Abstract:
There is provided non-aqueous liquid spray compositions comprising a pharmacologically acceptable non aqueous liquid carrier in which said bioactive material is directly insoluble, a pharmacologically acceptable water insoluble ester of a water soluble acid soluble in said carrier, a pharmacologically acceptable water soluble glycol soluble in said ester and a pharmacologically acceptable water soluble bio-active material soluble in said glycol but not directly soluble in the carrier. There are also provided methods of producing and administering such compositions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of applicants copending application Ser. No. 10/253,073, filed Sep. 23, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Safe, non irritating, non aqueous spray compositions administrable via the nasal cavity.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0003]    The use of nasal sprays to provide relief from the nasal stuffiness of colds and allergic rhinitis is widespread. Various sympathomimetic amines have been used to provide relief. Nasal decongestants stimulate the alpha-adrenergic receptors of the vascular smooth muscle. This constriction results in shrinkage of the engorged mucous membranes which promotes drainage; improves nasal ventilation and relieves the feeling of stuffiness.  
           [0004]    Many decongestants are commercially available and are used to give various lengths of relief from 4 hours up to 12 hours. All of these decongestants are water soluble and are delivered in aqueous spray Systems.  
           [0005]    The decongestant solutions are delivered by spray from either a flexible plastic container that produces a mist when squeezed or by a hand operated mechanical pump.  
           [0006]    These aqueous sprays are wet, cold and drip from the nose. They are very uncomfortable to use. Since they are aqueous based and the nozzle is inserted in the nostril, bacterial contamination of the product easily occurs. Nasal sprays are difficult to preserve.  
           [0007]    The mucous layer lining the epithelium represents a barrier to drug absorption along with mucociliary clearance mechanisms of the nose leads to short residence time of aqueous systems at the site of absorption which limits the systemic availability of the drug.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention is directed to compositions of incorporating an effective dosage of decongestant or other drug from a safe, non-aqueous, non-irritating, tastless and odorless liquid carrier system that delivers an extremely fine, non-dripping, warm, pleasant spray to the nasal cavity from either a squeeze bottle or pump spray system.  
           [0009]    There is provided a non-aqueous liquid spray composition for a bioactive material comprising a pharmacologically acceptable non aqueous liquid carrier in which said bioactive material is directly insoluble, a pharmacologically acceptable water insoluble ester of a water soluble acid soluble in said carrier, a pharmacologically acceptable water soluble glycol soluble in said ester, a pharmacologically acceptable water soluble bio-active material soluble in said glycol but directly insoluble, that is to say cannot be directly dissolved in in said carrier.  
           [0010]    The spray compositions of the present invention are produced by the sequential steps of dissolving the bio-active material in a glycol, dissolving the resultant solution in a water insoluble ester of a water soluble acid and dissolving said further resultant solution in a suitable carrier as discussed above.  
           [0011]    The spray compositions of the present invention containing the appropriate bio-active material may be administered to a subject in need of same by spraying a pharmacologically effective amount of such a composition into the nasal cavity of said subject. This may be done using any spray method, such as using a pump spray device or a squeeze bottle spray, the latter being inexpensive and especially suitable.  
           [0012]    The system of the present invention possesses several advantages over the aqueous nasal administration systems heretofore available. It provides a fine, warm, dripless, non-irritating spray, which, depending on the drug used, gives 4-12 hour decongestant relief. Because the system is non-aqueous, no preservatives are needed and the system will resist recontamination.  
           [0013]    Furthermore because the system is anhydrous, it will wet out and cling to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Being water resistant, it will resist removal by the mucocillary clearance mechanism; thereby allowing more contact time at the site. The drugs will partition from the system and be adsorbed by the mucosa giving faster onset of action and greater symptom relief.  
           [0014]    The system works exceptionally well with all commercially available spray systems. In fact, the efficacy of squeeze bottle system is comparable to the more expensive pump spray delivery.  
           [0015]    All ingredients are safe for use in the nose. The esters and glycols used manifest a moisturizing effect which will keep the nasal tissues soft and supple thereby eliminating nasal dryness. In addition to the bio-active materials to be administered, the spray compositions may also include conventional additives such as essential oils, fragrances, flavors, sweeteners, menthol, pepperment oil, pine tar, camphor, benzoin preparations, tolu, turpentine oil and the like.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0016]    Suitably the carrier is a cyclopentasiloxane, preferably a polyalkylcyclopentasiloxxane an ethylene diglyceride, a propylene glyceride, and mixtures of said glycerides. It especially desirable that the carrier is decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, an ethylene diglyceride, a propylene diglyceride, a propylene triglyceride and mixtures of said glycerides, wherein the glyceride moieties are selected from the group consisting of caprilic and capric glycerides.  
           [0017]    Suitably the ester is a lactate ester, desirably it is a C 12  to C 18  alkyl lactate, preferably where the alkyl group is cetyl, lauryl, isostearyl and myristyl and mixtures thereof.  
