Compositions, formulations, and methods for the treatment or prevention, or decreasing the frequency of transmission of a
virus (such as
human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1),
Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), or
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV2), or other
virus), or a bacterial infection (such as
Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseris gonorrhoeae Haemopholus ducreyl, or
Chlamydia trachomatis, or other bacterial species), or a fungal infection, using an anionic
cellulose- or acrylic-based
oligomer,
polymer, or
copolymer. The present invention also includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of said
oligomer,
polymer, or
copolymer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or
diluent, thereof. The invention relies on the unique biochemical substitution of the
cellulose or acrylic backbone such that the
resultant molecule can remain molecularly dispersed in solution (or gel or other formulation) and mostly dissociated over a wide range of physiological microenvironments, such as the low pH found within the vaginal lumen, preferably from a pH of 14 to below 3.5. These specific substitutions also impart on the
resultant molecule potent antiviral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. In addition, these compositions can be used as general disinfectants for
human use such as in
contact lens solutions, mouthwashes, toothpastes, suppositories, or as more generalized disinfectants found in soaps, household cleaning products, paints, water treatments modalities, or can be incorporated into cosmetic, and can be used as vehicles for
drug delivery, an
adjuvant in a therapeutic formulation, or as a
preservative. These compounds can be delivered in a liquid or
solid dosage form and can be incorporated into barrier devices such as condoms, diaphragms, or cervical caps, to help prevent the transmission of STDs. The compounds of this invention can also be used in combination therapies with other classes of antiviral, antibacterial, or
antifungal agent having similar or differing mechanisms of action including, but not limited to, anionic or cationic polymers, copolymers, or oligomers, surfactants,
protease inhibitors,
DNA or
RNA polymerase inhibitors (including
reverse transcriptase inhibitors), fusion inhibitors,
cell wall
biosynthesis inhibitors,
integrase inhibitors, or virus or bacterial attachment inhibitors.