin-generated moisture.
10 . The glove of claim 7 , wherein the water-insoluble occlusive moisturizer is aminofunctional siloxane, polydimethylsiloxane (dimethicone), oleyl erucate, or combinations thereof.
11 . The glove of claim 1 having less than 2 mg of powder.
12 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the anti-blocking film coating dissolves upon contact with moisture or is dislodged by rubbing action during use.
13 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein a therapeutic agent from the therapeutic fluid coating is released following dissolution or dislodgement of the anti-blocking film coating during use.
14 . The glove of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic fluid coating exhibits substantially no loss of therapeutic activity following aging at 50° C. for 8 weeks and 40° C. for 6 months.
15 . A packaged powder-free, antimicrobial article comprising the powder-free of claim 1 packaged in an inner wrap surrounded by an outer pack, wherein the outer pack contains a sufficient amount of gas to allow the inner wrap to freely move within the outer pack.
16 . A process for preparing a powder-free glove comprising:
providing an elastomeric layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
applying a therapeutic fluid coating comprising one or more agents to the interior surface of the elastomeric layer;
drying the therapeutic fluid coating;
applying an anti-blocking film coating to the therapeutic fluid coating; and
drying the anti-blocking film coating.
17 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the anti-blocking film coating comprises a cellulosic water-soluble polymer; and the drying step comprises:
drying the anti-blocking film coating at a temperature greater than the low critical solution temperature of the cellulosic water-soluble polymer to form a liquid film, and
further drying of the liquid film to form a solid film covering said therapeutic fluid coating.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising forming an additional elastomeric layer, or applying an additional coating, or both between the elastomeric layer and the therapeutic fluid coating.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising water-washing the glove prior to applying the therapeutic fluid coating.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising packaging the powder-free glove having the therapeutic fluid coating and the anti-blocking film coating in an inner wrap surrounded by an outer pack, wherein the outer pack contains a sufficient amount of gas to allow the inner wrap to freely move within the outer pack.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of providing an elastomeric layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface comprises dipping a pre-heated former into a powder free coagulant composition, drying the coagulant composition on the former, dipping the former into a latex solution comprising natural and/or synthetic elastomers, and leaching the gelled latex on the former in hot water.