# Patent

## Title
HIV related peptides, immunogenic antigens, and use therefor as subunit

## Abstract

This application is a divisional of Ser. No. 139,806, filed Dec. 30, 1987.

## Background
This invention relates to a novel gel ointment base and a gel ointment which is a mixture of said gel ointment base and an active ingredient, more particularly, to a gel ointment base which is prepared by increasing the viscosity of an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution with an amino acid, and a gel ointment which is prepared by admixing the base with an active ingredient and is suitable for applying to mucous membranes (e.g. eye, nasal cavity, oral cavity, rectum, vagina, urethra) and skin.

A gel base prepared by increasing the viscosity of an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution with a basic viscosity-increasing agent such as sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, etc. has such excellent characteristics that (i) since the stock polymer has a high purity and uniform quality, it can give a topical preparation with a high reproducibility, (ii) it shows almost a constant viscosity in the range of a temperature of from 10.degree. to 70.degree. C., (iii) it is hardly decomposed with microorganisms such as bacteria, (iv) the gel is stable in a wide range of pH, and the like, and hence, it has been used for preparing various topical preparations such as medicines, cosmetics, etc. However, the gel base has such defects that the viscosity thereof is decreased by irradiation with a light (ultraviolet light), and it shows low storage stability, and further that it is restricted in the utility. When the above-mentioned conventional basic viscosity-increasing agents are used, it must be adjusted to pH 10 or higher in order to eliminate the above defects. An ointment having pH 10 or higher shows high irritation to mucous membranes and skin which is not tolerable.

The present inventors have extensively studied as to various viscosity-increasing materials suitable for increasing the viscosity of a carboxyvinyl polymer solution which can give a gel having a stable viscosity and being resistant to a light (ultraviolet: light) at a pH range which does not give any irritation to viscous membranes and skins, and it has now been found that specific amino acids can increase the viscosity of a carboxyvinyl polymer to give a gel ointment base having excellent characteristics without decreasing of the viscosity even by a light (ultraviolet light), and that a gel ointment prepared by admixing said base with an active ingredient is very excellent without decreasing of the viscosity even by a light (ultraviolet light), and then, this invention has been accomplished.

An object of this invention is to provide a gel ointment base having a stable viscosity and resistance to a light which is prepared by increasing the viscosity of an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution with an amino acid. Another object of the invention is to provide a gel ointment which has a stable viscosity and being resistant to a light at a pH range which does not give any irritation to mucous membranes and skin in living bodies. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

Figures show graphs of the comparison of lowering of viscosity by irradiation with a light under various test conditions as to the gel ointment base of this invention and a reference base in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and as to the gel ointment of this invention and a reference ointment in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, respectively.

The gel ointment base of this invention comprises an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution and an amino acid of an amount effective for increasing the viscosity of the aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution, which can be prepared, for example, by adding an amino acid to an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution with stirring and thereby mixing uniformly them, and optionally followed by adjusting to pH 4 to 9 with an appropriate pH adjustor.

The carboxyvinyl polymer used in the gel ointment base of this invention is a hydrophilic polymer which is prepared by polymerizing predominantly acrylic acid, and is commercially available in the names of Carbopol 934, ibid. 940, ibid. 941 which have been sold by Goodrich Chemical, U.S.A. The carboxyvinyl polymer is usually used in an amount of 0.05 to 5.0% by weight based on the whole weight of the composition.

The amino acid is preferably alanine, valine, isoleucine, serine, cysteine, ornithine, lysine, arginine, histidine, proline, threonine and methionine, more preferably ornithine, lysine, arginine, and proline. These amino acids are usually used in an amount of 0.1 to 10.0% by weight based on the whole weight of the composition. Other amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, tryptophane, asparagine, glutamine, leucine, etc. do not increase the viscosity of carboxyvinyl polymer, and although glycine shows increase of the viscosity of carboxyvinyl polymer, it is inferior to in the viscosity stability against the irradiation with a light (ultraviolet light), and hence, they are not suitable for the present invention.

The pH adjustor includes the conventional bases which are usually used as a viscosity-increasing agent, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, triethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, etc. These pH adjustors are added in a minimum amount which is necessary for adjusting the pH to the desired range under taking into consideration the stability and absorbability of the active ingredient.

The gel ointment of this invention comprises an active medical substance and the gel ointment base as set forth above, which can be prepared by adding the active ingredient to the gel ointment base as prepared above and mixing them uniformly, or alternatively, depending on the active ingredient to be used, by dissolving or dispersing the active ingredient in an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution, adding thereto an aqueous amino acid solution with stirring and mixing them uniformly, and optionally followed by adjusting to pH 5 to 9 with a pH adjustor.

