This application claims priority from EP 15181851 .5 filed 20 August 2015 which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising lactams and biosurfactants. The compositions are suitable for use as, for example, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and bacteriostatic compositions. WO 2007/085042 and WO 2004/016588 disclose lactams for antimicrobial benefit and steps towards their synthesis. WO2014/1 18240 discloses antimicrobial compositions comprising a lactam and a hydrotope.

However, use of these lactams is limited by compatibility with certain formulations and, in particular, solubility in certain aqueous solutions.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising lactams and biosurfactants. The inventor(s) have found that, surprisingly, the presence of a non-ionic surfactant advantageously improves lactam solubility.

More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising lactams as described in WO 2007/085042 and WO 2004/016588, the contents of which, and in particular the lactam structures explicitly drawn out therein, are incorporated by reference. The compositions further comprise a lactam and a biological surfactant.

For example, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a compositions comprising a lactam and a biological surfactant, wherein the lactam is a lactam of formula (I) or (II):

wherein:

Ri and R2 are each independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, cycloalkyi, alkoxy, oxoalkyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, aryl and aralalkyl; and

R3 is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, cycloalkyi, alkoxy, oxoalkyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyi, aryl, aralalkyl and -C(0)CR ₆ =CH2;

R ₄ and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, and arylalkyl; and

R6 is selected from hydrogen and methyl; and

R ₇ is selected from hydrogen and -C(0)CR6=CH2; and

Preferably, at least one of R ₄ and R5 is hydrogen. It will be appreciated that, where appropriate groups may be optionally substituted.

Optional substituents may include halogens, Ci-4alkyl, Ci _-4 haloalkyl (for example, CF3) and Ci-4alkoxy.

Alkyls may, for example, be Ci-i2alkyls, such as Ci-6alkyls. Aryls may, for example, be C6-ioaryls, for example, phenyls.

Preferably, at least one of Ri and R2 is selected from heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, aryl and arylalkyl. Preferably, Ri is hydrogen. Preferably, R3 is hydrogen. Preferably, R ₄ is hydrogen.

Preferably, R5 is hydrogen. Preferably, R6 is hydrogen. Preferably, R ₇ is hydrogen.

Preferably, R2 is aryl or aralalkyl. More preferably, R2 is a phenyl group or a substituted phenyl group, for example, a mono-substituted phenyl group. Substitution may be ortho, meta, or para. Preferably, it is para. Preferred substituents include halogen and methyl. For example, and without limitation, R2 may be selected from phenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4- chlorophenyl, 4-bromophenyl and 4-methylphenyl.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention may provide a composition comprising a lactam and a biosurfactant, wherein the lactam is a lactam of Formula la or Formula I la:

la wherein R is H, halogen (preferably, F, CI, or Br), or Ci _-4 alkyl (preferably methyl).

In some embodiments, the lactam is a lactam of formula la. In some embodiments, the lactam is a lactam of formula I la.

Preferred lactams may include:

; 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylene-pyrrol-2-one (Ref. 488);

5-methylene-4-(p-tolyl)pyrrol-2-one (Ref. 491 )

; 4-phenyl-5-hydroxy-5-methyl-1 H-pyrrol-2-one (Ref. 131 )

; 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-5-methyl-1 H-pyrrol-2-one (Ref. 258)

; 4-(4-bromophenyl)-5-hydroxy-5-methyl-1 H-pyrrol-2-one (Ref. 316).

The composition may be, without limitation, any homecare composition (institutional, organizational or consumer home) or a personal care composition such as a skin cream or a serum, or an industrial composition such as an anti-biofilm coating or paint, for example, for use in maritime environments. The composition may also be an agricultural chemical. The compositions may be suitable for use as antimicrobial compositions. The compositions may also be used as additive compositions; in other words, the composition may be combined with further ingredients such as excipients to form a composition as described above. Suitably, the composition is an aqueous composition. It may be a non-aqueous composition.

Preferably the composition contains 0.000001 to 50% wt. lactam, more preferably 0.001 to 50% wt. even more preferably 0.01 to 5% wt, most preferably 0.01 to 2%.

