Nicotine salt formulations for aerosol devices and methods thereof

• US 9,215,895 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JUUL Labs, Inc. (PAX Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PAX Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Bowen, Adam, Xing, Chenyue
• Primary Examiner(s): Crispino, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayes, Dionne Walls
• Application Number:
  US14/512,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20150020824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 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: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/465 Nicotine; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/60 Salicylic acid; Derivatives thereof
• 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 9/007 Pulmonary tract; Aromatherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/12 Aerosols; Foams A61K9/0043, A61K9/0056, A61K9/006, A61K9/0073 take precedence; spray-films A61K9/7015
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/26 Psychostimulants, e.g. nicotine, cocaine
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

A nicotine salt liquid formulation for generating an inhalable aerosol in an electronic cigarette comprising nicotine salt that forms about 0.5% to about 20% nicotine is provided.

Claims

1. A method of delivering nicotine to a user comprising deploying an electronic cigarette comprising a nicotine formulation that comprises nicotine, an acid, wherein the acid comprises pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid, or benzoic acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein:

a. the nicotine formulation has a pH between 2.1-6.7;

b. the nicotine concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

c. operation of the electronic cigarette comprises heating at least a portion of the nicotine formulation to generate an inhalable aerosol comprising particle sizes from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns; and

d. inhalation of the inhalable aerosol into the user'"'"'s lungs over a period of about 5 minutes at a rate of about one inhalation per 30 seconds results in a nicotine plasma Tmax from about 3 min to about 8 min.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nicotine plasma Tmax is from about 3 min to about 7 min, from about 3 min to about 6 min, from about 3 min to about 5 min, from about 3 min to about 4 min, from about 4 min to about 8 min, from about 4 min to about 7 min, from about 4 min to about 6 min, from about 4 min to about 5 min, from about 5 min to about 8 min, from about 5 min to about 7 min, from about 5 min to about 6 min, from about 6 min to about 8 min, from about 6 min to about 7 min, from about 7 min to about 8 min, less than about 8 min, less than about 7 min, less than about 6 min, less than about 5 min, less than about 4 min, about 8 min, about 7 min, about 6 min, about 5 min, about 4 min, or about 3 min.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Tmax is determined based on at least three independent data sets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the Tmax is a range of at least three independent data sets.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the Tmax is an average±

a standard deviation of at least three independent data sets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nicotine formulation comprises a nicotine salt comprising nicotine and an acid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein nicotine formulation comprises monoprotonated nicotine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid does not decompose at room temperature and does not decompose at the operating temperature of the electronic cigarette.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises one carboxylic acid functional group.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises benzoic acid.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the nicotine concentration is about 5% (w/w).

12. A method of delivering nicotine to a user comprising deploying an electronic cigarette comprising a nicotine formulation that comprises nicotine, an acid, wherein the acid comprises pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid, or benzoic acid and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein:

a. the nicotine formulation has a pH between 2.1-6.7

b. operation of the electronic cigarette comprises heating at least a portion of the nicotine formulation to generate an inhalable aerosol comprising particle sizes from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns;

c. inhalation of the inhalable aerosol into the user'"'"'s lungs over a period of about 5 minutes at a rate of about one inhalation per 30 seconds results in a nicotine plasma Tmax from about 3 min to about 8 min;

d. the nicotine concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

e. the nicotine formulation comprises monoprotonated nicotine; and

f. the acid does not decompose at room temperature and does not decompose at the operating temperature of the electronic cigarette.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the acid comprises benzoic acid.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nicotine concentration is about 5% (w/w).

15. A method of delivering nicotine to a user comprising deploying an electronic cigarette comprising a nicotine formulation comprising nicotine and benzoic acid in a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein:

a. the nicotine formulation has a pH between 2.1-6.7;

b. the nicotine concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

c. operation of the electronic cigarette comprises heating at least a portion of the nicotine formulation to generate an inhalable aerosol comprising particle sizes from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns; and

d. inhalation of the inhalable aerosol into the user'"'"'s lungs over a period of about 5 minutes at a rate of about one inhalation per 30 seconds results in a nicotine plasma Tmax from about 5 min to about 8 min.

16. A cartridge for use with an electronic cigarette comprising a fluid compartment configured to be in fluid communication with a heating element, the fluid compartment comprising a nicotine formulation that comprises nicotine and an acid, wherein the acid comprises pyruvic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid, or benzoic acid, and a biologically acceptable liquid carrier, wherein:

a. the nicotine formulation has a pH between 2.1-6.7

b. the nicotine concentration is from about 2% (w/w) to about 6% (w/w);

c. operation of the electronic cigarette comprises heating at least a portion of the nicotine formulation to generate an inhalable aerosol comprising particle sizes from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns; and

wherein

d. inhalation of the inhalable aerosol into the user'"'"'s lungs over a period of about 5 minutes at a rate of about one inhalation per 30 seconds results in a nicotine plasma Tmax from about 3 min to about 8 min.

17. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the nicotine plasma Tmax is from about 3 min to about 7 min, from about 3 min to about 6 min, from about 3 min to about 5 min, from about 3 min to about 4 min, from about 4 min to about 8 min, from about 4 min to about 7 min, from about 4 min to about 6 min, from about 4 min to about 5 min, from about 5 min to about 8 min, from about 5 min to about 7 min, from about 5 min to about 6 min, from about 6 min to about 8 min, from about 6 min to about 7 min, from about 7 min to about 8 min, less than about 8 min, less than about 7 min, less than about 6 min, less than about 5 min, less than about 4 min, about 8 min, about 7 min, about 6 min, about 5 min, about 4 min, or about 3 min.

18. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the Tmax is determined based on at least three independent data sets.

19. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the Tmax is a range of at least three independent data sets.

20. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the Tmax is an average±

a standard deviation of at least three independent data sets.

21. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the nicotine formulation comprises a nicotine salt comprising nicotine and an acid.

22. The cartridge of claim 21, wherein nicotine formulation comprises monoprotonated nicotine.

23. The cartridge of claim 21, wherein the acid does not decompose at room temperature and does not decompose at the operating temperature of the electronic cigarette.

24. The cartridge of claim 21, wherein the acid comprises one carboxylic acid functional group.

25. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the acid comprises benzoic acid.

26. The cartridge of claim 16, wherein the nicotine concentration is about 5% (w/w).