Tobacco and/or tobacco substitute composition for use as a snuff in the oral cavity

Abstract

A novel composition for the use as snuff in the oral cavity, the composition comprising tobacco and / or a tobacco substitute encapsulated in a membrane material comprising one or more membranes at least one of which being water permeable and water-insoluble. A novel composition enables a selective release of e.g. nicotine while it at the same time reduces the release of substances, which normally lead to unwanted side effects. The novel compositions may be used as a healthier alternative to snuff and other tobacco products such as, e.g., cigarettes, cigars and pipe. Methods for giving up smoking, reducing nicotine craving, reducing side effects normally related to smoking and snuffing of tobacco as welt a method for the preparation of a composition according to the invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel composition for the use as snuff in the oral cavity, the composition comprising tobacco and / or a tobacco substitute encapsulated in a membrane material comprising one or more membranes at least one of which being water permeable and water-insoluble. A novel composition enables a selective release of e.g. nicotine while it at the same time reduces the release of substances, which normally lead to unwanted side effects. The novel compositions may be used as a healthier alternative to snuff and other tobacco products such as, e.g., cigarettes, cigars and pipe. The invention also relates to methods for giving up smoking, reducing nicotine craving, reducing side effects normally related to smoking and snuffing of tobacco as well to a method for the preparation of a composition according to the invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of tobacco is deeply rooted in a large part of the world population. In the Scandin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Accordingly, the present invention provides a composition wherein the release of nicotine from snuff can be designed freely, even though the release of unwanted and harmful substances from the tobacco is dramatically reduced.

The gist of the invention is the employment of a membrane material which makes it possible to deliver nicotine and / or a nicotine derivative, analog, salt, solvate or a mixture thereof in a predetermined manner and—at the same time—has the properties of withholding the substances which are unwanted to such a degree that the side-effects normally observed in connection with the use of snuff in the oral cavity are dramatically reduced.

At least one of the membranes may be water-insoluble to prevent spreading of the snuff in the oral cavity, and to maintain the beneficial properties of the selective membrane material during use, with respect to the withholding of unwanted substances

The membranes may have a predominantly hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature. The hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the membrane has an effect on the release of substances such as, e.g., nicotine through the membrane, since the flow of substances through the membrane is dependent on the ability of the membrane to hydrate, e.g. create hydro-channels through the membrane. These hydro-channels are a prerequisite for molecular transport when dry polymeric membranes are used. In general, the flow of hydrophilic substances through a hydrophobic membrane is slower compared to a hydrophilic membrane. This is probably due to less swelling of the hydrophobic membrane pores, i.e. in the hydrophobic membranes nicotine diffusion occurs through well-organized polymeric material and hydrophobic organized water.

A multilayer membrane is e.g. designed to contain one membrane material being hydrophilic and a second membrane material being lipophilic. Both membrane components are chosen in such a manner that the membrane material has a molecular cut off large enough for the relatively small nicotine molecule to pass through with ease.

Problems solved by technology

Like the daily use of cigarettes, cigar, pipe and other smoke products, a daily use of snuff burdens the users body with a number of harmful compounds endogenous to tobacco.

The disadvantage of snuff is the vast number of compounds, more or less harmful to the body, e.g. different tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are compounds known to cause different diseases such as, e.g., gastrointestinal disorders and cancer.

Both U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,734 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,516 do provide the user with a protective device to avoid a direct contact of the tobacco fibers in the snuff with the oral tissues, but no means have been taken in order to avoid or reduce the release of potentially harmful and unwanted substances.

Thus, potentially harmful and unwanted substances are still released from the tobacco into the oral cavity.

None of the above documents has solved the problems concerning eliminating or delaying the release in the oral cavity of unwanted and harmful substances when using a tobacco containing product as a snuff.

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