Stabilized enzymatic dentifrice containing B-D-glucose and glucose oxidase

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The enzymatic dentifrice of this invention comprises an enzyme system containing an oxidizable substrate, Beta-D-glucose, and an oxidoreductase enzyme specific to such substrate, glucose oxidase, for producing hydrogen peroxide upon oral application of the dentifrice, with the chemical environment of the oral cavity providing the source of the additional reactants (oxygen, water) to effect the enzymatic reaction.
Glucose oxidase is characterized in the literature as a glycoprotein containing two molecules of flavine-adenine dinucleotide which has a molecular weight of approximately 150,000, an isoelectric point at pH 4.
2 and an optimum pH at 5.
5 with a broad pH range from 4 through 7.
Glucose oxidase is generally present in the enzymatic dentifrice in an amount from about 0.
5 to about 500 International Units (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as IU) per gram of dentifrice, with an intermediate range being from about 1.
0 to about 100 IU per gram of dentifrice, and a preferred range being from about 5.
0 to about 50 IU per gram of dentifrice.
The term International Unit(s) identifies that amount of enzyme that will effect catalysis of 1.
0 micromole of substrate per minute at pH 7.
0 and 25.
degree.
C.
Glucose oxidase is supplied in dry or liquid form with the label specifying the concentration in International Units on a per gram or per milliliter basis, as appropriate.
D-Glucose exists in two modifications, Alpha and Beta.
Ordinary glucose is primarily Alpha-D-glucose.
Beta-D-glucose containing a minor amount of Alpha-D-glucose is available from specialty suppliers.
Since glucose oxidase is specific to Beta-D-glucose for effecting the enzymatic reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide, it is, therefore, significantly advantageous to use a glucose composition that is predominantly the Beta form in order to minimize the amount of glucose which is added to the dentifrice and maximize the efficiency of the enzymatic reaction.
Beta-D-Glucose is generally present in the enzymatic dentifrice in an amount from about 0