COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING INFECTION

1 . A method of preventing or treating an allergic disease or condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a sprayable aqueous intranasal composition to the subject's mucosa, wherein the composition forms a barrier on the mucosa, wherein the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition comprises:

about 0.1% to about 0.8% by weight of a mucoadhesive polymer;

about 1.7% to about 2.8% by weight of a clay;

about 30% to about 40% by weight of caprylic/capric triglyceride; and

one or more chelating agents;

wherein the composition has no more than 0.5% by weight of preservatives; and

wherein the composition is thixotropic.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the allergic disease or condition is caused by or exacerbated by airborne allergens such as pollens, dust mites, molds, animal dander, and/or spores.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the allergic disease or condition is one or more of rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, hypersensitive pneumonia, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, conjunctivitis, urticaria, eczema, dermatitis, anaphylaxis, angioedema, allergic, and migraine headache.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the clay of the composition is bentonite.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucoadhesive polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, chitosan, guar gum, xanthan gum, pectin, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(acrylic acid), poloxamer, blends of microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and combinations thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mucoadhesive polymer comprises xanthan gum.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition is free of preservatives.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition further comprises one or more antioxidants.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chelating agents are selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), disodium EDTA, ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS), and combinations thereof.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chelating agents of the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition comprises disodium EDTA.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the composition is about 4 to about 7.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition is about 5 to about 6.8.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition further comprises about 3% to about 7% by weight of a moisturizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, propylene glycol 400, polyethylene glycol 400, hexalene glycol, butylene glycol, dextrose, glyceryl triacetate, polydextrose, glycerol, glyceryl triacetate, sorbitol, mannitol, and combinations thereof.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein after spraying about 50 μL to about 200 μL of the composition to the nasal mucosa of a subject, the composition is retained on the nasal mucosa for about 20 minutes to about 5 hours.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the sprayable aqueous intranasal composition comprises:

about 1.7% to about 2.8% by weight of bentonite;

about 30% to about 40% by weight of caprylic/capric triglyceride;

about 0.1% to about 0.8% by weight of xanthan gum;

butylated hydroxyanisole, disodium EDTA;

wherein the pH of the composition is about 4-7; and

wherein after spraying about 50 μL to about 200 μL of the composition to the nasal mucosa of a subject, the composition is retained on the nasal mucosa for at least about 20 minutes to about 5 hours.