Body Cavity Foams

Abstract

The invention relates to an alcohol-free cosmetic or therapeutic foam carrier comprising water, a hydrophobic organic carrier, a foam adjuvant agent, a surface-active agent and a gelling agent. The cosmetic or therapeutic foam carrier does not contain aliphatic alcohols, making it non-irritating and non-drying. The alcohol-free foam carrier is suitable for inclusion of both water-soluble and oil soluble therapeutic and cosmetic agents.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A foamable composition comprising a carrier, the carrier comprising:
 i) an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of an emollient, a polar solvent, an oil, and a mixture thereof;   ii) a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of at least one polymeric agent, about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier of at least one foam adjuvant, and a mixture thereof; and   iii) optionally, a surface active agent;
 wherein the combined amount of foam adjuvant, polymeric agent, and surface active agent, if present, is less than about 8% by weight of the carrier; 
 wherein the at least one polymeric agent is selected from the group consisting of a bioadhesive agent, a gelling agent, a film forming agent, a phase change agent, and a mixture of two or more thereof; 
 wherein when a liquefied or compressed gas propellant is added to the composition in a dispenser, the composition upon release from the dispenser produces a foam that remains stable as a foam for at least 60 seconds at 37° C. 
   
     
     
         3 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the liquefied or compressed gas propellant is present at about 3% to about 25% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         4 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , further comprising an active agent. 
     
     
         5 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, marine oil, mineral oil, emollient, silicone oil, plant derived therapeutic oil, essential oil, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the carrier comprises a micro-emulsion. 
     
     
         7 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the carrier comprises nano-particles. 
     
     
         8 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surface active agent, if present, is about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surface-active agent, if present, is less than about 2% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric agent is present at less than about 1% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the carrier does not include petrolatum. 
     
     
         12 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the carrier comprises less than about 2% by weight of the carrier of one or more lower alcohols having up to 5 carbon atoms in a carbon chain skeleton. 
     
     
         13 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent is about 2% to about 75% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric agent is selected from the group consisting of a locust bean gum, sodium alginate, sodium caseinate, egg albumin, a gelatin agar, a carrageenin gum, a xanthan gum, a quince seed extract, a tragacanth gum, a guar gum, a starch, a chemically modified starch, cellulose ethers, a hydroxyethyl cellulose, a methyl cellulose, a carboxymethyl cellulose, a hydroxy propylmethyl cellulose, a hydroxypropyl guar gum, a soluble starch, cationic celluloses, cationic guars, carboxyvinyl polymers, a polyvinylpyrrolidone, a polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid polymers, polymethacrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl acetate polymers, polyvinyl chloride polymers, polyvinylidene chloride polymers, acrylic acid/ethyl acrylate copolymers, crosslinked copolymers of acrylic acid and C10-C30 alkyl acrylate (pemulen), carboxyvinyl polymers, a carbopol, a hydroxypropyl cellulose, and a mixture of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the foam adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol having 15 or more carbons in its carbon chain; a fatty acid having 16 or more carbons in its carbon chain; fatty alcohols, derived from beeswax and including a mixture of alcohols, a majority of which has at least 20 carbon atoms in their carbon chain; a fatty alcohol having at least one double bond; a fatty acid having at least one double bond; a branched fatty alcohol; a branched fatty acid; a fatty acid substituted with a hydroxyl group; cetyl alcohol; stearyl alcohol; arachidyl alcohol; behenyl alcohol; 1-triacontanol; hexadecanoic acid; stearic acid; arachidic acid; behenic acid; octacosanoic acid; 12-hydroxy stearic acid; and a mixture of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the organic solvent is (i) about 2% to about 5%, (ii) about 5% to about 10%, (iii) about 10% to about 20%, (iv) about 20% to about 75%, or (v) about 70% to about 99% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surface-active agent, if present, comprises a non-ionic surface-active agent. 
     
     
         18 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the combined amount of foam adjuvant, polymeric agent, surface active agent, if present, is less than about 5% by weight of the carrier. 
     
     
         19 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the surface-active agent, if present, is selected from the group consisting of a polysorbate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, a polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene (8) stearate, polyoxyethylene (20) stearate, polyoxyethylene (40) stearate, polyoxyethylene (100) stearate, a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, a polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (23) cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (2) cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene (10) cetyl ether, isoceteth-20, a sucrose ester, a partial ester of sorbitol, an anhydride of a partial ester of sorbitol, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan stearate, a monoglyceride, glyceryl monostearate, a diglyceride, a lecithin, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium methyl oleoyl taurate, sodium lauryl sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate, a betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, and a mixture of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The foamable composition of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is suitable for the treatment of a disorder of a body cavity or a mucosal surface, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, a fungal infection, a viral infection, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, HIV, a sexually transmitted disease, post-surgical adhesions, a hormonal deficiency, a parasitic infection, a cancer, and a combination of any two or more thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The foamable composition of  claim 2 , wherein the foam adjuvant is about 0.4% to about 2.5% by weight of the carrier.