           [0018]    Preferably, the glycol is a C 3  to C 8  glycol, including but not limited to propylene, dipropylene, hexylene, 1,3-butylene, diethylene, triethylene, tetrapropylene and tetraethylene glycols, polyethylene glycol 200 and polypropylene glycol 425 amd 2-methyl-1,3-propane diol and mixtures thereof  
           [0019]    While the invention is not limited thereto, bio-active materials suitable for use in this invention include those selected from the group consisting of decongestants, antihistamines, analgesics such as butorphanol tartrateantitussives, anticholinergics, steroids, suitably corticosteroids such as triamcinolone acetonide antibiotics antispasmotics, such as beclamethasone dipropionate, brochodilators, such as ipratropium bromide, fluticasone pripionate, albuterol sulfate, vitamins, such as vitamine B-12 or cyanocobalamine, hormones, suitably peptide hormones such as calcitonin-salmon, antihypertensives such as propranolol, and antimicrobials.  
           [0020]    Especially suitable for purposes of this invention as the bio-active material are decongestants. Most suitably oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, naphazoline, phenylephrine, ephedrine in water soluble form especially when in the form of a pharmacologically acceptable salt, such as a hydrochloride or sulfate.  
           [0021]    The ranges of the components of the spray composition are suitably from about 50-about 90 wt. % of the carrier, from about 10-about 40 wt % of the water insoluble ester, from about 1 to about 5 wt. % of the water soluble glycol, and from about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % of the bio-active material, to a total wt % of 100. Preferably the ranges are from about 60 about 90 wt. % of the carrier, from about 10 about 30 wt % of the water insoluble ester, from about 1 to about 3 wt. % of the water soluble glycol and from about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % of the bio-active material.  
           [0022]    The sprays of the present invention are administered by spraying into the nasal cavity. The actual volume sprayed may lie between about 20 and about 80 micro liters. This amount is readily set by those skilled in the art of valve design for squeeze bottles and spray bottles. Thus the dosage of bio-active delivered is determined by its concentration in the composition. The needed frequency of administration may be readily determined by those skilled in the art based on present knowledge and not requiring undue experimentation.  
       
    
    
     EXAMPLES  
       [0023]    (All quantities are in wt. % unless otherwise noted)  
       Example #1 Nasal Decongestant 12 Hour Duration  
       [0024]    [0024]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline.HCl   0.05           2. Propylene Glycol   2.50           3. C 12 —C 15  Alkyl Lactate   20.00           4. Dimethylcyclopentasiloxane   77.45               100.00                        
         [0025]    Components # 1 and #2 are heated to 50° C. until clear and uniform then the batch is cooled the #3 is added with mixing and when clear, #4 is added and mixed. The batch may then be charged to a spray container in suitable quantities.  
       Example #2 Nasal Decongestant 8 Hour Duration  
       [0026]    [0026]                                                       1. Xylometazoline.HCl   0.10           2. Propylene Glycol   2.50           3. C 12 —C 15  Alkyl Lactate   20.00           4. Cyclopentasiloxane   77.40               100.00                        
         [0027]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1  
       Example #3 Nasal Decongestant 4 Hour Duration  
       [0028]    [0028]                                                       1. Phenylephrine.HCl   0.50           2. Propylene Glycol   5.00           3. C 12 —C 15  Alkyl Lactate   30.00           4. Cyclopentasiloxane   64.50               100.00                        
         [0029]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1  
       Example #4 Nasal Decongestant 12 Hour Duration  
       [0030]    [0030]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline.HCl   0.05           2. 1,3-Butylene Glycol   2.50           3. Lauryl Lactate   20.00           4. Cyclopentasiloxane   77.45               100.00                        
         [0031]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1  
       Example #5 Nasal Decongestant and Antihistamine  
       [0032]    [0032]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline.HCl   0.05           2. Chlorpheniramine Maleate   0.20           3. Propylene Glycol   2.50           4. Myristyl Lactate   20.00           5. Cyclopentasiloxane   77.25               100.00                        
         [0033]    Components # 1, #2 and #3 are heated to 50° C. until clear and uniform then the batch is cooled the #4 is added with mixing and when clear, #5 is added and mixed. The batch may then be charged to a spray container in suitable quantities.  
       Example #6 Nasal Decongestant  
       [0034]    [0034]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline.HCl   0.05           2. Propylene Glycol   2.00           3. Isostearyl Lactate   23.00           4. Cyclopentasiloxane   74.95               100.00                        
         [0035]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1  
       Example #7 Nasal Decongestant 12 Hour Duration  
       [0036]    [0036]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline HCl    0.05%           2. Propylene Glycol    1.50%           3. C 12 —C 15  Alkyl Lactate    20.00%           4. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride    78.45%               100.00%                        
         [0037]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1.  
       Example #8 12 Hour Duration Nasal Decongestant  
       [0038]    [0038]                                                       1. Oxymetazoline HCl    0.05%           2. Propylene Glycol    1.50%           3. C 12 —C 15  Alkyl Lactate    10.00%           4. Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate    88.45%               100.00%                        
         [0039]    This mixture is prepared in accordance with the procedures of Example #1.