N-palmitoyl-d-glucosamine in a micronized form

Abstract

The present invention relates to an N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine-based composition in a micronized form, optionally in combination with Curcumin. In particular, the present invention relates to N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in a micronized or co-micronized form with Curcumin. Such a product can be formulated in human or veterinary pharmaceutical compositions, dietetic products, food supplements, or foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), or in feeds, or nutritional supplements for animals for the treatment of chronic systemic inflammatory diseases, in humans and animals, resulting from dysfunctions of epithelia and synovial membranes.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in a micronized form. 
     
     
         2 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 , having a particle size distribution, measured by a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 tool with Mie calculation algorithm, wherein at least 96% by volume of particles has a particle size from 0.6 to 10 microns. 
     
     
         3 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 2 , having a particle size distribution curve with a mode between 3.1 and 3.5 microns, and having at least 97% by volume of particles smaller than 10 microns and preferably at least 50% by volume of particles smaller than 3.5 microns. 
     
     
         4 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 , wherein N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine is added with a fatty acid in a percentage by weight from 3% to 20%, or from 4% to 15%, or from 4.5% to 6%, with respect to PGA, and wherein said fatty acid is preferably palmitic acid. 
     
     
         5 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 , wherein N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine is in a co-micronized form with Curcumin and/or with Polydatin. 
     
     
         6 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 5 , wherein N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine and Curcumin are in a weight ratio from 3:1 to 1:3, or from 2:1 to 1:1. 
     
     
         7 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 5 , wherein N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine and Polydatin are in a weight ratio from 20:1 to 5:1, or from 12:1 to 8:1. 
     
     
         8 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 5 , wherein the co-micronized PGA/CUR mixture has a particle size distribution, measured by a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 tool with Mie calculation algorithm, having a particle size distribution curve with a mode between 3.1 and 3.8 microns, and having at least 98% by volume of particles smaller than 10 microns and preferably at least 50% by volume of particles smaller than 3.5 microns. 
     
     
         9 . N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 5 , wherein the co-micronized PGA/POL mixture has a particle size distribution, measured by a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 tool with Mie calculation algorithm, having a particle size distribution curve with a mode between 3.1 and 3.8 microns, and having at least 98% by volume of particles smaller than 10 microns and preferably at least 50% by volume of particles smaller than 3.5 microns. 
     
     
         10 . A human or veterinary pharmaceutical composition, comprising N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 10 , formulated in dosage forms for oral, buccal, parenteral, rectal or transdermal administration. 
     
     
         12 . A dietetic composition, dietary supplement or food for special medical purposes (FSMP), or feed, or nutritional supplements for animals, comprising N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A cosmetic composition comprising N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for the treatment of chronic systemic inflammatory diseases resulting from dysfunctions of epithelia and synovial membranes comprising administering N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine according to  claim 1 , or a human or veterinary pharmaceutical composition containing N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine, to a human or animal in need thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said diseases are selected from:
 inflammatory diseases resulting from dysfunctions of the synovial membranes;   inflammatory diseases resulting from dysfunctions of the intestinal mucous membranes;   inflammatory diseases resulting from dysfunctions of the urothelial mucosa;   inflammatory diseases resulting from dysfunctions of the keratinized epithelia.   
     
     
         16 . A process for crystallizing N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in the presence of a fatty acid, comprising the following steps:
 a) providing N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine, preferably with a purity >98%, determined by TLC analysis;   b) suspending N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine in a polar solvent along with the fatty acid or a salt thereof, wherein the fatty acid or a salt thereof is present in amounts by weight from 2% to 20%, or from 4% to 10% with respect to N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine;   c) heating the suspension from step b) at a temperature from 50° C. to 90° C. or at reflux of the solvent, for a time longer than 15 minutes, or longer than 30 minutes, or longer than 1 hour;   d) slowly bringing the crystallization mixture to a temperature below 10° C.;   e) recovering the crystallisate in the form of an intimate mixture of N-palmitoyl-D-glucosamine and fatty acid.   
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein the polar solvent is selected from methanol, ethanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. 
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein the fatty acid is palmitic acid.