ANTIMICROBIAL DYES FOR HEALTHCARE APPAREL

1 . Healthcare apparel comprising an antimicrobial fabric or material incorporating a singlet oxygen generating photosensitising dye, wherein the dye is cationic or anionic.

2 . The healthcare apparel according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric is natural or synthetic of any of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, cellulose, or cotton, preferably a non-woven fabric.

3 . The healthcare apparel according to claim 1 , wherein the healthcare apparel is any of patient gowns, health worker gowns, surgical gowns, all over hazmat (hazardous material) suits, uniforms or scrubs.

4 . The healthcare apparel according claim 1 , wherein the photosensitising dye comprises a phthalocyanine or wherein the dye is in the phenothiazine class, preferably Methylene Blue.

5 . The healthcare apparel according to claim 4 , wherein the phthalocyanine is alpha substituted.

6 . The healthcare apparel according to claim 5 , wherein the phthalocyanine has the following formula:

wherein:

M=aluminium, titanium or zinc,

R=R′(a) or R″(b)

R′=Oxygen linked phenyl or pyridyl

R″=Oxygen linked phenyl, pyridyl or N-alkylated pyridinium, and

a+b=4

b=1 to 4

X=Cl − , Br − , I − , methanesulphonate, ethanesulphonate, toluenesulfonate, formate, acetate or other inorganic or organic counter-ion or mixture thereof;

and wherein alkylation on the pyridine nitrogen is optionally branched C1-C8 alkyl; further optionally wherein the alkyl chain is hydroxylated or fluorinated.

7 . The healthcare apparel according to claim 5 , wherein the phthalocyanine is a zinc phthalocyanine, preferably a cationic zinc phthalocyanine.

8 . The healthcare apparel according to any preceding claim, wherein the phthalocyanine is any of the following:

9 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 1 , further comprising a homo or heteropolymer of unsaturated low molecular weight carboxylic acids or their esters or anhydrides.

10 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 9 , wherein the monomer of the homo or heteropolymer is an acrylic, methacrylic or maleic acid.

11 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 9 , wherein the polymer is in the carbomer class, preferably acrylic acid homopolymers, or maleic acid/vinyl ether heteropolymers.

12 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 1 , wherein the dye is a zinc phthalocyanine selected from:

wherein:

M=aluminium, titanium or zinc,

R=R′(a) or R″(b)

R′=Oxygen linked phenyl or pyridyl

R″=Oxygen linked phenyl, pyridyl or N-alkylated pyridinium, and

a+b=4

b=1 to 4

X=Cl − , Br − , I − , methanesulphonate, ethanesulphonate, toluenesulfonate, formate, acetate or other inorganic or organic counter-ion or mixture thereof;

and wherein alkylation on the pyridine nitrogen is optionally branched C1-C8 alkyl; further optionally wherein the alkyl chain is hydroxylated or fluorinated;

b) a cationic zinc phthalocyanine;

preferably wherein the polymer is deposited on the same fabric layer as the photosensitiser, being the outer layer of the healthcare apparel.

13 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 1 , further comprising a surfactant, preferably an ionic, or a betaine type surfactant.

14 . Healthcare apparel according to claim 13 , wherein the surfactant is an ionic sulfonated aryl surfactant, preferably alkylbenzene sulfonate, more preferably sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

15 . A process for treating a fabric suitable for healthcare apparel with a phthalocyanine, wherein the phthalocyanine is selected from:

a) alpha substituted.

wherein:

M=aluminium, titanium or zinc,

R=R′(a) or R″(b)

R′=Oxygen linked phenyl or pyridyl

R″=Oxygen linked phenyl, pyridyl or N-alkylated pyridinium, and

a+b=4

b=1 to 4

X=Cl − , Br − , I − , methanesulphonate, ethanesulphonate, toluenesulfonate, formate, acetate or other inorganic or organic counter-ion or mixture thereof;

and wherein alkylation on the pyridine nitrogen is optionally branched C1-C8 alkyl; further optionally wherein the alkyl chain is hydroxylated or fluorinated.

c) a zinc phthalocyanine, preferably a cationic zinc phthalocyanine; and

16 . The process according to claim 15 , wherein the phthalocyanine is in solution form.

17 . The process according to claim 16 , comprising a phthalocyanine solution loading of 0.001-0.1 g/square meter of fabric.