NICOTINE LIQUID FORMULATIONS FOR AEROSOL DEVICES AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20160302471A1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PAX Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: BOWEN, Adam, XING, Chenyue
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/16 of tobacco substitutes
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/167 in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/301 by aromatic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A24B 15/32 by acyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Abstract

A nicotine liquid formulation comprising nicotine, an acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein heating an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, generates an inhalable aerosol, and wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

Claims

1. A method of generating an inhalable aerosol comprising nicotine for delivery to a user comprising using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine liquid formulation and a heater, wherein the nicotine liquid formulation comprises said nicotine, an acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises:

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

2. The method of any one of the claim 1, wherein said amount comprises about 4 μ

L of said nicotine liquid formulation.

3. The method of any one of the claim 1, wherein said amount comprises about 4.5 mg of said nicotine liquid formulation.

4. The method of any one of the claims 1-3, wherein a concentration of said nicotine is from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w).

5. The method of any one of the claims 1-4, wherein a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

6. The method of any one of the claims 1-5, wherein said acid comprises one or more acidic functional groups, and wherein a molar ratio of said acidic functional groups to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

7. The method of any one of the claims claim 1-6, wherein said acid and said nicotine form a nicotine salt.

8. The method of any one of the claim 7, wherein said nicotine is stabilized in said nicotine salt in said inhalable aerosol.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said inhalable aerosol comprises one or more of said nicotine, said acid, said carrier, and said nicotine salt.

10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein one or more particles of said inhalable aerosol are sized for delivery to alveoli in a lung of said user.

11. The method of any one of the claims 1-10, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

12. The method of any one of the claims 1-10, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, and salicylic acid.

13. The method of any one of the claims 1-10, wherein said acid is benzoic acid.

14. The method of any one of the claims 1-13, wherein said concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w).

15. The method of any one of the claims 1-13, wherein said concentration is about 5% (w/w).

16. The method of any one of the claims 1-15, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises from about 20% to about 50% of propylene glycol and from about 80% to about 50% of vegetable glycerin.

17. The method of any one of the claims 1-15, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises about 30% propylene glycol and about 70% vegetable glycerin.

18. The method of any one of the claims 1-17, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 150°

C. to about 250°

C.

19. The method of any one of the claims 1-17, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 180°

C. to about 220°

C.

20. The method of any one of the claims 1-17, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to about 200°

C.

21. The method of any one of claims 1-20, wherein said nicotine liquid formulation further comprises an additional acid selected from said group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said additional acid forms an additional nicotine salt.

23. The method of any one of the claims 1-22, wherein at least about 60% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

24. The method of any one of the claims 1-22, wherein at least about 70% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

25. The method of any one of the claims 1-22, wherein at least about 80% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

26. The method of any one of the claims 1-22, wherein more than about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

52. The cartridge of claim 21 wherein said additional acid forms an additional nicotine salt.

27. A method of generating an inhalable aerosol comprising nicotine for delivery to a user comprising using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine liquid formulation and a heater, wherein the nicotine liquid formulation comprises:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 0.25;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

28. A method of generating an inhalable aerosol comprising nicotine for delivery to a user comprising using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine liquid formulation and a heater, wherein the nicotine liquid formulation comprises:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to a heater;

the heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

29. A method of generating an inhalable aerosol comprising nicotine for delivery to a user comprising using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine liquid formulation and a heater, wherein the nicotine liquid formulation comprises:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to a heater;

the heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

30. A method of generating an inhalable aerosol comprising nicotine for delivery to a user comprising using low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a nicotine liquid formulation and a heater, wherein the nicotine liquid formulation comprises:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. benzoic acid at a molar ratio of said benzoic acid to said nicotine of about 1;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to a heater;

the heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said benzoic acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

31. A cartridge for use with low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, said fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation comprising said nicotine, an acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein using said electronic cigarette comprises:

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

32. The cartridge of any one of the claim 31, wherein said amount comprises about 4 μ

L of said nicotine liquid formulation.

33. The cartridge of any one of the claim 31, wherein said amount comprises about 4.5 mg of said nicotine liquid formulation.

34. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-33, wherein a concentration of said nicotine is from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w).

35. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-34, wherein a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

36. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-35, wherein said acid comprises one or more acidic functional groups, and wherein a molar ratio of said acidic functional groups to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

37. The cartridge of any one of the claims claim 31-36, wherein said acid and said nicotine form a nicotine salt.

38. The cartridge of any one of the claim 37, wherein said nicotine is stabilized in said nicotine salt in said inhalable aerosol.

39. The cartridge of claim 37, wherein said inhalable aerosol comprises one or more of said nicotine, said acid, said carrier, and said nicotine salt.

