New delivery vehicle for therapeutic gases

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buccal delivery dosage form and its use for administration of a therapeutic gas for buccal mucosal absorption of the therapeutic gas in the mouth of a subject. The buccal delivery dosage form comprises at least one crystallized excipient and at least one therapeutic gas entrapped within the crystalized excipient.

1 . A buccal delivery dosage form for buccal mucosal absorption of a therapeutic gas in the mouth of a subject, said buccal delivery dosage form comprising:
 a) at least one crystallized excipient; and   b) at least one therapeutic gas entrapped within the crystalized excipient.   
     
     
         2 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 1 , wherein the crystallized excipient is a sugar or a polyol. 
     
     
         3 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 2 , wherein the sugar is a sugar commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         4 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 2 , wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, corn syrup, starch syrup, and glucose syrup. 
     
     
         5 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 2 , wherein the polyol is a polyol commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         6 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 2 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and isosorbide. 
     
     
         7 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic gas is a noble gas. 
     
     
         8 . The buccal delivery dosage form of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic gas is selected from the group consisting of acetylene, argon, ethylene, helium, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, krypton, neon, nitrogen, nitric oxide, oxygen, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and xenon. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for administering a therapeutic gas to an individual in need thereof, said method comprising administering in the mouth of said individual a buccal delivery dosage form as defined in  claim 1  for said buccal delivery dosage form, upon contact with the saliva of the individual to release the therapeutic gas to absorption through the buccal mucosa. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the crystallized excipient is a sugar ora polyol. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sugar is a sugar commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, corn syrup, starch syrup, and glucose syrup. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polyol is a polyol commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and isosorbide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the therapeutic gas is a noble gas. 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 12 , wherein the therapeutic gas is selected from the group consisting of acetylene, argon, ethylene, helium, hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, krypton, neon, nitrogen, nitric oxide, oxygen, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and xenon. 
     
     
         20 . A method for reducing stress and anxiety in an individual, said method comprising administering in the mouth of said individual a buccal delivery dosage form as defined in  claim 1  for said buccal delivery dosage form, upon contact with the saliva of the individual to release the therapeutic gas to absorption through the buccal mucosa, said therapeutic gas being Argon, wherein upon absorption of argon, stress and anxiety are being reduced. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the crystallized excipient is a sugar or a polyol. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sugar is a sugar commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, corn syrup, starch syrup, and glucose syrup. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the polyol is a polyol commercially available in the confectionary industry. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and isosorbide.