Cleaners for the control and removal of allergens

Abstract

Wet and dry wipes comprising additives for removing allergens from surfaces are disclosed. The wipe substrate comprises an additive capable and binding the allergen onto the substrate such that the allergen can be removed from the surface. Various allergens including animal and pet dander can be removed from numerous surfaces utilizing the wipes of the present invention. In some embodiments of the invention, the allergenicity of the allergen is also reduced. Suitable additives for immobilization onto the wipe substrate include lectins, proteases, and enzyme inhibitors.

1 . A cleaner for removing an allergen from a surface, the cleaner comprising a wipe, an allergen binding lectin for binding the allergen to the wipe and removing the allergen from the surface, and an additive selected from the group consisting of an allergen cleaving protease, an enzyme inhibitor, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       2 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lectin is a legume lectin. 
   
   
       3 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lectin has a residue affinity for N-acetylgalactosamine residues. 
   
   
       4 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lectin is selected from the group consisting of peanut agglutinin, soy bean agglutinin, and Jacalin. 
   
   
       5 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the additive is an allergen cleaving protease. 
   
   
       6 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the allergen cleaving protease is selected from the group consisting of exopeptidases and endopeptidases. 
   
   
       7 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the additive is an enzyme inhibitor. 
   
   
       8 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the enzyme inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Amastatin, Antipain, Actinonin, Aprotinin, APMSF, Bestatin, Benzamidine, Chymostatin, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin, DFP, E-64, Elasatinal, Leupeptin, Pepstatin, 1,10-Phenanthroline, Phosphoramidon, TLCK, and TPCK. 
   
   
       9 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the cleaner comprises from about 0.00001% to about 10% (by total weight of the treated cleaner) of the lectin. 
   
   
       10 . The cleaner of  claim 1  wherein the wipe is selected from the group consisting of wet wipes, dry wipes, hand wipes, household wipes, industrial wipes, and allergy wipes. 
   
   
       11 . A cleaner for reducing the allergenicity of an allergen located on a surface, the cleaner comprising a wipe and an allergen cleaving protease for cleaving the allergen to reduce the allergenicity of the allergen. 
   
   
       12 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the protease is selected from the group consisting of exopeptidases and endopeptidases. 
   
   
       13 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the protease is capable of chemically cleaving a lipocalin. 
   
   
       14 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the protease is selected from the group consisting of serine proteinases, cystein proteinases, aspartic proteinases, and metallo proteinases. 
   
   
       15 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the protease is selected from the group consisting of Chymotrypsin, Trypsin, Elastase, Kallikrein, Subtilisin, Papain, Actinidin, Bromelain, Cathepsins, Calpains, Pepsin, Chymosin, Cathepsins, Renin, Penicillopepsin, Rhizopuspepsin, Endothiapepsin, Thermolysin, Neprilysin, Aminopeptidase, Astacin, Cathepsin B, Cathepsin D, Cathepsin G, Clostripain, Collagenase, Dispase, Endoproteinase Arg-C, Endoproteinase Asp-N, Endoproteinase Glu-C, Endoproteinase Lys-C, Factor Xa, Plasmin, Proteinase K, and Thrombin. 
   
   
       16 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the protease is selected from the group consisting of Bromelain, Cathespsin B, Cathepsin D, Cathepsin G, Chymotrypsin, Clostripain, Collagenase, Dispase, Endoproteinase Arg-C, Endoproteinase Asp-N, Endoproteinase Glu-C, Endoproteinase Lys-C, Factor Xa, Kallikrein, Papain, Pepsin, Plasmin, Proteinase K, Subtilisin, Thermolysin, Thrombin, and Trypsin. 
   
   
       17 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the cleaner comprises from about 0.0001% to about 10% (by total weight of the treated cleaner) of the protease. 
   
   
       18 . A cleaner for reducing the allergenicity of an allergen located on a surface, the cleaner comprising a wipe and an enzyme inhibitor for chemically reacting with the allergen to reduce the allergenicity of the allergen. 
   
   
       19 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the enzyme inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of Amastatin, Antipain, Actinonin, Aprotinin, APMSF, Bestatin, Benzamidine, Chymostatin, 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin, DFP, E-64, Elasatinal, Leupeptin, Pepstatin, 1,10-Phenanthroline, Phosphoramidon, TLCK, and TPCK. 
   
   
       20 . The cleaner as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the cleaner comprises from about 0.0001% to about 10% (by total weight of the treated cleaner) of the enzyme inhibitor.