Preservative removal from eye drops

Abstract

A particulate plug for removing a preservative from a solution, suspension, or emulsion comprising a drug is presented. The plug comprises microparticles of a hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend. The microparticles of hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend selectively absorb preservative allowing the drug to remain in solution for delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A particulate plug for removing a preservative from a solution, suspension, or emulsion comprising a drug, the particulate plug comprising microparticles of a hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend, wherein the microparticles form a particulate plug capable of being fitted to an outlet of a container for the solution, emulsion, or suspension, wherein the particulate plug selectively removes a preservative from the solution, emulsion, or suspension. 
     
     
         2 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles have a dimension of 5 μm to about 10,000 μm. 
     
     
         3 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the preservative comprises benzalkonium chloride (BAK). 
     
     
         4 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend comprises a hydrophobic polymer selected from isotactic polypropylene, low density polyethylene, or high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The particulate plug of  claim 4 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has an average MW of about 250,000. 
     
     
         6 . The particulate plug of  claim 4 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has an average MW of about 100,000 to about 300,000. 
     
     
         7 . The particulate plug of  claim 4 , wherein the isotactic polypropylene has an average MW of greater than 300,000. 
     
     
         8 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend comprises a hydrophobic polymer selected from homopolymers of ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 4-methyl-l-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 4,4-dimethyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 5-ethyl-1-hexene, 6-methyl-1-heptene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, or 1-decene. 
     
     
         9 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend comprises a hydrophobic polymer selected from copolymers comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 4,4-dimethyl-l-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-hexene, 5-ethyl-1-hexene, 6-methyl-1-heptene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, or 1-decene. 
     
     
         10 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend comprises a hydrophobic polymer or copolymer selected from polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polytetrafluorethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyesters, polyurethanes, acrylic, or epoxy. 
     
     
         11 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer has an average MW of about 10,000, about 20,000, about 50,000, about 100,000, about 200,000, about 210,000, about 220,000, about 230,000, about 240,000, about 250,000, about 260,000, about 270,000, about 280,000, about 290,000, about 300,000, about 300,000, or greater than 300,000. 
     
     
         12 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer/fatty acid blend comprises a fatty acid selected from a fatty acid having the structure:
 CH 3 (CH 2 )nCO 2 H, wherein n is 2 to 24.   
     
     
         13 . The particulate plug of  claim 12 , wherein n is 14 to 20. 
     
     
         14 . The particulate plug of  claim 13 , wherein n is 16. 
     
     
         15 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, or cerotic acid. 
     
     
         16 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from Myristoleic acid, Palmitoleic acid, Sapienic acid, Oleic acid, Elaidic acid, Vaccenic acid, Linoleic acid, Linoelaidic acid, a-Linolenic acid, Arachidonic acid, Eicosapentaenoic acid, Erucic acid, or Docosahexaenoic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from a fatty acid having a melting point greater than 70° C. 
     
     
         18 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the weight-to-weight percentage of fatty acid is at least 5% to at least 95%. 
     
     
         19 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles have a dimension of 5 μm to about 10,000 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The particulate plug of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is stearic acid.