Compositions for enhancing nail growth

Abstract

The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for stimulating the growth of nails and cuticles in a mammal, including humans. The compositions may be administered topically to the nail bed, nail matrix and cuticle in an amount effective to increase nail growth and thicken, strengthen and smooth the nail. The composition is also effective in strengthening and growing nails, including fingernails and toenails.

1 . A composition for use in accelerating nail growth, treating brittle nails and strengthening nails in a human or animal, the composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion topically applied to the fingernails or cuticles of a patient at least once a day. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the emulsion contains castor oil and a surfactant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the emulsion contains a cyclosporine A derivative or segment. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the emulsion also contains one component selected from the group consisting of glycerin, polysorbate 80 and carbomer. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the composition contains 0.5%-1.5% w/w polysorbate 80, 0.5%-1.5% w/w glycerine, 0.5%-1.5% w/w castor oil, 0.05%-0.1% w/w carbomer 1342 and mannitol. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the nail growth includes fingernail and toenail growth and thickening. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  which is also useful for treating a disorder of the toenail or fingernail selected from the group consisting of nail psoriasis, psoriatic nail dystrophy, brittle nail syndrome, increasing nail length and thickness, onychia, onychiagryposis, onychia trophia, onychocryptosis, onychodystrophy, onychogryposis, onycholysis, onychomadesis, onychauxis, onychomycosis, onychorrhexis, tinea unguium, onychophosis, onychoptosis, paronychia, pseudomonas, pterygium and pterygium inversum unguis, koilonychia, subungual hematoma or other trauma to the nail, folic acid deficiency, leukonychia, nail patella syndrome, melanonychia, protein deficiency, brittle and peeling nails, methyl methacrylate damaged nails, vitamin C deficiency, vitamin deficiency, tinea unguis, thinning nails associated with lichen planus, Raynaud's disease, beeding associated with rheumatoid arthritis, beau's lines, and Mee's lines associated with certain kinds of poisoning. 
     
     
         8 . A method of accelerating nail growth, treating brittle nails and strengthening nails in a human or animal, the method comprising:
 applying an oil-in-water emulsion to the nails, cuticles or nail matrix of the human or animal at least once a day.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising cyclosporine A contained in the oil-in-water emulsion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the oil is castor oil and further including the surfactant polysorbate 80. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising glycerine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of: Anise oil; Castor oil; Clove oil; Cassia oil; Cinnamon oil; oils having a specific gravity between 0.90 and 0.95; Almond oil; Corn oil; Arachis oil; Cottonseed oil; Safflower oil; Maize oil; Linseed oil; Rapeseed oil; Soybean oil; Olive oil; Caraway oil; Rosemary oil; Peanut oil; Peppermint oil; Sunflower oil; Eucalyptus oil; Sesame oil; an oil having a specific gravity specific gravity below 0.9; Mineral oil; Coriander oil; Lavender oil; Citronella oil; Juniper oil; Lemon oil; Orange oil; Clary sage oil; Nutmeg oil; and, Tea tree oil or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 8  wherein the oil-in-water emulsion further contains a surfactant selected from the group consisting of Polysorbate 80, carboxylated and ethoxylated alcohols, amine oxides, block polymers, fatty acids including carboxylic fatty acids, ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated fatty esters, glycerol esters, lanolin-based derivatives, lignin derivatives, methyl esters, mono- and tri-glycerides, polyethylene glycols, polymeric surfactants, propoxylated and ethoxylated fatty acids, alcohols, or alkyl phenols, protein based surfactants, sucrose and glucose esters and derivatives or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the oil is present in a concentration selected from the group consisting of 1.25% w/v, 0.01%-w/v-10.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-5.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-4.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-3.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-2.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-1.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.9% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.8% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.8% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.7% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.6% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.5% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.4% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.3% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.2% w/v, 0.09%-0.1% w/v, 0.08%-0.1% w/v, 0.07%-0.1% w/v, 0.06%-0.1% w/v, 0.05%-0.1% w/v, 0.04%-0.1% w/v, 0.03%-0.1% w/v, 0.02%-0.1% w/v, 0.01%-0.1% w/v, 0.01-0.09%, 0.01-0.08% 0.01-0.07% w/v, 0.01-0.06% w/v, 0.01-0.05% w/v, 0.01-0.04% w/v, 0.01-0.03% w/v, 0.01-0.02% w/v, 0.01-0.0125% w/v and most preferably 0.05% w/v-5.0% w/v. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the surfactant is present in a concentration selected from the group consisting of 1.0% w/v, 0.01%-w/v-10.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-5.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-4.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-3.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-2.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-1.0% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.9% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.8% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.7% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.6% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.5% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.4% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.3% w/v, 0.1% w/v-0.2% w/v, 0.09%-0.1% w/v, 0.08%-0.1% w/v, 0.07%-0.1% w/v, 0.06%-0.1% w/v, 0.05%-0.1% w/v, 0.04%-0.1% w/v, 0.03%-0.1% w/v, 0.02%-0.1% w/v, 0.01%-0.1% w/v, 0.01-0.09%, 0.01-0.08% 0.01-0.07% w/v, 0.01-0.06% w/v, 0.01-0.05% w/v, 0.01-0.04% w/v, 0.01-0.03% w/v, 0.01-0.02% w/v and 0.01-0.0125% w/v. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  which is also useful for treating a disorder of the toenail and fingernail selected from the group consisting of nail psoriasis, psoriatic nail dystrophy, brittle nail syndrome, increasing nail length and thickness, onychia, onychiagryposis, onychia trophia, onychocryptosis, onychodystrophy, onychogryposis, onycholysis, onychomadesis, onychauxis, onychomycosis, onychorrhexis, tinea unguium, onychophosis, onychoptosis, paronychia, pseudomonas, pterygium and pterygium inversum unguis, koilonychia, subungual hematoma or other trauma to the nail, folic acid deficiency, leukonychia, nail patella syndrome, melanonychia, protein deficiency, brittle and peeling nails, methyl methacrylate damaged nails, vitamin C deficiency, vitamin deficiency, tinea unguis, thinning nails associated with lichen planus, Raynaud's disease, beeding associated with rheumatoid arthritis, beau's lines, and Mee's lines associated with certain kinds of poisoning.