Snuff composition

1. A snuff composition comprising:

(a) about 80% to about 98% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of a solid nicotine-cellulose combination formed of porous cellulose having the nicotine sorbed into the pores thereof, the nicotine being present at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition;

(b) a flavoring agent; and

(c) a buffering agent;

wherein the composition is enclosed in a bag, pouch, or membrane.

2. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the nicotine and cellulose are combined such that, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test using UV detection, about 30% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.

3. The snuff composition of claim 2 , wherein about 45% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.

4. The snuff composition of claim 2 , wherein about 50% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.

5. The snuff composition of claim 2 , wherein about 60% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.

6. The snuff composition of claim 2 , wherein about 70% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.

7. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the nicotine and cellulose are combined such that, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test using UV detection, about 45% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 20 minutes.

8. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the nicotine and cellulose are combined such that, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test using UV detection, about 20% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 10 minutes.

9. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 85% to about 98% by weight of the nicotine-cellulose combination.

10. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 90% to about 98% by weight of the nicotine-cellulose combination.

11. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose is derived from a source selected from the group consisting of a plant, an algae, a bacterium, a fungi, and combinations thereof.

12. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose is crystalline.

13. The snuff composition of claim 12 , wherein the cellulose is microcrystalline cellulose.

14. The snuff composition of claim 13 , wherein the microcrystalline cellulose is synthetic or semi-synthetic.

15. The snuff composition of claim 13 , wherein the microcrystalline cellulose is derived from natural cellulose.

16. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose has a surface area of at least 0.7 m 2 /g.

17. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose has a mean particle size of about 500 μm or less.

18. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose has a mean particle size of about 400 μm or less.

19. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose has a mean particle size of about 300 μm or less.

20. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose has a mean particle size of about 40 μm to about 300 μm.

21. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the nicotine is nicotine free base or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, complex, or derivative thereof.

22. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 8% by weight of the nicotine.

23. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the nicotine.

24. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of the nicotine.

25. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein composition comprises about 1% to about 15% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of the flavoring agent.

26. The snuff composition of claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises about 1.5% to about 8% by weight of the flavoring agent.

27. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of the buffering agent.

28. The snuff composition of claim 27 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of the buffering agent.

29. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane is formed of a natural material.

30. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane is formed of a synthetic or semi-synthetic material.

31. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane is formed of a hydrophilic material.

32. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane is formed of a hydrophobic material.

33. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane is formed from one or more biocompatible and physiologically acceptable polymeric materials.

34. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the membrane, and wherein the membrane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate and derivatives thereof, carboxymethyl cellulose, polycellulose ester, ethylcellulose, propylcellulose, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, acrylate polymers, methacrylate polymers, natural rubber, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, polyamide, and nylon.

35. The snuff composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is enclosed in the bag or pouch, and wherein the bag or pouch is a woven material, a non-woven material, or a polymeric material.

36. The snuff composition of claim 1 , further comprising a sweetener.

37. The snuff composition of claim 36 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.01% to about 0.2% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of the sweetener.

38. The snuff composition of claim 1 , further comprising an antioxidant.

39. The snuff composition of claim 38 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.4% to about 2.4% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of the antioxidant.

40. A snuff composition comprising:

(a) about 90% to about 98% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of a solid nicotine-cellulose combination formed of:

(i) porous microcrystalline cellulose having a mean particle size of about 40 μm to about 300 μm; and

(ii) nicotine at a concentration (calculated as free base) of about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, the nicotine being sorbed into pores of the microcrystalline cellulose;

(b) about 1.5% to about 8% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of a flavoring agent;

(c) about 0.5% to about 2% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of a buffering agent;

(d) about 0.01% to about 0.2% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of a sweetener; and

(e) about 0.4% to about 2.4% by weight, based on the weight of the snuff composition, of an antioxidant;

wherein the composition is enclosed in a bag, pouch, or membrane; and

wherein the nicotine and cellulose are combined such that, when subjected to an in vitro dissolution test using UV detection, about 30% or more of the total content of the nicotine is released from the composition within 30 minutes.