Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Aluminum – calcium or magnesium element – or compound containing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-15
2004-07-27
Pak, John (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Aluminum, calcium or magnesium element, or compound containing
C424S489000, C424S715000, C514S819000, C514S820000, C514S925000, C514S926000, C514S927000, C514S928000, C514S951000, C514S952000, C423S420200, C423S419100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06767559
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to improved dihydroxy aluminum sodium carbonate (DASC) compositions, which unlike prior art DASC, form stable, non-qritty suspensions in aqueous solutions. The improved properties of the DASC compositions of the present invention render the compositions particularly useful as components of liquid antacids, and other consumer and industrial products, for which stable, non-gritty suspensions are desirable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DASC is a known aluminum salt which exhibits excellent acid neutralizing capacity, and therefore is particularly useful in antacid formulations. (See, Grote, U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,179, issued Feb. 26, 1957). However, the use of prior art DASC as the active ingredient in antacid formulations has been generally limited to non-liquid formulations (e.g. Rolaid tablets) because prior art DASC does not form stable aqueous suspensions at concentrations that produce acceptable acid neutralizing capacity. In addition, even dilute suspensions of prior art DASC possess an undesirable gritty appearance and taste, and rapidly form a sediment layer.
Several attempts have been made to stabilize aluminum hydroxide suspensions. For example, Alford, U.S. Pat. No. 2,999,790, issued Sep. 12, 1961, described combining hexitols such as sorbitol and mannitol with aluminum hydroxide gels in water to prevent thickening and hardening of the aluminum hydroxide gels.
Greene, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,68, issued Jul. 6, 1971, described the use of hydroxypropyl cellulose for stabilizing antacids such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, or calcium carbonate, which essentially involved slurrying the dry actives with water and hydroxypropyl cellulose.
Schmank, U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,229, issued Dec. 21, 1971, described water soluble antacid formulations that were prepared by reacting aluminum powder or aluminum isopropoxide with polyhydroxyl hydrocarbons.
Rubino, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,072, issued Sep. 5, 1978, described antacid compositions that were prepared by codrying hydrous, gelatinous aluminum-hydroxide materials with di- or trihydroxy alcohols.
Beekman, U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,704, issued Sep. 13, 1966, described antacid compositions that were prepared by co-drying aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide gels with hexitols.
Hem, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,090, issued Oct. 7, 1995, described antacid compositions containing silicate anions and aluminum hydroxy carbonates which purportedly possess the antacid properties of liquid aluminum hydroxide gels.
However, prior to the present invention, no methods have been taught or suggested for preparing DASC compositions which, upon introduction into aqueous solutions, results in suspensions that have the desired properties of stability and non-grittiness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based upon the discovery by the inventors of DASC compositions, which unlike prior art DASC, form stable, non-gritty suspensions in aqueous solutions. The DASC compositions of the present invention, unlike prior art DASC, also can be formulated so that upon introduction into aqueous solutions, the resulting suspensions not only possess the aforementioned desired physical properties, but also have acceptable acid neutralizing capacities. Accordingly, the DASC compositions of the present invention are particularly desirable for use in liquid antacid formulations.
In addition to stability and non-grittiness, the DASC compositions of the present invention also can be formulated to have gelling and/or translucent properties. Accordingly, the DASC compositions of the present invention are also suitable for use as components of other consumer or industrial products such as tooth pastes, soaps, detergents, pharmaceuticals, lotions, nutriceuticals, plastic additives, chemical foaming agents, acid scavengers, gellants, cleaners, and the like, for which stable and non-gritty, and/or gelling and/or translucent properties are desirable.
The properties of the DASC compositions of the present invention relate to the manner in which the compositions are prepared. Specifically, it has been found that if DASC is synthesized under certain temperature conditions, then the resulting dried DASC composition, when reconstituted in an aqueous solution, results in a suspension having the desired properties. It also has been found that if at least one polyol is included in freshly synthesized DASC before drying, or is included during the reaction of DASC, then the resulting co-dried DASC/polyol composition, when reconstituted in an aqueous solution, will also result in a suspension that possesses the desired properties of stability and non-grittiness. In addition, depending upon the choice of polyol, the suspensions also may be prepared to be translucent and/or gelling. Accordingly, in addition to the improved DASC compositions and suspensions containing the same, the present invention also provides processes for preparing the DASC compositions of the present invention.
Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The composition of the present invention is directed to a powder that comprises DASC, which upon introduction into an aqueous solution, forms a stable, non-gritty suspension. As used herein, “stable” means that the powder does not settle or separate in the suspension but rather stays in solution resulting in a suspension having a homogeneous appearance. This stability lasts for at least three months, preferably at least six months, and most preferably for up to a year or more. “Non-gritty” means that the suspension has only minor or no grittiness.
The powder of the present invention also can include at least one polyol. Suitable polyols include but are not limited to sorbitol, glycerin, mannitol, maltodextrin, pentaerythritol, fructose, glucose and sucralose. However, as discussed in the Examples below, the inventors of the present invention have found that polyols such as propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol and sodium carboxymethylcellulose do not result in suspensions having the desired stability and non-gritty properties. Accordingly, such polyols are not included within the term “polyols” as used herein. The ratio of DASC:polyol to arrive at the desired properties may vary. However, in the preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of DASC:polyol is 0.67:1 to 19:1 (40-95% DASC), and more preferably is 1.5:1 to 5:1 (60-83% DASC).
The DASC powder of the present invention is prepared by reacting an organoaluminum compound with a carbonate in an aqueous solution at a temperature of between about −20° C. and about 10° C. The molur ratio of organoaluminum compound:carbonate is preferably 1:1 to 1:3. Sodium chloride or isopropyl alcohol also may be added to the reaction mixture. Suitable organoaluminum compounds include aluminum alkoxides such as aluminum iso-propoxide, aluminum ethoxide and aluminum sec-butoxide. Preferably, the organoaluminum compound is aluminum iso-propoxide. The inventors of the present invention have found that the use of aluminum chloride or sodium aluminate does not result in a suspension having the desired properties. Accordingly, aluminum chloride and sodium aluminate are not included within the term “organoaluminum compound” as used herein. The carbonate includes but is not limited to sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate, but is preferably sodium bicarbonate.
After the DASC is prepared using the above process, it is isolated by methods known in the art such as filtration, centrifugation, settling, decanting or a combination thereof. For batch preparations, filtration is preferred. The DASC may then be washed with water following isolation to remove isopropyl alcohol formed during the reaction. The isolated DASC is then dried into powder form by suitable methods including but not limited to air-drying, oven-drying, fan-drying, spray-drying or a combination thereof.
When at least one polyol is included in the po
Blum David B.
Fleming Glenda
Giles Richard D.
Pitkin Jack
Swinson Joel
Amster Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP
Chattem Chemicals, Inc.
Pak John
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