METHOD FOR TRANSIENT ACIDIFICATION OF WOUNDS
This disclosure provides the use of nanoparticles of self-assembled acidic molecular clusters (NP-AMCs) of ammonium salts to lower the pH of skin and underlying tissue of a human or other mammal as a means of stimulating the localized immune response to a wound.
1 . A method of treating a damaged area of skin having a wound or a skin disorder, the method comprising applying to the damaged area of skin a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a plurality of nanoparticles, each nanoparticle comprising a self-assembled acidic molecular complex comprising an ammonium salt and an acid (“NP-AMC”), wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to reduce a pH of the damaged area of skin and produce a treated area of skin.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the treated area of the skin is from pH 2 to pH 7.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the treated area of skin is lower than the pH of the damaged area of skin by 1 pH unit.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the treated area of skin remains lower than the pH of the damaged area of skin for a time period ranging from about 5 minutes to about 6 hours.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound or skin disorder comprises an infectious microorganism, and wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to inhibit growth of the infectious microorganism.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the composition comprises topically applying the composition to the damaged area of skin and to skin and/or tissue surrounding the damaged area of skin.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a pH ranging from 1 to 6.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the nanoparticles in the composition is from about 0.005% to about 50% by weight.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles have an average diameter ranging from about 5 nm to about 2000 nm.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the damaged area of skin comprises a trauma site or a site of infection.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound is selected from the group consisting of a scrape, a scratch, a cut, an abrasion, a puncture, an animal or insect bite or sting, and a reaction to contact with a chemical that damages healthy skin.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound or skin disorder is an acute wound or skin disorder.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound or skin disorder is a chronic wound or skin disorder.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl), ammonium sulfate ((NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ), ammonium bisulfate (NH 4 HSO 4 ), ammonium carbonate ((NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 ), ammonium bicarbonate (NH 4 HCO 3 ), ammonium iron(II) sulfate ((NH 4 ) 2 Fe(SO 4 ) 2 .6H 2 O), ammonium formate (NH 4 HCO 2 ), ammonium acetate (C 2 H 7 NO 2 ), ammonium borate (H 12 BN 3 O 3 ), ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ), and ammonium phosphate ((NH 4 ) 3 PO 4 ), and wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, boric acid, carbonic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, sulfuric acid, and formic acid.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl), ammonium carbonate ((NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 ), ammonium bicarbonate (NH 4 HCO 3 ), ammonium iron(II) sulfate ((NH 4 ) 2 Fe(SO 4 ) 2 .6H 2 O), ammonium formate (NH 4 HCO 2 ), ammonium acetate (C 2 H 7 NO 2 ), ammonium borate (H 12 BN 3 O 3 ), ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ), and ammonium phosphate ((NH 4 ) 3 PO 4 ), and wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, boric acid, carbonic acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, and formic acid.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium sulfate and/or ammonium bisulfate, wherein the acid is sulfuric acid, and wherein the NP-AMCs further comprise water.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating comprises reducing inflammation.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied in an amount effective to stimulate the signaling pathway to downregulate the production of a proinflammatory immune factor.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the proinflammatory immune factor is a proinflammatory cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a solution, a suspension, an emulsion, a powder, a gel, an ointment, a cream, or a paste.