Body cavity drug delivery with thermo-irreversible polyoxyalkylene and ionic polysaccharide gels

• US 20020064514A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1990
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lorraine E. Reeve, Raymond L. Henry, Tacey X. Viegas
• Original Assignee: Lorraine E. Reeve, Raymond L. Henry, Tacey X. Viegas
• Inventors: Viegas, Tacey X., Reeve, Lorraine E., Henry, Raymond L.
• Application Number:
  US10/016,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20020064514A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/78.38
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/10 Alcohols; Phenols; Salts thereof, e.g. glycerol; Polyethylene glycols [PEG]; Poloxamers; PEG/POE alkyl ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/18 Amines; Amides; Ureas; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Amino acids; Oligopeptides having up to five amino acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/36 Polysaccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. gums, starch, alginate, dextrin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, inulin, agar or pectin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0014 Skin, i.e. galenical aspects of topical compositions non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00; A61K9/0009, A61K9/0021, A61K9/7015, A61K9/7023 take precedence; cosmetic preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; preparations for wound dressings or bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears

Abstract

Balanced pH, thermo-irreversible gels are ideal vehicles for drug delivery to a body cavity of a mammal. The gels contain a mixture of a polyoxyalkylene block copolymer or polyether together with an ionic polysaccharide which is thermo-irreversibly gelled in the presence of a counter-ion.

Claims

1. A method of forming a gel material in situ in contact with at least one biological tissue, in a body cavity, comprising:

preparing a material which comprises an ionic polysaccharide and a polymer, said polymer having polyoxyalkylene blocks comprising a block copolymer of the general formula;

Y[(A)_n- - - E - - - H]_x

where A is a polyoxyalkylene moiety having an oxygen/carbon atom ratio of less than 0.5, x is at least 2, Y is derived from water or an organic compound containing x reactive hydrogen atoms, E is a polyoxyethylene moiety constituting at least 60 percent by weight of the polyoxyalkylene block copolymer, n has a value such that the minimum molecular weight of A is between about 500 and about 900, as determined by the hydroxyl number of an intermediate of general formula;

Y[(A)_n- - - H]_x

and the average molecular weight of the polyoxyalkylene block copolymer is between about 5000 and about 50,000;

placing said material in contact with at least one biological tissue; and

cross-linking said material in contact with said at least one biological tissue via, said cross-linking being mediated through a thermal mechanism, a counter-ion mechanism or a combination thereof wherein the cross-linking of said material results in an in situ formation of the gel material.