Nicotine Formulation for Inhalation via Nebulizer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current nicotine replacement therapies and e-cigarettes fail to replicate the pharmacokinetic profile of combustible cigarettes, leading to inadequate smoking cessation and generate harmful by-products due to heating, which also affects passive smokers.
Innovation Solution
A pharmaceutical formulation comprising 0.1-8% nicotine as a salt in an acidic pH solution with at least 65% water, minimizing the need for high-temperature heating and reducing harmful by-products, delivered via inhalation using a nebulizer or e-cigarette.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If nicotine is delivered via heating (combustible cigarettes or e-cigarettes), then nicotine is vaporized for inhalation, but harmful by-products are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature heating (combustion or vaporization) to ambient temperature aerosolization. The formulation uses water as the primary vehicle (at least 65% w/w) instead of organic solvents, enabling nicotine delivery at ambient temperature through aerosol generation, thereby eliminating thermal decomposition and harmful by-product formation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the heating step from the nicotine delivery process. By using a water-based formulation with high water content, the system achieves nicotine aerosolization without thermal energy input, removing the source of harmful by-products while maintaining effective nicotine delivery
2Ease of operation
If conventional e-cigarettes use viscous solvents like vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol, then nicotine can be vaporized, but toxicants and heavy metals are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the solvent composition parameter by using water (at least 65% w/w) instead of viscous organic solvents like vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol. This parameter change enables nicotine delivery through aerosolization at ambient temperature, eliminating the need for high-temperature vaporization that generates toxicants and heavy metals
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the typically harmful role of solvents into a beneficial one by using water - the safest and most benign solvent - as the primary vehicle for nicotine. This eliminates the toxicological concerns associated with organic solvents while maintaining effective nicotine delivery through aerosol generation
3Reliability
If nicotine replacement therapies are used, then smoking cessation is attempted, but pharmacokinetic profile is inferior to combustible cigarettes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical/thermal vaporization system with an aerosolization system that operates at ambient temperature. By using a nebulizer or ultrasonic atomizer to generate fine aerosol particles from the water-based nicotine formulation, the system achieves rapid pulmonary absorption and a pharmacokinetic profile comparable to combustible cigarettes, thereby improving smoking cessation reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The formulation achieves a pharmacokinetic profile similar to combustible cigarettes, reduces harmful by-product formation, and minimizes passive smoking impact by delivering nicotine in aerosolized form without heating, enhancing smoking cessation efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
providing an aerosolised formulation comprising 0.1-8% wt % of nicotine and at least 65 wt. % water; and administering the aerosolised formulation via inhalation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising nicotine. The formulation can be aerosolised at ambient temperature for delivery via inhalation. The invention also relates to a method of delivering nicotine to a subject via inhalation, and specifically via the use of a nebuliser.