Patent ID: 7348360

Claim:
A gel composition for delivering zinc to a nasal membrane, the gel composition consisting of: about 0.185 wt % to about 2.8 wt % zinc gluconate; about 90 wt % to about 99 wt % water; about 0.05 wt % to about 5 wt % glycerin; about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % thickener selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, sugar, guar gum, methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carbohydrate; about 0.000001 wt % to about 5 wt % of an agent that facilitates the breakup and drying of mucous in the nose, wherein said agent is not zinc; and about 0.000001 to about 5 wt % of a permeation enhancer.