Controlled release article

• US 4,067,961 A
• Filed: 08/16/1976
• Issued: 01/10/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Laughlin, Robert Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Rose, Shep K.
• Application Number:
  US05/714,540
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 128/260, 424/14-27, 424/28, 210/500
• US Class Current: 424/430
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0036 Devices retained in the vagina or cervix for a prolonged period, e.g. intravaginal rings, medicated tampons, medicated diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/009 Sachets, pouches characterised by the material or function of the envelope with gastric retention A61K9/0065; sachets which are not administered but function merely as a container are classified according to the content, e.g. sachets comprising powder for reconstitution of a drink A61K9/0095
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0092 Hollow drug-filled fibres, tubes of the core-shell type, coated fibres, coated rods, microtubules or nanotubes

Abstract

Controlled release articles which regulate the concentration of a surfactant compound at a useful level in an environment external to said articles are provided. The articles are especially adapted for use in or on the bodies of animals, including humans, to provide controlled release of surfactants having biological activity, for example, non-hormonal contraceptives.

Claims

1. A controlled release article especially adapted to maintaining a useful concentration of a spermicidal surfactant compound in the vagina, comprising:

a. a solution consisting essentially of;

i. a micelle-forming nonionic spermicidal surfactant compound, and

ii. water, said solution having a concentration above the critical micelle concentration of the spermicidal surfactant compound, said solution being releasably enclosed in;

b. a stable, insoluble container, at least part of the wall of said container comprising a microporous cellulose membrane.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the spermicidal surfactant compound is characterized by a critical micelle concentration of at most about 1×

10^-3 Molar.

3. An article according to claim 2 wherein the combination of spermicidal surfactant solution and membrane exhibits a monomer transport curve having a ratio of slopes S₂ /S₁ in the range of 0 to about 0.1.

4. An article according to claim 3 wherein the spermicidal surfactant has an R value greater than 1.

5. An article according to claim 1 wherein the spermicidal surfactant is a nonionic surfactant selected from ethylene oxide condensates of aliphatic alcohols.

6. An article according to claim 5 wherein the nonionic surfactant is C₁₀ EO₅.

7. An article according to claim 5 wherein the nonionic surfactant is C₁₀ EO₆.

8. An article according to claim 1 wherein the nonionic spermicidal surfactant is selected from C₁₀ EO₅ or C₁₀ EO₆, or mixtures thereof, and the microporous membrane is water-swollen cellulose having a dry thickness of ca. 5-25μ

and a swollen thickness of ca. 10-50μ

.