The medical substance used as the active ingredient in this invention may be either water-soluble or water-insoluble, and is preferably stable in the preparation, i.e. in an aqueous solvent used in the step of preparation thereof.

Examples of the medical substance used for the gel ointment of this invention are hypnotics and sedatives such as glutethimide, chloral hydrate, nitrazepam, amobarbital, phenobarbital, etc.; antipyretics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin, acetaminophene, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, diclofenac sodium, tiaramide hydrochloride, piroxicam, flufenamic acid, mefenamic acid, pentazocine, etc.; local anaesthetics such as ethyl aminobenzoate, lidocaine, etc.; agents for ophthalmic use such as pilocarpine, physostigmine sulfate, atropine sulfate, flavine adenine dinucleotide, cyanocobalamin, naphazoline nitrate, micronomicin sulfate, fluorometholone, sodium guaiazulenesulfonate, befunolol hydrochloride, disodium cromoglicate, etc.; agents for nasal chloride, disodium cromoglicate, etc.; cardiotonics such as ubidecarenone, etc.; antiarrhythmic agents such as propranolol hydrochloride, pindolol, phenytoin, disopyramide, etc.; coronary vasodilators such as isosorbide nitrate, nifedipine, diltiazem hydrochloride, dipyridamole, etc.; agents effective for digestic organs such as domperidone, etc.; corticoids such as triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, betamethasone phosphate sodium, prednisolone acetate, fluocinolide, beclomethasone propionate, etc.; antiplasmins such as tranexamic acid, etc.; fungicides such as clotrimazole, miconazole nitrate, ketoconazole, etc.; antitumor agents such as tegafur, fluorouracil, mercaptopurine, etc.; antibiotics such as amoxycillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, cephalothin sodium, ceftizoxime sodium, erythromycin, oxytetracycline hydrochloride, etc., physiological active peptides such as insulin, elcatonin, urokinase, TPA, interferon, etc., and the like. The dose of the active ingredients may vary depending on the kinds of the agents, but is usually in an amount sufficient for exhibiting the desired activity which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the usual dosage of these available medicaments.

In case of using an active ingredient which is insoluble in water, the obtained gel ointment becomes opaque white, but the active ingredient does not precipitate, and hence, it can effectively be used. However, when it is desirable that the active ingredient is dissolved because of easier absorption into the living bodies as in case of applying to the skin, it may be dissolved with a solubilizer or it may be previously dissolved in a water-soluble organic solvent, and then it is used for the preparation. The water-soluble organic solvent includes lower alcohols (e.g. ethanol, isopropanol, etc.), and glycols (e.g. propyene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 300 to 500, etc.). Besides, the solubilizer includes, for example, various surfactants, crotamiton, glycol salicylate, peppermint oil, benzyl alcohol, and the like, which are selected depending on the solubility of the active ingredients.

The gel ointment base and gel ointment of this invention have preferably a viscosity of 1,000 to 100,000 cP (centipoises). When the viscosity is lower than 1,000 cP, they have too high fluidity and hence are hardly applicable to the viscous membranes and the skins, and on the other hand, when the viscosity is higher than 100,000 cP, the preparations are too hard and hence are hardly administered. Besides, when the viscosity is lower, the active ingredient can rapidly be absorbed into the body and hence the preparation is a rapid release one, and on the other hand, when the viscosity is higher, the gel is slowly degraded and the active ingredient is slowly absorbed and hence the preparation is a sustained and delayed release one. The viscosity is somewhat affected depending on the kinds of the active ingredients to be added, but mainly depends on the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer. In order to obtain the gel base or gel preparation having the desired viscosity, the carboxyvinyl polymer is used in an aqueous solution having a concentration thereof in the range of 0.1 to 5.0% by weight, as mentioned hereinbefore. When the viscosity is decreased by the addition of the active ingredient, an aqueous solution of carboxyvinyl polymer having a higher concentration thereof is used, and thereby, there can be obtained the desired gel having a suitable viscosity.

The gel ointment base and gel ointment of this invention show less lowering of viscosity by the irradiation of a light and hence are superior in comparison with the conventional gel ointment bases or preparations which are prepared by using conventional basic substances as a viscosity-increasing agent, as is clear from the comparative experiments as disclosed hereinafter.

