the novel spermicidal and viricidal compound employed in the compositions of the present invention is 4 , 4 ′- methylenebis -( tetrahydro - 1 , 2 , 4 - thiadiazine )- 1 , 1 , 1 ′, 1 ′- tetraoxide , commonly known as taurolidine . it has been found that taurolidine is effective in preventing pregnancy as well as the transmission of aids , herpes , hepatitis b , cytomegalovirus , chlamydia , trichomonas , various bacteria inducing gorrhoea and g vaginalis and test strain of treponema phagedenis , a surrogate of syphilis . taurolidine occurs as a white to off - white powder having the molecular formula c 7 h 16 n 4 o 4 s 2 . taurolidine &# 39 ; s general characteristics include acceptable stability in the solid state when stored at ambient conditions , melting with decomposition at approximately 170 ° c . and the following solubility in aqueous solutions and organic solvents . a saturated solution of taurolidine in deionized water has a ph of 7 . 4 . the apparent partition coefficient of taurolidine between octanol and water ( buffered at ph 7 . 2 ) is approximately 0 . 13 and would therefore not be predicted to accumulate to any significant extent in fatty tissues . the synthesis of taurolidine is covered in a number of patents including u . s . pat . no . 3 , 423 , 408 ; switzerland no . 482 , 713 and united kingdom no . 1 , 124 , 285 and is carried out in five stages : potassium phthalimidoethane sulphonate is prepared from taurinc , phthalic anhydride , glacial acetic acid and potassium acetate ; potassium phthalimidoethane sulphonate is then converted to phthalimidoethane sulphonylchloride by chlorination with phosphorous oxychloride ; phthalimidoethane sulphonylchloride is reacted with hydrazine hydrate and in the subsequent hydrazinolysis to form taurinamide hydrochloride ; and the antimicrobial actions of taurolidine have been described in co - pending u . s . patent application ser . no . 09 / 151 , 885 filed sep . 11 , 1998 and in u . s . pat . no . 3 , 423 , 408 and elsewhere in the literature . in addition , the following united states patents describe various uses for and compositions containing taurolidine : u . s . pat . no . 4 , 107 , 305 , treatment of endotoxaemia ; u . s . pat . no . 4 , 337 , 251 , elimination of adhesion formation as a result of surgery ; u . s . pat . no . 4 , 587 , 268 , resorbable aqueous gels ; u . s . pat . no . 4 , 604 , 391 , prevention of the occurrence of osteitis or osteomyelitis ; u . s . pat . no . 4 , 626 , 536 , combating toxic proteins or peptides in the blood ; u . s . pat . no . 4 , 772 , 468 , treatment of bone cavities ; and u . s . pat . no . 4 , 882 , 149 , directed to methods for filling congenital , surgical or traumatic defects with compositions comprising natural bone mineral having absorbed therein / thereon taurolidine . taurolidine &# 39 ; s mechanism of action unlike that of known virucides is based on a chemical reaction . while not being bound by any theory , during the metabolism of taurolidine to taurinamide and ultimately taurine and water , methylol groups are liberated which chemically react with the protein in the walls of the virus this results in the destruction of the protein coat protecting the single nucleic acid which makes up the virus . taurolidine has been shown to be safe and well tolerated at systemic doses exceeding 40 g / day and cumulative doses up to and exceeding 300 g . it has long been the goal of the pharmaceutical industry to produce antibiotic and antiviral medicinal substances that have the power to kill — or at least to arrest the growth of — many disease causing viruses and mycobacteria such as sexually transmitted diseases . in general , the compositions of the present invention can be readily utilized in topical pharmaceutical formulations preferably formulations in gel , creme or ointment form . the formulations of taurolidine generally utilized are sterile solutions containing about 0 . 5 %, 1 . 0 %, 2 . 0 % or about 4 . 0 % taurolidine . application of the compositions of the present invention may be introvaginally , however , the compositions may also be applied to latex or other condoms as well as other barrier contraceptive devices . the aqueous gels of the invention , especially those containing highly carboxylated polymers have a further utility as a sexual lubricant capable of preventing the exchange or transmission of std pathogens and sperm during sexual activity . when formulated as a lubricant , the compositions can be applied to external genitalia as well as internal mucosal surfaces to reduce microtrauma resulting from inadequate lubrication will also prevent transmission of viable std pathogens through traumatized , disease or healthy skin or mucosa . in a known manner , the composition of the invention may also contain adjuvants which are customary in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field , such as hydrophilic or lipophilic gelling agents , hydrophilic or lipophilic active agents , preservatives , buffers , antioxidants , solvents , perfumes and fillers . the amounts of these different adjuvants are those traditionally used in the pharmaceutical or dermatological field , and are , for example , from 0 . 