The biosurfactant preferably comprises a microbially-derived biosurfactant. Preferably it comprises a glycolipid biosurfactant moiety which may be a rhamnolipid or sophorolipid or trehalolipid or a mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) or combinations thereof.

Alternatively or additionally the biosurfactant may comprise any shear thinning

biosurfactant and in this respect, may extend to include any shear thinning glycolipid biosurfactant mentioned above or any shear thinning cellobiose, peptide based biosurfactant, lipoprotein, lipopeptide e.g. surfactin, fatty acids e.g. corynomucolic acids (preferably with hydrocarbon chain C12-C14), phospholipid (e.g.

Phosphatidylethanolamine produced by Rhodococcus erythropolis grown on n-alkane resulted in the lowering of interfacial tension between water and hexadecane to less than 1 mN nr ¹ and CMC of 30 mg L ^"1 (Kretschner et al., 1982)), spiculisporic acid, polymeric biosurfactants including emulsan, liposan, mannoprotein or polysaccharide-protein complexes or combinations thereof.

Preferably, the biosurfactant is a rhamnolipid or a sophorolipid. Preferably the biosurfactant moiety comprises a rhamnolipid.

The biosurfactant moiety may comprise one or more saccharide moieties such as sugar rings. In the case of rhamnolipids the rhamnolipid may comprise one or both components: mono-rhamnolipids having a single rhamnose sugar ring and di- rhamnolipids, having two rhamnose sugar rings.

In the case of rhamnolipids, throughout this patent specification, the prefixes mono- and di- are used to indicate respectively to indicate mono-rhamnolipids (having a single rhamnose sugar ring) and di-rhamnolipids (having two rhamnose sugar rings) respectively. If abbreviations are used R1 is mono-rhamnolipid and R2 is di-rhamnolipid.

Sophorolipids comprise a hydrophobic fatty acid tail and a hydrophilic carbohydrate sophotose head. The fatty acid tail may be saturated or unsaturated. Sophorolipids are known in the art.

The ratio of lactam to biosurfactant surfactant may, for example, be from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 20, preferably from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 10, such as from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 5.

The biosurfactant can be used to replace at least 50 wt.% of a total surfactant in the composition.

Preferably the biosurfactant is present at a level of 20-90 wt. % of the total surfactant and more preferably the biosurfactant is present at 50-80wt. % of the total surfactant and more preferably 50-75% wt.% of the total surfactant.

The composition may be, without limitation, any of a personal care composition, a homecare composition, a pharmaceutical composition, or an industrial composition such as an anti-biofilm coating or paint, for example, for use in maritime environments. The composition may also be an agricultural chemical. The compositions may be suitable for use as antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and bacteriostatic compositions. Non-limiting examples of such compositions are provided herein. The compositions may also be used as additive compositions; in other words, the composition may be combined with further ingredients such as excipients to form a composition as described above.

DESCRIPTION Lactams may be obtained using methods as described in WO 2007/085042 and WO 2004/016588, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Compositions

The compositions described herein may be compositions having anti-microbial activity. In some cases, the compositions are anti-bacterial. They may have bactericidal and / or bacteriostatic activity. The inventor(s) have observed desirable bacteriostatic activity. Accordingly, in some cases, the composition is a bacteriostatic composition. The compositions may also prevent and / or inhibit biofilm formation. Biofilms are formed when microorganisms stick to a surface. Biofilm extracellular polymeric substances may be formed. Biofilms (also referred to as slime) present problems in industrial

environments; for example, they may form in pipes in apparatus, or industrial and agricultural structures, on solar panels, and on boat hulls and other marine structures. Biofilms may also pose a problem in domestic environments. For example, biofilms may form in domestic appliances such as washing machines. Biofilms are also present in personal care, for example, they may form on tooth surfaces.

Compositions suitable for any and all of these applications are within the scope of the invention. In some cases, the composition is a paint or other coating. In such cases, the composition may further comprise a binder, optionally a pigment and optionally one or more conventional additives (for example, to modify surface tension, improve flow properties, improve the finished appearance, increase wet edge, improve pigment stability, etc - such additives are known in the art). The composition may comprise an aqueous solvent or an organic solvent to suit purpose.