The present invention is illustrated by the following Examples and Experiments, but should not be limited thereto. Hereinafter, "%" means % by weight. Besides, in this invention, the viscosity is measured by using C type viscometer (manufactured by Tokyo Keiki K.K., Japan) at 20.degree. C.

Carboxyvinyl polymer (Carbopol 940) is dissolved in purified water to give a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution. To the aqueous solution (12.5 g) is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-arginine solution (25 g) with stirring, and thereto is added purified water so as to become totally 100 g, and the mixture is uniformly mixed to give a gel having pH 7.3 and a viscosity of 38,000 cP (the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer: 0.5%).

In the same manner as described above except that the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer is varied (the amount of L-arginine is double of that of carboxyvinyl polymer), there are prepared gels having the following viscosities. Concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer (%) Viscosity (cP) ______________________________________ 4.0                120,000 3.0                87,000 2.0                72,000 1.0                50,000 0.50               38,000 0.25               29,000 0.10               10,000 ______________________________________

To the 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution (30.0 g) as prepared in Example 1 is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-arginine solution (60 g) with stirring and thereto is further added purified water so as to become totally 100 g. The mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel having pH 6.7 and a viscosity of 56,000 cP (the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer: 1.2%).

In the same manner as described above except that other amino acids are used instead of L-arginine (the amount of the amino acids is double of that of carboxyvinyl polymer) and the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer is 1.2%, there are prepared gels having the following viscosities. Amino acid (addition amount: 2.4%)    Viscosity (cP) ______________________________________ L-arginine       56,000 L-alanine        50,000 L-serine         48,000 L-histidine      55,000 L-proline        49,000 L-valine         48,000 ______________________________________

To a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution (25.0 g) is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-alanine solution (25 g) with stirring to increase the viscosity and further is added a 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (20.0 g), and the mixture is stirred and thereto is further added purified water so as to become totally 100 g. The mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel having pH 7.3 and a viscosity of 48,500 cP (the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer: 1.0%).

To a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution (12.5 g) is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-lysine solution (12.5 g) with stirring to increase the viscosity and further is added a 2% aqueous triethanolamine solution (17.5 g), and the mixture is stirred and thereto is further added purified water so as to become totally 100 g. The mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel having pH 7.5 and a viscosity of 41,000 cP (the concentration of carboxyvinyl polymer: 0.5%).

Eye drops of disodium cromoglicate (2.0%): Materials            Amount (%) ______________________________________ disodium cromoglicate 2.0 1% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 25.0 solution 2% aqueous L-arginine solution 25.0 purified water       48.0 ______________________________________

To a 1% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is gradually added a 2% aqueous L-arginine solution and the mixture is stirred to increase the viscosity to give a gel. To the gel is added disodium cromoglicate, and the mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 7.3, viscosity 1,100 cP).

Nasal drops of disodium cromoglicate (2.0%): Materials              Amount (%) ______________________________________ disodium cromoglicate   2.0 2% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 25.0 solution 2% aqueous L-serine solution 25.0 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution 10.0 purified water         38.0 ______________________________________

To a 2% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is gradually added a 2% aqueous L-serine solution and the mixture is stirred to increase the viscosity to give a gel. The pH is adjusted with a 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and thereto is added disodium cromoglicate, and the mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 7.4, viscosity 8,200 cP).

Lectal infusion preparation of insulin (10 U/g): Materials            Amount (%) ______________________________________ insulin              0.0377 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 25.0 solution 4% aqueous L-lysine solution 50.0 purified water       24.9623 ______________________________________

To a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-lysine solution with stirring and the mixture is continuously stirred to give a gel. To the gel is added a suspension of insulin in purified water, and the mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 6.8, viscosity 26,100 cP).

Rectal infusion preparation of diltiazem hydrochloride (1.0%): Materials              Amount (%) ______________________________________ diltiazem hydrochloride 1.0 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 12.5 solution 4% aqueous L-valine solution 25.0 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution 10.0 purified water         51.5 ______________________________________

To a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is added purified water and thereto is gradually added diltiazem hydrochloride with stirring. To the mixture is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-valine solution and the mixture is uniformly stirred to increase the viscosity and thereto is gradually added a 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The mixture is stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 6.9, viscosity 10,000 cP).

Rectal infusion preparation of diclofenac sodium (2.5%): Materials            Amount (%) ______________________________________ diclofenac sodium     2.5 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 12.5 solution 4% aqueous L-arginine solution 50.0 purified water       35.0 ______________________________________

To a 4% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is gradually added a 4% aqueous L-arginine solution with stirring and the mixture is continuously stirred to give a gel. To the gel is added a solution of diclofenac sodium in purified water and the mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 7.2, viscosity 8,000 cP).

