Chewing cum capable of releasing finely divided water-insoluble materials therefrom
First Claim
1. A chewing gum capable of releasing finely divided water-insoluble therapeutic materials therefrom comprising a water-soluble phase comprised of softener, a finely divided water-insoluble therapeutic material coated with a water-soluble coating agent to facilitate release of said therapeutic material and prevent resorption back into the gum base, wherein said coating agent is gum arabic, a dextrin, gum tragacanth, gelatin, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginate, or other hydrocolloid or mixtures thereof, and a relatively water-insoluble phase consisting essentially of a plurality of separate and distinct masses suspended in and dispersed throughout the water-soluble phase, each of said masses comprising gum base, the water-soluble phase releasing said therapeutic material upon chewing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A chewing gum is provided which is capable of releasing into the oral cavity relatively large amounts of finely-divided water-insoluble therapeutic materials, which chewing gum includes a water-soluble phase formed of aqueous softener, and the finely divided therapeutic component to be released, said therapeutic component being coated with a water-soluble coating agent for preventing resorption of therapeutic component back into the gum base and, optionally, a first sweetener, dispersed throughout the aqueous softener, and a relatively water-insoluble phase formed of a plurality of separate and distinct masses suspended in and dispersed throughout the water-soluble phase, each of said masses formed of particles of gum base and, optionally, particles of a second sweetener, suchas mannitol and/or sorbitol or sugar, enveloped by particles of gum base. Upon chewing the above gum, the therapeutic component is, in fact, released in the oral cavity in relatively large quantities, together with the aqueous softener.
The therapeutic component to be released may comprise orally beneficial materials, such as dicalcium phosphate, antacids, such as magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, as well as vitamins, drugs and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic component is coated with gum arabic to facilitate release from chewing gum.
-
Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A chewing gum capable of releasing finely divided water-insoluble therapeutic materials therefrom comprising a water-soluble phase comprised of softener, a finely divided water-insoluble therapeutic material coated with a water-soluble coating agent to facilitate release of said therapeutic material and prevent resorption back into the gum base, wherein said coating agent is gum arabic, a dextrin, gum tragacanth, gelatin, pectin, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginate, or other hydrocolloid or mixtures thereof, and a relatively water-insoluble phase consisting essentially of a plurality of separate and distinct masses suspended in and dispersed throughout the water-soluble phase, each of said masses comprising gum base, the water-soluble phase releasing said therapeutic material upon chewing.
Specification