The composition may also be used in medical applications, for example to coat equipment including medical devices. In some cases, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. In other words, the composition may comprise a lactam as described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The composition may be suitable for topical use (for example, it may be a cream or lotion), it may be suitable for ocular use (for example, it may be an used as a pharmaceutical eye drop), it may be suitable for otic use (for example, it may be used as an ear drop), it may be suitable as a mouth wash, or it may be suitable for oral administration. In some cases, the composition is a composition suitable for use in the home (often referred to as a homecare composition) or institutions. Homecare compositions include, without limitation, cleaning products, laundry detergents, and fabric conditioners. In some cases, the composition is a homecare composition, for example a laundry liquid. The composition may therefore comprise a detergent surfactant and a builder. The

composition may be a fabric conditioner (also called a fabric softener) and may comprise an antistatic agent. The composition may also be a domestic cleaning product.

In some cases, the composition is a personal care composition. For example, the composition may be intended for use on the skin (for example, a cream, cleanser or serum). For example, the composition may be useful in the prevention or treatment of acne. For example, the composition may comprise one or more of dimethicone, petrolatum, a humectant such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin; and ceramide(s). In some cases, the composition is a personal care composition comprising a detergent, for example, the composition may be a face wash or shower gel or hair shampoo. The composition may be a hair treatment composition other than a shampoo. The

composition may be a deodorant composition (for example, a deodorant powder, paste or liquid). The composition may be an oral care composition (such as a toothpaste or mouthwash and may include, for example, fluoride and / or flavourings. In some cases, the composition is a contact lens cleaning fluid.

The composition may be a composition suitable for use in agriculture, for example, as a soil additive (solid or liquid). The composition may be a composition suitable for use in the treatment of or

manufacture of glass or lens for example as an additive / treatment for solar panels.

EXAMPLES Mono and Di rhamnolipids were extracted and purified from a commercial sample of JBR425, supplied by Jeneil®, using supercritical CO2 using the following method.

A commercial sample of JBR425 (ex Jeneil®) was mixed with a Celllite 454® support and transferred to a supercritical CO2 extractor. The temperature and pressure was increased to produce supercritical CO2 and residual oils and fats were removed from the extractor in a defatting step. A cosolvent, industrial methylated solvent (IMS), was then added to the remaining defatted rhamnolipid mixture on the Cellite 454® support in the presence of supercritical CO2. The co-solvent IMS was introduced at an increasing gradient from 2.5% to 10% to facilitate the separation and removal of the different mono- and di- rhamnolipid ratios.

Bio-surfactant solutions at the levels shown in the results below were prepared for screening. The maximum level tested was dictated by the solubility of the surfactant in water. The following representative example uses 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methylene-pyrrol- 2-one.

Solid lactam was weighed into Whatman® Mini Uniprep sample vials, fitted with a 0.45 μηη nylon filter (2.7 to 3.3 mg per vial). 50 μΙ_ of a solvent solution was placed into each sample vial, the vial capped and shaken briefly by hand to agitate the solid, then placed on a Thermo Labsystems Wellmix® plate shaker and continuously agitated for 48 hours. After this time, the excess solid in the vial was removed using the integral filter membrane and the resultant solution analysed by HPLC to determine the level of dissolved lactam. Samples were analysed using an Agilent 1200® series HPLC fitted with a Hypersil Gold C18 column (15 x 2.1 x 3 μηη), using isocratic elution with 60/40 methanol/water (+ 0.1 % Formic Acid) at a flow rate of 0.4ml_/min, using a DAD detector at 285nm. 4-(4- Chlorophenyl)-5-methylene-pyrrol-2-one has a retention time of -2.8 minutes. Each test surfactant solution was tested in triplicate and the mean value of lactam in solution calculated. Values of solubility were quoted as the improvement in aqueous solubility vs water alone (i.e. mean level of lactam dissolved in water + solvent / mean level of lactam dissolved in water) to allow comparison between screens conducted on different days.

The inventor(s) have demonstrated that rhamnolipid biosurfactants are beneficial at increasing lactam solubility in water, in particular at lower concentrations. The best example is R2.

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It will be appreciated that, except where expressly provided otherwise, all preferences are combinable.