Eye drops of ketoprofen (0.1%): Materials              Amount (%) ______________________________________ ketoprofen              0.1 1% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer 20.0 solution 1% aqueous L-proline solution 40.0 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution 16.0 purified water         23.9 ______________________________________

To a 1% aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is gradually added a 1% aqueous L-proline solution with stirring and the mixture is continuously stirred to give a gel. To the gel are added a 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and a solution of ketoprofen in purified water, and the mixture is uniformly stirred to give a gel preparation (pH 7.8, viscosity 1,000 cP).

As to the gel ointment bases and gel ointments of this invention and reference bases and reference preparations which were prepared in the same manner as described above except that a conventional viscosity-increasing agents (sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine) is used, there were compared the lowering of viscosity by irradiation with a light in a transparent glass vessel. The test conditions (i to v) are shown in the following table.

The results are shown in Tables 1 to 5 and FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. In the tables, the carboxyvinyl polymer is represented by "CVP", and the results are shown by the found viscosity at a time after being elapsed for a certain period of time from the initiation of test, and the viscosity retention rate compared with the initial viscosity is also shown within a parenthesis. Concentra- Active    Light-  tion of No.  Samples  ingredient irradiation CVP (%) Results ______________________________________ i    Base      --       Room dif- 0.5     Table 1 fused light     & FIG. 1 ii    "        --       Direct sun 0.25   Table 2 light           & FIG. 2 iii   "        --       Direct sun 1.0     Table 3 light iv   Ointment Tranexamic Direct sun "       Table 4 acid      light           & FIG. 3 v     "       Ketoprofen Direct sun "       Table 5 light           & FIG. 4 ______________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Sample          Initial No. Formulation viscosity After 1 week After 2 weeks After 3 weeks __________________________________________________________________________ 1   CVP      0.5% 40,000 cP 36,000 cP 33,600 cP 30,500 cP L-Arginine 1.0% (100.0%) (90.0%) (84.0%) (76.3%) Purified water 98.5% 2   CVP      0.5% 40,000 cP 24,000 cP 15,000 cP 8,500 cP NaOH     0.02% (100.0%) (60.0%) (37.5%) (21.3%) Purified water 99.48% __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Sample           Initial After After After After After No. Formulation  viscosity 1 day 3 days 5 days 7 days 14 days __________________________________________________________________________ 3   CVP      0.25% 29,000 cP 28,000 cP 26,500 cP 25,000 cP 23,500 cP 20,000 cP L-arginine 0.50% (100.0%) (96.6%) (91.4%) (86.2%) (81.0%) (69.0%) Purified water 99.25% 4   CVP      0.25% 26,500 cP 23,000 cP 18,000 cP 14,000 cP 11,500 cP 4,900 cP NaOH     0.10% (100.0%) (86.8%) (67.9%) (52.8%) (43.4%) (18.5%) Purified water 99.65% 5   CVP      0.25% 31,000 cP 29,000 cP 25,500 cP 22,500 cP 18,000 cP 11,500 cP Triethanolamine 0.35% (100.0%) (93.5%) (82.3%) (72.6%) (58.1%) (37.1%) Purified water 99.40% 6   CVP      0.25% 27,000 cP 25,000 cP 23,500 cP 21,500 cP 19,500 cP 15,000 cP L-arginine 0.25% (100.0%) (92.6%) (87.0%) (79.6%) (72.2%) (55.6%) NaOH     0.05% Purfied water 99.45% __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Sample Viscosity-increasing  Initial No. agent     Formulation viscosity After one week __________________________________________________________________________ 7  Not added CVP     1.0% 3,000 cP 3,000 cp Purified water 99.0%    (100.0%) 8  Sodium hydroxide CVP     1.0% 55,000 cp 9,000 cp NaOH    0.4%     (16.4%) Purified water 98.6% 9  Triethanolmine CVP     1.0% 56,000 cp 18,000 cp TEA     1.4%     (32.1%) Purified water 97.6% 10  Glycine   CVP     1.0% 45,000 cp 15,500 cp Gly.    2.0%     (34.4%) Purified water 97.0% 11  Alanine   CVP     1.0% 44,000 cp 27,000 cp Ala.    2.0%     (61.4%) Purified water 97.0% 12  Valine    CVP     1.0% 44,000 cp 16,500 cp Val.    2.0%     (60.2%) Purified water 97.0% 13  Isoleucine CVP     1.0% 37,000 cp 22,500 cp Ile.    2.0%     (60.8%) Purified water 97.0% 14  Serine    CVP     1.0% 38,000 cp 24,000 cp Ser.    2.0%     (63.2%) Purified water 97.0% 15  Cysteine  CVP     1.0% 37,000 cp 23,000 cp Cys.    2.0%     (62.2%) Purified water 97.0% 16  Ornithine CVP     1.0% 48,000 cp 29,500 cp Orn.    2.0%     (61.5%) Purified water 97.0% 17  Lysine    CVP     1.0% 47,000 cp 29,000 cp Lys.    2.0%     (61.7%) Purified water 97.0% 18  Arginine  CVP     1.0% 51,000 cp 31,000 cp Arg.    2.0%     (60.8%) Purified water 97.0% 19  Histidine CVP     1.0% 48,500 cp 30,000 cp His.    2.0%     (61.9%) Purified water 97.0% 20  Proline   CVP     1.0% 43,000 cp 26,500 cp Pro.    2.0%     (61.6%) Purified water 97.0% 21  Threonine CVP     1.0% 36,000 cp 22,000 cp Thr.    2.0%     (61.1%) Purified water 97.0% 22  Methionine CVP     1.0% 36,000 cp 22,000 cp Met.    2.0%     (61.1%) Purified water 97.0% 23  Valine    CVP     1.0% 47,000 cp 27,500 cp Sodium hydroxide Val.    1.0%     (58.5%) NaOH    0.2% Purified water 97.8% 24  Proline   CVP     1.0% 48,000 cp 28,500 cp Triethanolamine Pro.    1.0%     (59.4%) TEA     0.7% Purified water 97.3% 25  Alanine   CVP     1.0% 47,000 cp 26,000 cp Arginine  Ala.    1.0%     (55.3%) Arg.    1.0% Purified water 97.0% __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Sample           Initial No. Formulation  viscosity After 3 days After 6 days After 9 days __________________________________________________________________________ 26  Tranexamic acid 1.0% 40,000 cP 39,000 cP 30,500 cP 27,000 cP CVP      1.0% (100.0%) (97.5%) (76.3%) (67.5%) L-Arginine 2.0% Purified water 96.0% 27  Tranexamic acid 1.0% 39,000 cP 35,000 cP 23,000 cP 16,500 cP CVP      1.0% (100.0%) (89.7%) (59.0%) (42.3%) NaOH     0.4% Purified water 97.6% __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Sample           Initial No. Formulation  viscosity After 3 days After 6 days After 9 days __________________________________________________________________________ 28  Ketoprofen 3.75% 36,000 cP 35,000 cP 29,500 cP 25,500 cP CVP      1.00% (100.0%) (97.2%) (81.9%) (70.8%) L-Arginine 5.00% Purified water 90.25% 29  Ketoprofen 3.75% 35,000 cP 30,500 cP 18,000 cP 12,500 cP CVP      1.00% (100.0%) (87.1%) (51.4%) (35.7%) NaOH     1.00% Purified water 94.25% 30  Ketoprofen 3.75% 38,000 cP 35,000 cP 24,000 cP 17,000 cP CVP      1.00% (100.0%) (92.1%) (63.2%) (44.7%) Triethanolamine 3.50% Purified water 91.75% __________________________________________________________________________

## Claims

1. A method for inhibiting a decrease in viscosity of a gel ointment base comprising an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution, said method comprising adding to the solution an amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, valine, isoleucine, serine, cysteine, ornithine, lysine, arginine, histidine, proline, threonine, and methionine in an amount effective for inhibiting the decrease in viscosity of the base due to irradiation by light, wherein the base is adjusted to a pH of about 5-9 and a viscosity of about 1,000-100,000 cP at 20.degree. C.

2. A method for inhibiting a decrease in viscosity of a gel ointment comprising an aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution and an effective amount of an active medical substance, said method comprising adding to the solution an amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, valine, isoleucine, serine, cysteine, ornithine, lysine, arginine, histidine, proline, threonine, and methionine in an amount effective for inhibiting the decrease in viscosity of the base due to irradiation by light, wherein the base is adjusted to a pH of about 5-9 and a viscosity of about 1,000-100,000 cP at 20.degree. C.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the aqueous carboxyvinyl polymer solution is an aqueous solution containing 0.05-5.0% by weight of a carboxyvinyl polymer.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the amino acid is used in an amount of 0.1 to 10.0% by weight based on the whole weight of the ointment.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein a solubilizer or a solvent is further contained in order to dissolve the active medical substance.