40. The cartridge of any one of claims 31-39, wherein one or more particles of said inhalable aerosol are sized for delivery to alveoli in a lung of said user.

41. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-40, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

42. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-40, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, and salicylic acid.

43. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-40, wherein said acid is benzoic acid.

44. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-43, wherein said concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w).

45. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-43, wherein said concentration is about 5% (w/w).

46. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-45, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises from about 20% to about 50% of propylene glycol and from about 80% to about 50% of vegetable glycerin.

47. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-45, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises about 30% propylene glycol and about 70% vegetable glycerin.

48. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-47, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 150°

C. to about 250°

C.

49. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-47, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 180°

C. to about 220°

C.

50. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-47, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to about 200°

C.

51. The cartridge of any one of claims 31-50, wherein said nicotine liquid formulation further comprises an additional acid selected from said group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

53. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-52, wherein at least about 60% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

54. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-52, wherein at least about 70% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

55. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-52, wherein at least about 80% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

56. The cartridge of any one of the claims 31-52, wherein more than about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

57. A cartridge for use with low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, said fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation comprising:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 0.25;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using said electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

58. A cartridge for use with low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, said fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation comprising:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using said electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

59. A cartridge for use with low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, said fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation comprising:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using said electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

60. A cartridge for use with low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, said cartridge comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, said fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation comprising:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. benzoic acid at a molar ratio of said benzoic acid to said nicotine of about 1;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to a heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said benzoic acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

61. A formulation for use in low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a heater, the formulation comprising nicotine, an acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises:

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater;

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

62. The formulation of any one of the claim 61, wherein said amount comprises about 4 μ

L of said nicotine liquid formulation.

63. The formulation of any one of the claim 61, wherein said amount comprises about 4.5 mg of said nicotine liquid formulation.

64. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-63, wherein a concentration of said nicotine is from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w).

65. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-64, wherein a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

66. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-65, wherein said acid comprises one or more acidic functional groups, and wherein a molar ratio of said acidic functional groups to said nicotine is from about 0.25:

1 to about 4;

1.

67. The formulation of any one of the claims claim 61-66, wherein said acid and said nicotine form a nicotine salt.

68. The formulation of any one of the claim 67, wherein said nicotine is stabilized in said nicotine salt in said inhalable aerosol.

69. The formulation of claim 67, wherein said inhalable aerosol comprises one or more of said nicotine, said acid, said carrier, and said nicotine salt.

70. The formulation of any one of claims 61-69, wherein one or more particles of said inhalable aerosol are sized for delivery to alveoli in a lung of said user.

71. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-70, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

72. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-70, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, and salicylic acid.

73. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-70, wherein said acid is benzoic acid.

74. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-73, wherein said concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w).

75. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-73, wherein said concentration is about 5% (w/w).

76. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-75, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises from about 20% to about 50% of propylene glycol and from about 80% to about 50% of vegetable glycerin.

77. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-75, wherein said biologically acceptable liquid carrier comprises about 30% propylene glycol and about 70% vegetable glycerin.

78. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-77, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 150°

C. to about 250°

C.

79. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-77, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation from about 180°

C. to about 220°

C.

80. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-77, wherein said heater heats said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to about 200°

C.

81. The formulation of any one of claims 61-80, wherein said nicotine liquid formulation further comprises an additional acid selected from said group consisting of:

benzoic acid, pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid.

82. The formulation of claim 81 wherein said additional acid forms an additional nicotine salt.

83. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-82, wherein at least about 60% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

84. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-82, wherein at least about 70% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

85. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-82, wherein at least about 80% to about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

86. The formulation of any one of the claims 61-82, wherein more than about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol.

87. A formulation for use in low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a heater, the formulation comprising:

a. said nicotine at a concentration from about 0.5% (w/w) to about 20% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 0.25;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater; and

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

88. A formulation for use in low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a heater, the formulation comprising:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater; and

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 50% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

89. A formulation for use in low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a heater, the formulation comprising:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. an acid at a molar ratio of said acid to said nicotine from about 1;

1 to about 4;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater; and

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.

90. A formulation for use in low temperature electronic vaporization device, i.e. an electronic cigarette, comprising a heater, the formulation comprising:

a. nicotine at a concentration from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

b. benzoic acid at a molar ratio of said benzoic acid to said nicotine of about 1;

1; and

c. a biologically acceptable liquid carrier;

wherein using the electronic cigarette comprises;

providing an amount of said nicotine liquid formulation to said heater; and

said heater forming an aerosol by heating said amount of said nicotine liquid formulation, wherein at least about 90% of said acid in said amount is in said aerosol, and wherein at least about 90% of said nicotine in said amount is in said aerosol.