PAPB

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For other uses, see PAPB (disambiguation).

Polyaminopropyl biguanide (PAPB), also polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), polyhexamethylene guanide or polyhexanide, is a disinfectant and a preservative used for disinfection on skin and in cleaning solutions for contact lenses. It is a polymer or oligomer where biguanide functional groups are connected by hexyl hydrocarbon chains, with varying chain lengths. PAPB is specifically bactericidal at very low concentrations (10 mg/l) and is also fungicidal.

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[edit] Biocidal activity

It has a unique method of action: the polymer strands are incorporated into the bacterial cell wall, which disrupts the membrane and reduces its permeability, which has a lethal effect to bacteria. It is also known to bind to bacterial DNA, alter its transcription, and cause lethal DNA damage.[1] It has very low toxicity to higher organisms such as human cells, which have more complex and protective membranes. PAPB is a mixture of molecules of various sizes; different-sized molecules have a synergistic effect.

Some organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are able to develop resistance to this disinfectant.[2]

[edit] Disinfectant

PAPB solutions are sold for use as a general disinfectent solution to be applied onto skin. As it is not cytotoxic, it can be applied directly into wounds.[3] It is also not irritating like more traditional disinfectants like alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol) and oxidizers (iodine).

[edit] Contact lens solution

A contact lens solution containing polyaminopropyl biguanide in combination with a borate buffer has been patented.[4] The solution is disinfecting and preservative and have a broad spectrum of bactericidal and fungicidal activity at low concentrations coupled with very low toxicity when used with soft-type contact lenses.[5] Some of the most popular products for disinfecting lenses are multipurpose solutions that can be used to clean, disinfect and wet contact lenses, followed by direct insertion (placement on the eye) without rinsing. Such a solution must be particularly gentle to the eye, because some of the solution will be on the lens when inserted and will come into contact with the eye.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The response of Escherichia coli to exposure to the biocide polyhexamethylene biguanide - Allen et al. 152 (4): 989 - Microbiology
  2. ^ Lakkis C, Fleiszig SMJ (2001). "Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to hydrogel contact lens disinfection correlates with cytotoxic activity". J Clin Microbiol 39: 1477–486. 
  3. ^ Log In Problems
  4. ^ Ogunbiyi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,595.
  5. ^ Abstract of safety study: http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/icl/article/PII0892896796000041/abstract
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