Anti-microbial polymers and their compositions
Polymers derived directly from acrolein monomer that are substantially soluble in water and/or aqueous media, together with methods for preparing same and compositions containing such for use as an anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and/or anti-coagulant.
1. An antimicrobial copolymer for administration to humans or animals comprising polyethylene glycol and acrolein based monomer residues derived from base-catalyzed copolymerization in an aqueous solution of:
(a) polyethylene glycol (PEG) of molecular weight selected from the range of from 200 to 2000 Daltons; and
(b) acrolein based monomer selected from the group consisting of acrolein and/or its acetal derived with an hydroxyl-carboxylic acid;
wherein:
the monomer ratio of PEG:acrolein based monomer residues within the copolymer is in the range of from 1:1 to 1:11;
the copolymer remains soluble in aqueous solution; and
the antimicrobial activity of the copolymer is not from release of acrolein based monomer into aqueous solution.
2. The antimicrobial copolymer according to claim 1 wherein the copolymer is soluble in water at less than pH 4.
3. The antimicrobial copolymer according to claim 1 wherein the copolymer is free of cross-linking or molecular conjugation.
4. The antimicrobial copolymer according to claim 1 comprising structures resulting from reaction between polyethylene glycol and proximate carbons to the carbonyl in acrolein based monomer residues formed during polymerization.
5. The antimicrobial copolymer according to claim 1 wherein the acrolein based monomer comprises acrolein acetal derived with a hydroxyl-alkanoic acid wherein the hydroxyl-alkanoic acid is selected from the group consisting of tartaric acid, lactic acid, glyceric acid, glycolic acid, citric acid and 2-hydroxy-butanoic acid.