01 % to 10 % of the total weight of the composition . as hydrophilic gelling agents , carboxyvinyl polymers ( carbomer ®), acrylic copolymers such as acrylate / alkylacrylate copolymers , polyacrylamides , polysaccharides such as hydroxypropylcellulose , clays and natural gums may be mentioned , and as lipophilic gelling agents , modified clays such as bentones , metal salts of fatty acids such as aluminum stearates and hydrophobic silica , or alternatively ethylcellulose and polyethylene may be mentioned . as hydrophilic active agents , proteins or protein hydrolysates , amino acids , polyols , urea , allantonin , sugars and sugar derivatives , water - soluble vitamins , starch and plant extracts , in particular those of aloe vera may be used . as lilophilic active , agents , retinol ( vitamin a ) and its derivatives , tocopherol ( vitamin e ) and its derivatives , essential fatty acids , ceramides and essential oils may be used . these agents add extra moisturizing or skin softening features when utilized . the compositions of the invention may include plant or herbal extracts . for example , there may be utilized extracts of paraguay tea , kola and guarana , which provide a source of methylxanthines , saponius , tannins and glycosides that have been shown to be anti - inflammatory and can be used to treat or prevent irritations . the extract of paraguay tea is known as “ mate extract ” and is described in the “ international cosmetic ingredient dictionary ,” 5 th edition . mate extract is commercially available in combination with extracts of kola and guarana which is sold by cosmetic ingredient resources of stamford , connecticut under the trademark “ quencht .” each of mate extract , serine protease inhibitor and aloe vera extract are known to provide anti - inflammatory activity . the anti - elastase and anti - tryptase activity of the protease inhibitor has been shown to provide a synergistic effect in treating skin inflammations . up to 10 % by weight of zinc salts can be used to prevent irritations when required . suitable zinc salts include zinc gluconate , zinc acetate , zinc chloride , etc . the preferred embodiment of the present invention covers the use of the spermicidal / viricidal composition in combination with condoms formed of linear chain , aliphatic polyether - based polyurethanes , which are synthesized from the solid phase polymerization reaction of methylene bis ( 4 - cyclohexylisocyanate ) and polytetramethylene ether glycol of about 2000 molecular weight which is chain extended / terminated with 1 , 4 - butanediol . the elastomers are clear and because of their aliphatic nature will not yellow upon aging nor upon exposure to oxygen or ultraviolet light . the polyurethane elastomers are dissolved in a solvent preferably tetrahydrofuran in order to prepare the dip solution for condom manufacture . the only other additive to the dip solution , at a very low level , is a mold release agent such as a silicone fluid ( polydimethylsiloxane - polyoxyethylene copolymer ) which will facilitate removal of the formed condom from the mandrels . example 1 , which follows , sets forth a polyurethane condom formulation for use in the present invention . a preferred method for manufacturing the polyurethane elastomer condoms is fully described in copending commonly assigned u . s . patent application ser . no . 09 / 095 , 330 filed jun . 10 , 1998 . the primary process in the manufacture of the polyurethane elastomer condom is the condom forming or dipping process . the following are the process control parameters for the dipping process : the dipping section of the manufacturing equipment operates as noted above in a nitrogen gas environment that is isolated from the cleaning / take - off section of the dipping line by means of an air lock . this air lock not only minimizes infiltration of oxygen in the dipping section of the line but also aids in controlling particulate matter . a cover on the dip tank also helps to prevent any contamination . thf that evaporates from the dip tank and mandrels is recovered for re - use . an in - line analyzer monitors water and stabilizer content of the recovered thf for suitability prior to re - use . the second section of the condom production line is composed of the condom take - off and form cleaning section . the process control parameters are as follows : after completion of the dipping and drying operations , the condoms are removed from the mandrel . condoms coming off the dipping line are collected and sampled for evaluation of mass , dimensions ( ring thickness , length and film thickness ) and visual defects ( folds , creases , etc .) and testing for holes . the condoms are then rolled around the ring to form a cup - shaped elastic ring of predetermined size and circumference . the result is several layers of polyurethane elastomer being rolled around the thickened ring formed at the top , open end , of the sheath forming a cup within the circumference of the ring . in this form , the condom is easily mountable for use during sexual intercourse and lubricants and the spermicide / viricide of the present invention are added to the cup - shaped polyurethane elastomer sheath , in a well known manner . example 2 , which follows , sets forth the spermicidal / viricidal gel suitable for addition to the polyurethane condom the carbomer is dusted into the water with mixing and the mixture heated to about 65 °- 70 ° c . the 4 , 4 ′- methylenebis -( tetrahydro - 1 , 2 , 4 - thiadiazine )- 1 , 1 , 1 ′, 1 ′- tetraoxide is added with mixing and the mixture cooled to about 40 ° c . one to two grams of the aqueous gel prepared in a manner described in example 2 are added to the cup shaped elastomer of example i in order to provide spermicidal / viricidal activity during intercourse . alternatively , the gel may be applied directly to the mucosal areas .
there is provided spermicidal / antiviral compositions in the form of lotions , cremes , foams and gels that are non - irritating . the compositions contain an effective amount of 4 , 4 ′- methylenebis -- 1 , 1 , 1 ′, 1 ′- tetraoxide as a spermicide / virucide .