Re-epithelializing pharmaceutical compositions comprising xanthan gum

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of xanthan gum as re-epithelializing agent and, in particular, to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising xanthan gum as a re-epithelializing active principle eventually mixed with hyaluronic acid. Said use and composition speed up and improve advantageously the formation of newly grown epithelium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the treatment of epithelial wounds, comprising:
 administering to an exposed epithelial wound a composition comprising an effective amount of xanthan gum, to promote proliferation of epithelial cells.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises xanthan gum in admixture with hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein xanthan gum is administered in combination with a medicament chosen from the group consisting of antiinfectives, antiinflammatories, anesthetics, and mydriatics. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed epithelial wound is a wound of the corneal epithelium. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein xanthan gum is administered in combination with a medicament chosen from the group consisting of antiinfectives, antiinflammatories, anesthetics, and mydriatics. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a gel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.7% and about 5% xanthan gum of the total volume of the composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.9% and about 1.5% xanthan gum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an ionic isotonic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a buffer selected from the group consisting of phosphate, borate, acetate, Tris.HCl, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.01% and about 1% hyaluronic acid of the total volume of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.1% and about 0.4% hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.7% to about 5% xanthan gum and between about 0.01% and about 1% hyaluronic acid of the total volume of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the composition comprises between about 0.9% and about 1.5% xanthan gum and between about 0.1% and about 0.4% hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hyaluronic acid is present as a salt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the composition further comprises hyaluronic acid, and wherein the hyaluronic acid is present as a salt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition comprises between 0.7% to about 5% xanthan gum and between about 0.01% and about 1% hyaluronic acid of the total volume of the composition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition comprises about 1% xanthan gum, about 0.15% hyaluronic acid, an ionic isotonic agent, and a buffer selected from the group consisting of phosphate, borate, acetate, Tris.HCl, and mixtures thereof.