Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0152030 (skin irritation)
 2,146 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Copper ions, either alone or in copper complexes, have been used for centuries to disinfect liquids, solids, and human tissue. Today copper is used as a water purifier, algaecide, fungicide, nematocide, molluscicide, and antibacterial and antifouling agent. Copper also displays potent antiviral activity. We hypothesized that introducing copper into clothing, bedding, and other articles would provide them with biocidal properties. A durable platform technology has been developed that introduces copper into cotton fibers, latex, and other polymeric materials. This study demonstrates the broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal) and antimite activities of copper-impregnated fibers and polyester products. This technology enabled the production of antiviral gloves and filters (which deactivate HIV-1 and other viruses), antibacterial self-sterilizing fabrics (which kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci), antifungal socks (which alleviate symptoms of athlete's foot), and anti-dust mite mattress covers (which reduce mite-related allergies). These products did not have skin-sensitizing properties, as determined by guine pig maximization and rabbit skin irritation tests. Our study demonstrates the potential use of copper in new applications. These applications address medical issues of the greatest importance, such as viral transmissions; nosocomial, or healthcare-associated, infections; and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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PMID:Putting copper into action: copper-impregnated products with potent biocidal activities. 1534 89

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is commonly used in topical formulations for the treatment of acne and athletes foot. Skin irritation is a common side effect, and it has been shown that controlled release of BPO from a delivery system to the skin could reduce the side effect while reducing percutaneous absorption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to produce ethylcellulose microparticles containing BPO which were able to control the release of BPO to the skin. In order to optimize the microparticle formulation, factors affecting the physical properties of microparticles were also investigated. Benzoyl peroxide microparticles were prepared using an emulsion solvent diffusion method by adding an organic internal phase containing benzoyl peroxide, ethyl cellulose and dichloromethane into a stirred aqueous phase containing polyvinyl alcohol. Drug content, particle size analysis and loading yield were determined in the prepared microparticles. BPO microparticles were then incorporated into standard vehicles for release studies. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the shape and morphology of the microsponges. The micrograph of microsponges showed that they were spherical in shape and contained pores. These pores resulted from the diffusion of solvent from the surface of the microparticles and thus the particles were designated as microsponges. It was shown that the drug:polymer ratio, stirring rate, volume of dispersed phase influenced the particle size and drug release behavior of the formed microsponges and that the presence of emulsifier was essential for microsponge formation. The results showed that, generally, an increase in the ratio of drug:polymer resulted in a reduction in the release rate of BPO from microsponges which was attributed to a decreased internal porosity of the microsponges.
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PMID:The microsponge delivery system of benzoyl peroxide: preparation, characterization and release studies. 1635 33