Method and composition for delivering zinc to the nasal membrane

Abstract

A viscous gel for delivering minor effective amounts of active substances through the nasal membrane into the body.

1 . A composition for delivering an active substance to a nasal membrane, the composition comprising: 
 a minor effective amount of an active substance comprising about 0.185 wt % to about 2.8 wt % zinc gluconate; and    a carrier comprising a fluid and a thickening agent, wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 2,500 cp and about 40,000 cp, as measured using ASTM D1824-87.    
   
   
       2 . A composition for delivering an active substance to a nasal membrane, the composition comprising: 
 an effective amount of an active substance comprising about 0.185 wt % to about 2.8 wt % zinc gluconate; and    carrier comprising a thickener, wherein    the composition has a viscosity in the range of about 2,500 to about 40,000 cp, as measured using ASTM D1824-87.    
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, carrageenan, sugar, guar gum, methylcellulose, hydroxyethel cellulose, and carbonydrate.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a permeation enhancer.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.000001 to about 5.0 wt % thickening agent.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the active substance comprises zinc gluconate and the carrier comprises glycerin.  
   
   
       7 . A composition for application to a nasal membrane, the composition comprising: 
 about 75% to about 99.999 wt % of a carrier;    0 to about 5 wt % permeation enhancer;    0 to about 5 wt % emulsifier;    0 to about 5 wt % antioxidant;    about 0.000001 to about 5 wt % thickener; and    about 0.0000001 to about 10 wt % active substance comprising zinc gluconate    wherein the viscosity of the composition is about 2,500 to about 40,000 cp, as measured using ASTM D1824-87.    
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the active substance comprises zinc.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the active substance comprises a homeopathic amount of zinc.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, carrageenan, sugar, guar gum, methylcellulose, hydroxyethel cellulose, and carbonydrate.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier comprises glycerin.  
   
   
       12 . A method of administering an effective amount of an active substance, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a composition comprising the active substance, the composition having a viscosity between about 2,500 cp and 40,000 cp, as measured using ASTM D1824-87, and the active substance comprising about 0.185 wt % to about 2.8 wt % zinc gluconate; and    applying the composition to a portion of a nasal membrane.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing comprises providing a composition comprising about 0.000001 to about 10 wt % zinc.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing comprises providing a composition comprising about 0.185 to about 2.8 wt % zinc gluconate.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing comprises providing a composition comprising about 0.1 to about 3 wt % thickener.