Novel formulations of volatile anesthetics and methods of use for reducing inflammation

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for treating inflammation or a wound in a subject in need of such wound treatment or inflammation treatment by delivering a volatile anesthetic to the wound or the inflammation site.

1 .- 108 . (canceled) 
     
     
         109 . A method of treating a wound in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the wound of the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic and at least one extractive solvent, wherein the at least one extractive solvent is in an amount effective to reduce volatility of the volatile anesthetic, wherein the solution is a component of an emulsion;   (b) a liposome suspension comprising a volatile anesthetic;   (c) a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic and at least one extractive solvent, wherein the at least one extractive solvent is in an amount effective to reduce volatility of the volatile anesthetic, wherein the solution further comprises a solubilizing agent;   (d) a micro-droplet suspension comprising a sphere of a volatile anesthetic surrounded by a stabilizing layer of a phospholipid;   (e) a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic, wherein the solution is a component of an emulsion; and   (f) a volatile anesthetic emulsion;   
       wherein the administration is not by inhalation. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the administering is by at least one route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, topical, transdermal, intrathecal, epidural, mucosal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, rectal, vaginal, buccal, intra-articular, and intravesical. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein the administering is by at least one route selected from the group consisting of topical, transdermal, mucosal, rectal, vaginal, and buccal. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the at least one extractive solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMA), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylisosorbide, ethanol, propanol, PEG-400, PEG-300, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and isopropanol. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is at least one selected from the group consisting of isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, and methoxyflurane. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein treating the wound comprises treating or reducing inflammation associated with the wound. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is the only therapeutically active agent present in the composition. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is the only therapeutically active agent present in the composition in an amount sufficient to treat the wound in the subject. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 117 , wherein the mammal is human. 
     
     
         119 . A method of treating or reducing inflammation in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic and at least one extractive solvent in an amount effective to reduce volatility of the volatile anesthetic, and   (b) a micro-droplet suspension comprising a sphere of a volatile anesthetic surrounded by a stabilizing layer of a phospholipid;   
       wherein the administration route is not inhalation. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the administering is by at least one route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, topical, transdermal, intrathecal, epidural, mucosal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, rectal, vaginal, buccal, intra-articular, and intravesical. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein the administering is by at least one route selected from the group consisting of topical, transdermal, mucosal, rectal, vaginal, and buccal. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the at least one extractive solvent is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMA), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylisosorbide, ethanol, propanol, PEG-400, PEG-300, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and isopropanol. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is at least one selected from the group consisting of isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, and methoxyflurane. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the inflammation is associated with arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, iritis, polymyositis, interstitial cystitis, inflammatory chronic prostatitis, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) or vasculitis. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is the only anti-inflammatory agent present in the composition. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the volatile anesthetic is the only anti-inflammatory agent present in the composition in an amount sufficient to treat or reduce inflammation in the subject. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 119 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein the mammal is human.