Protein based smoking cessation gel for application to a smoking article

Abstract

A protein-based composition for application to the mouth end of a smoking article to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine inhaled by a smoker. Also disclosed is a method for the cessation of smoking by applying the protein-based compostion to the mouth end of a smoking article.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition for application to a mouthpiece of a smoking article for reducing the toxicity of the smoking article, comprising a protein component for binding carbon monoxide, a base fluid component, and a control agent to facilitate the binding of the carbon monoxide and to decrease the affinity of the protein to bind with oxygen.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protein may be selected from the group consisting of heme proteins, blue copper proteins, metalloproteins, CooA proteins and carbon monoxide binding proteins.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the control agent is 2,3-diphosphoglycerine.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pH control element and one or more stabilizing elements.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the pH control element is citric acid.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the protein component and the control agent are mixed with the base fluid component to form a gel.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid component may be selected from the group consisting of syrup-based solutions, sugar-based liquids, food grade oils and food grade gels.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition resides in a container having a dispenser to facilitate application to the mouthpiece of the smoking article.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein said container is a squeezable container.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein said container is provided with a pipette.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base fluid component is colored to identify application to the mouthpiece of the cigarette.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the base fluid component is viscous for application to the mouthpiece of the cigarette.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the smoking article is a cigarette.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the smoking article is a cigar.  
     
     
         15 . A method for the cessation of smoking, the method comprising: 
 applying a composition to the mouthpiece of a smoking article prior to igniting said smoking article, the composition comprising a protein component for binding carbon monoxide and a control agent to facilitate the binding of the carbon monoxide and to decrease the affinity the protein to bind with oxygen and a base fluid component; and    igniting said smoking article, wherein the protein component in the composition traps carbon monoxide from smoke generated in the smoking article via the inhalation by a smoker.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protein may be selected from the group consisting of heme proteins, blue copper proteins, metalloproteins, CooA proteins and other carbon monoxide binding proteins.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control agent is 2,3-diphosphoglycerine.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising a pH control element and one or more stabilizing elements.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pH control element is citric acid.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protein component and the control agent are mixed with the base fluid component to form a gel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid component may be selected from the group consisting of syrup-based solutions, sugar-based liquids, food grade oils and food grade gels.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said composition resides in a container having a dispenser to facilitate application to the mouthpiece of the smoking article.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said container is a squeezable container.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said container is provided with a pipette.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the base fluid component is colored to identify application to the mouthpiece of the cigarette.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the base fluid component is viscous for application to the mouthpiece of the cigarette.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the smoking article is a cigarette.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the smoking article is a cigar.