System for delivering a composition to the nasal membrane and method of using the same
A quick and easy system and method for delivering a composition to a nasal membrane is presented. The applicator assembly includes a sleeve member which encases a swab having a portion that contacts a gelled composition. The sleeve member is manually severed to expose the applicator and the composition. The gelled composition contained on the applicator is applied to the nasal membrane.
1. A system for delivering a composition to a nasal membrane, the system comprising:
an applicator assembly comprising a handle portion, an applicator portion attached at one end of the handle portion, and a container, wherein the container comprises a first portion for encasing the handle portion and a second portion for encasing the applicator portion; and
a gelled-matrix composition comprising ionic zinc enclosed within the container and adjacent the applicator.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic zinc is present in an amount less than 44 mM.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic zinc is present in an amount of about 4 mM to about 60 mM.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic zinc is present in an amount of about 20 mM to about 44 mM.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic zinc is present in an amount of about 15 mM to about 40 mM.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ionic zinc is derived from zinc gluconate.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the zinc gluconate is present in an amount of about 0.01 weight percent to about 5 weight percent of the gelled-matrix composition.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the zinc gluconate is present in an amount of about 0.9 weight percent to about 2 weight percent of the gelled-matrix composition.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises at least one of a carrier, an antiseptic, a permeation enhancer, a preservative, an emulsifier, a sequestering agent, and a buffer.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises glycerin.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises a thickener selected from the group consisting of glycerin, carrageenan, sugar, guar gum, methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carbohydrate thickeners, and aloe barbadensis gel.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises a preservative comprising at least one of a benzalkonium chloride and a benzyl alcohol.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises a thickener.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition comprises water, glycerin, sodium chloride, hydroxyethyl cellulose, zinc gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, and sodium hydroxide.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition consists essentially of water, glycerin, sodium chloride, hydroxyethyl cellulose, zinc gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, and sodium hydroxide.
16. A method of using the system of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
providing the system of claim 1 ;
severing the container to expose the applicator portion; and
using the applicator portion to apply the gelled-matrix composition to a nasal membrane.
17. A system for delivering a composition to a nasal membrane comprising:
an applicator assembly comprising a handle portion, an applicator portion attached at one end of the handle portion, and a container, wherein the container comprises a first portion for encasing the handle portion and a second portion for encasing the applicator portion; and
a composition enclosed within the container and adjacent the applicator, wherein the composition has a viscosity greater than about 1,500 centipoise and less than about 40,000 centipoise.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 2,500 centipoise and about 10,000 centipoise.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 4,000 centipoise and about 6,000 centipoise.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,500 centipoise and about 2,500 centipoise.
21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,700 centipoise and about 2,300 centipoise.
22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,800 centipoise and about 2,200 centipoise.
23. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,900 centipoise and about 2,100 centipoise.
24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,750 centipoise and about 2,450 centipoise.
25. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,500 centipoise and about 2,100 centipoise.
26. The system of claim 17 , wherein the composition has a viscosity between about 1,800 centipoise and about 2,500 centipoise.
27. A system for delivering a composition to a nasal membrane comprising:
an applicator assembly comprising a handle portion, an applicator portion attached at one end of the handle portion, and a container, wherein the container comprises a first portion for encasing the handle portion and a second portion for encasing the applicator portion; and
a gelled-matrix composition comprising active substance selected from the group consisting of zinc, a vitamin, a nucleic acid, an amino acid, a peptide, a polypeptide, a protein, a gene, a mutagen, an antiviral agent, an antibacterial agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, a decongestant, a histamine, an anti-histamine, and a moisturizer, the gelled-matrix enclosed within the container and adjacent the applicator.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises a thickener.
29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the thickener is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrate thickeners, carrageenan, sugar, guar gum, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and methylcellulose.
30. The system of claim 27 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition further comprises a preservative.
31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the preservative comprises at least one of the following: benzalkonium chloride and benzyl alcohol.
32. The system of claim 27 , wherein the active substance is zinc.
33. The system of claim 27 , wherein the active substance is zinc gluconate in a range of about 0.9 to about 2.0 weight percent of the gelled-matrix composition.
34. The applicator assembly of claim 27 , wherein the active substance is ionic zinc in a concentration of about 4 mM to about 60 mM.
35. The system of claim 27 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of a carrier, a thickener, a permeation enhancer, a preservative, an emulsifier, and a buffer.
36. The system of claim 27 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition comprises glycerin.
37. The system of claim 27 , wherein the gelled-matrix composition comprises a permeation enhancer selected from the group consisting of liposomes, sequestering agents, ascorbic acid, glycerol, chitosan, lysophosphotidylcholin, EDTA, and disodium EDTA.
38. A method of using the system of claim 17 , the method comprising the steps of:
providing the system of claim 17 ;
severing the container to expose the applicator portion; and
using the applicator portion to apply the gelled-matrix composition to a nasal membrane.
39. A method of using the system of claim 27 , the method comprising the steps of:
providing the system of claim 27 ;
severing the container to expose the applicator portion; and
using the applicator portion, applying the gelled-matrix composition to a nasal membrane.