Formulation based on vitamin e or an ester thereof for treating bacterial and fungal biofilms

Abstract

Formulation for topical use based on vitamin E or an ester thereof for use in removing, reducing or inhibiting a bacterial and/or fungal biofilm, wherein said ester of vitamin E is an ester with a carboxylic acid of formula R—COOH, in which R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl or alkynyl having from 2 to 19 carbon atoms.

1 . A method of removing, reducing or inhibiting a bacterial and/or fungal biofilm, which comprises topically applying a formulation consisting of vitamin E or an ester thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ester of vitamin E is an ester with a carboxylic acid of formula R—COOH, in which R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 19 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl or alkynyl having from 2 to 19 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said ester is alpha-tocopheryl acetate, n-propionate or linoleate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said ester is alpha-tocopheryl acetate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation consists of vitamin E acetate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , consists of alpha-tocopheryl acetate. 
     
     
         7 . A method of removing, reducing or inhibiting a bacterial and/or fungal biofilm, which comprises topically applying a formulation comprising in weight percentages on the total weight of the formulation, 20 to 70% of vitamin E acetate and 20 to 70% of a volatile silicone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said volatile silicone is selected from the group consisting of pentamer cyclomethicone, tetramer cyclomethicone, hexamer cyclomethicone, hexamethyldisiloxane, low viscosity dimethicone and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said formulation further comprises 7 to 13% of hydrogenated castor oil by weight of the total weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said formulation further comprises 7 to 15% by weight of the total weight of the formulation of an oily component selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, esters of fatty acids selected from the group consisting of octyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate and ethyl oleate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said formulation further comprises 2 to 3% of dimethiconol by weight of the total weight of the formulation.