Topical delivery of l-arginine to cause beneficial effects

Abstract

The application of L-arginine and its derivatives to the skin causes beneficial effects of wound healing, increasing erectile function and increased growth of hair when applied in sufficient quantity to the skin. A hostile biophysical agent may be combined with the L-arginine to increase its absorption into the skin. The desired concentrations of the hostile biophysical agent is increased when concentration of L-arginine is less than 20% of the concentration of the substance applied to maximize its effect.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composition for application to the skin of a subject, the composition comprising:
 a topical cream comprising an L-arginine salt consisting essentially of L-arginine hydrochloride,   wherein the topical cream has a higher salt concentration than does human skin.   
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream comprises NaCl at a concentration of at least 10% w/v. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises glyceryl stearate. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises cetyl alcohol. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises squalene. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises isopropyl myristate. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises oleic acid. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the topical cream further comprises propylene glycol. 
     
     
         24 . A composition for application to the skin of a subject, the composition comprising:
 a topical cream comprising an L-arginine compound consisting essentially of L-arginine, wherein the topical cream has a higher salt concentration than does human skin.   
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein the topical cream comprises NaCl at a concentration of at least 10% w/v. 
     
     
         26 . A method, comprising:
 applying to the skin a delivery vehicle comprising L-arginine hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.25% to 25% by weight,   wherein the delivery vehicle further comprises an ion donor present in an amount sufficient to create a high ionic strength environment able to cause the L-arginine hydrochloride to migrate from the delivery vehicle to the skin where the delivery vehicle is applied.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein (i) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 10% to 90% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is 0.25% to below 5% by weight, (ii) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 80% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 15% by weight, and (iii) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 50% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is greater than 15% to 25% by weight. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ion donor is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, choline chloride, potassium chloride, lithium chloride and magnesium chloride and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the ion donor comprises NaCl at a concentration of at least 10% w/v. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the delivery vehicle is a cream. 
     
     
         31 . A topical delivery vehicle for application to the skin comprising:
 L-arginine hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.25% to 25% by weight, wherein the ion donor is present in an amount sufficient to create a high ionic strength environment able to cause the L-arginine hydrochloride to migrate from the delivery vehicle to the skin where the delivery vehicle is applied.   
     
     
         32 . The topical delivery vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein (i) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 10% to 90% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is 0.25% to below 5% by weight, (ii) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 80% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 15% by weight, and (iii) said ion donor concentration in the delivery vehicle is 5% to 50% by weight when the concentration of L-arginine hydrochloride in the delivery vehicle is greater than 15% to 25% by weight. 
     
     
         33 . The topical delivery vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the ion donor is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, choline chloride, potassium chloride, lithium chloride and magnesium chloride and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The topical delivery vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the topical delivery vehicle comprises NaCl at a concentration of at least 10% w/v. 
     
     
         35 . The topical delivery vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the topical delivery vehicle is a cream.