Container comprising nicotine and the use and manufacture thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container comprising nicotine to be inhaled, which is able to retain and release nicotine, and which comprises a shaped mass of fibers and/or filaments. Further, the present invention relates to the use of said container in an inhaling device for obtaining a quick and/or complete reduction of the urge to smoke or use of tobacco and/or for providing a sense of smoking satisfaction without smoking and to the use of said container in smoking cessation therapy.

1 . A container comprising a shaped mass of fibers and/or filaments; and nicotine releasable retained in said shaped mass.  
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container has a flow resistance of gas being lower than the equivalent of about 1.0 kPa at a gas flow rate of about 1000 ml/min.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container has a flow resistance of gas being lower than the equivalent of about 0.6 kPa at a gas flow rate of about 1000 ml/min.  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container has a flow resistance of gas being lower than the equivalent of about 0.3 kPa at a gas flow rate of about 1000 ml/min.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said nicotine is retained by means selected from the group consisting of chemical binding, adsorption, absorption or mixtures thereof, and released by breaking these mechanisms.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container further comprises non-fibrous material.  
     
     
         7 . The container according  claim 1 , wherein said fibers or filaments are non-sintered.  
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container further comprises sintered material.  
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers or filaments comprise a member selected from the group consisting of glass, metals, paper, cellulose, or cloth.  
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said fibers or filaments comprise aluminum or steel.  
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers or filaments comprise polymeric material.  
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 11 , wherein said polymeric material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyolefin, polyester and/or polyamide.  
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said polymeric material comprises comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutadiene, poly-1-butene, polyisobutene, polyisoprene, polyvinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polylactide-glycolide copolymer, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalene, polytrimethylene naphthalene, polyethylene terephthalate, terephthalate-isophthalate polyesters, polybutylene terephthalate, liquid crystalline polymer that comprises hydroxy benzoic acid and hydroxy naphtenic acid, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methacrylate nylon 66, or nylon 6 or copolymers thereof or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 13 , wherein said polymeric material comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 13 , wherein said polymeric material comprises polyethylene terephtalate.  
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said fibers or filaments are produced by spinning and/or extrusion.  
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein said retaining and/or release of nicotine is electrically enhanced and/or modified by temperature.  
     
     
         18 . A method for producing a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is loaded with nicotine by using a gas that comprises nicotine.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said loading is done in an oxygen-free environment.  
     
     
         20 . The method for producing a container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is loaded with nicotine by immersing said container in a solution comprising nicotine.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said loading is done in an oxygen-free environment.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said solution used for loading comprises nicotine and an organic solvent.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from organic solvents that are more volatile than nicotine.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group of ethers, ketones and alcohols.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein said organic solvent is selected from alcohols.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein said organic solvent is ethanol.