Treatment of mucositis using N-acetylcysteine
This present invention provides a therapeutic composition for use in the treatment of mucositis and a method for using such a therapeutic composition. The therapeutic composition includes a pharmaceutical substance effective for treating mucositis formulated with a biocompatible polymer, such as a biocompatible reverse-thermal gelation polymer.
1 . A method for treatment of mucositis at a mucosal site of a human patient, the method comprising:
introducing a therapeutic composition comprising N-acetylcysteine into the patient directed to contact at least a portion of the N-acetylcysteine with the mucosal site;
wherein the N-acetylcysteine is in an amount effective, as formulated in the therapeutic composition, for treatment of the mucositis at the mucosal site.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises from 0.01 weight percent to 50 weight percent of the N-acetylcysteine.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises from 0.1 to 25 weight percent of the N-acetylcysteine.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a carrier liquid in which the N-acetylcysteine is dissolved when introduced into the patient during the introducing.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the carrier liquid comprises mostly or all water.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the therapeutic composition is at a refrigerated temperature in a range of from 1° C. to 10° C. when introduced into the patient during the introducing.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a biocompatible polymer.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the biocompatible polymer is a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer is poloxamer 407.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises from 1 weight percent to 70 weight percent of the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises from 1 weight percent to 20 weight percent of the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the therapeutic composition comprises from 1 weight percent to 70 weight percent of the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer; and
the therapeutic composition exhibits reverse-thermal viscosity behavior over some range of temperatures between 1° C. to 37° C.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer is poloxamer 407.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a carrier liquid in which both the N-acetylcysteine and the polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer are dissolved when introduced into the patient during the introducing.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the therapeutic composition is at a refrigerated temperature in a range of from 1° C. to 10° C. when introduced into the patient during the introducing.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic composition exhibits reverse-thermal viscosity behavior over some range of temperatures between the refrigerated temperature and 37° C.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises about 10 weight percent of the N-acetylcysteine.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing is through the oral cavity of the patient, and the therapeutic composition comprises a taste masking component.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the taste masking component imparts a lemon flavor to the therapeutic composition.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic composition comprises a preservative.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucositis is oral mucositis.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucositis is esophagitis.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucositis is proctitis.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucositis is a side effect of the human patient undergoing cancer therapy.