Design, formulation and evaluation of nicotine chewing gum

Abstract

Background:Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help smokers to quit smoking. Nicotine chewing gum has attracted the attention from pharmaceutical industries to offer it to consumers as an easily accessible NRT product. However, the bitter taste of such gums may compromise their acceptability by patients. This study was, therefore, designed to develop 2 and 4 mg nicotine chewing gums of pleasant taste, which satisfy the consumers the most.Materials and Methods:Nicotine, sugar, liquid glucose, glycerin, different sweetening and taste-masking agents, and a flavoring agent were added to the gum bases at appropriate temperature. The medicated gums were cut into pieces of suitable size and coated by acacia aqueous solution (2% w/v), sugar dusting, followed by acacia–sugar–calcium carbonate until a smooth surface was produced. The gums’ weight variation and content uniformity were determined. The release of nicotine was studied in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer using a mastication device which simulated the mastication of chewing gum in human. The Latin Square design was used for the evaluation of organoleptic characteristics of the formulations at different stages of development.Results:Most formulations released 79–83% of their nicotine content within 20 min. Nicotine-containing sugar-coated gums in which aspartame as sweetener and cherry and eucalyptus as flavoring agents were incorporated (i.e. formulations F19-SC and F20-SC, respectively) had optimal chewing hardness, adhering to teeth, and plumpness characteristics, as well as the most pleasant taste and highest acceptability to smokers.Conclusion:Taste enhancement of nicotine gums was achieved where formulations comprised aspartame as the sweetener and cherry and eucalyptus as the flavoring agents. Nicotine gums of pleasant taste may, therefore, be used as NRT to assist smokers quit smoking.

Design, formulation and evaluation of caffeine chewing gum

“…In another study, nicotine gum was prepared with equal ratios of these bases, and it had suitable softness and hardness. [17]…”

“…In the other study, sweeteners such as sodium saccharine and liquorice had moderate or no effect on masking the bitter taste of nicotine gums respectively, but aspartame showed the strongest effect on modifying the bitter taste of it. [17] Generally for this purpose using the sweetening agents and flavoring agents could help to significantly improve the gum's taste. When we evaluated the effects of the flavoring agents on the organoleptic characteristics of the gums, our results showed that generally the flavoring agents had a softening effect on the formulations.…”

Гумки Жувальні Лікувальні: Призначення, Технологія І Аналіз

“…Крім АФІ, до складу гумок жувальних входять не розчинні у воді основи (еластомери), емульгатори, наповнювачі, воски, антиоксиданти, пластифікатори, підсолоджувачі та смакові добавки [23][24][25].…”

Investigations into the pituri plant: nicotine content, nicotine conversion to nornicotine, nicotine release and cytotoxicity of Australian native Nicotiana spp.

“…Reported in vitro measurements for nicotine gum formulations are much higher; 79-83% release for 18 different formulations (Aslani and Rafiei, 2012) and 80-90% release for 3 formulations during a 1 hour period (Morjaria et al, 2004).…”

“…There are also reports of devices that have been used for testing NRT gums. They have pistons for striking the gum base (Aslani and Rafiei, 2012, Morjaria et al, 2004, Aslani and Rostami, 2015, according to the description of an appropriate apparatus including stainless steel pistons, operation temperature of 37°C and a chewing rate of 60 strikes per minute that is described in the European Pharmacopeia (European Pharmacopoeia, 2010). However, there has not been sufficient data in support of the suitability of this apparatus (Siewert et al, 2003).…”