Prior art Nicotine replacement therapy as a smoking cessation strategy has been successful in the past. Previous nicotine-containing compositions aimed towards the purpose of reducing nicotine craving for subjects wishing to stop their use of tobacco products in- clude e.g., US 3,845,217 disclosing chewable compositions, US 4,579,858 disclosing high-viscous nicotine nose-drop compositions, AU 664415 disclosing low-viscous nico- tine-containing compositions suitable for nasal spray administration, US 4,920,989 and 4,953,572 disclosing the use of inhalation aerosol, BP 1,528,391 and BP 2,030,862 dis- closing liquid aerosol formulations adapted as mouth sprays, and for transdermal delivery of nicotine and US 4,915,950 disclosing the manufacturing of devices for transdermal delivery of nicotine. Several products based on the above mentioned patents are now marketed on an international scale.

A well known side-effect of nicotine is related to its concentration dependent local irritation. This adverse effect is particularly noticeable when nicotine formulations are applied topically, including the transmucosal, also comprising buccal and nasal, and transdermal administration routes. The concentration of nicotine in several of the above mentioned inventions, and product designs thereof is hence limited by adverse effects caused by or related to its local irritation. There are, however, subjects which may have cravings for higher doses of nicotine than acceptable in applications of prior art admini- stration forms. Furthermore, nicotine chewing gum formulations may cause unpleasant side-effects, besides local irritation, such as indigestion and nausea. As to the former increased transmucosal bioavailability decreases indigestion and hence local irritation caused by nicotine in the oral region. Also nicotine nasal spray formulations described in the aforesaid patent application is causing severe local irritation besides sneezing and tearing of the eyes. GB 2 230 439 A describes nicotine lozenges with a shell or coating

containing an oral-acting local analgesic, preferably eugenol. Though not stated explicitly to be the cause of the so included local analgesic, the aforesaid disclosure is said to sub- stantially ameliorate the sensation of burning in the mouth experienced with conventional nicotine lozenges. Similarly, nicotine-compositions formulated in lozenges containing local analgesic have been disclosed in AU 662877 in which the latter agent is said to temporarily interfere with taste receptors which is said to reduce the desire to eat. Thus, while GB 2 230 439 A represent an advancement in the art of reducing local adverse effects caused by nicotine formulated in lozenges it still remains to decrease side-effects related to the local irritation caused by nicotine in general, including the above exempli- fied routes of administration and applicable formulations, inventions or products thereof.

EP 126,751 B 1 discloses controlled release compositions for the delivery of bio- logically active materials. According to the invention described therein, a biologically active material is provided in formulations of amphiphilic substances capable of forming liquid crystalline phases when placed in contact with a liquid to be constituting any part of the polar compartment of the then formed thermodynamically stable phase. The liquid crystalline phases utilised in the aforesaid invention are preferably, but not exclusively, the group of cubic and hexagonal, liquid crystalline phases. WO 95/26715 discloses bioadhesive compositions using fatty acid esters forming liquid crystals, preferably the group of cubic and hexagonal, liquid crystalline phases. US 5,371,109 discloses the use of an L2-phase composed of mixtures of mono- and triglycerides and polar solvent as a controlled composition for biological active materials. The use of fatty acids in such mix- tures is, however, not disclosed. US 5,531,925 discloses methods of preparing particles, or precursors thereof, of the aforementioned liquid crystalline phases or precursors thereof of reversed/inversed type II structure. WO 97/13528 also discloses liquid crystal- line phases. Although in the latter nicotine is mentioned in the description, within a long list of drugs, no compositions according to the examples may be formulated with nico- tine.

Suitable stable nicotine containing formulations with or without local analgesics have heretofore not been disclosed. While is briefly mentioned in some of the above pat- ent documents nowhere is disclosed how to formulate a stable liquid crystalline phases comprising nicotine. Surprisingly has now been found that the combination of nicotine and fatty acids is promoting the formation of liquid crystals of polar lipids. Therefore it

has now become possible to produce liquid crystals comprising nicotine suitable for con- trolled release applications.

Summary of the invention Compositions for the therapeutic delivery of nicotine are provided. Said composi- tions, comprising nicotine, decrease adverse effects of nicotine, related to or caused by its local irritation, through controlled release of nicotine, by co-delivering antiirritants or local analgesic, or by any combination of these methods. The compositions are used for administration of nicotine. The compositions are, furthermore, applicable for, but not restricted to, nasal, buccal, pulmonary and transdermal routes of administration. Suitable, but not limiting, administration forms are nasal sprays, buccal sprays, chewing gums, tablets, lozenges, transdermal or buccal patches, nasal gels, transdermal or buccal gels, transdermal or buccal adhesives, or sprays or aerosols for administration to the lungs. As is clear from the below description a transdermal patch comprising the present invention may have a very high loading implicating that a useful transdermal patch may have a very small area thereby being useful for placing on less visible sites of a human body, such as behind the ear.

According to one aspect, the invention is directed to compositions comprising nicotine which as a total forms a liquid crystalline phase or a precursor thereof compris- ing at least one amphiphilic lipid in sufficient amounts to form said liquid crystalline phase. The dependent variables of which the formation of the liquid crystalline phase from a precursor formulation are preferably chosen from, but not restricted to, composi- tional changes, temperature, and pressure, or any combinations thereof as can be realised by those skilled in the art of phase diagrams involving the mentioned state variables.

Compositional changes are preferably those occurring when said formulations are put in contact with a body fluid and are preferably chosen from, but not restricted to, changes in solvent activity and ion activity including pH changes, or a combination thereof. Said changes can also be obtained by adding extraneous matter administered e.g. through flushing with aqueous solution prior to or after administration of the precursor at its site of action. Liquid crystalline phase formations induced by temperature are preferably, but not exclusively, those formed by the increase in temperature caused by contact with a body, preferably, but not exclusively, a human body, when said formulation is put in con- tact with any site of application on a body which causes the formulation to adopt a

higher temperature at which another phase is formed. Similar pressure induced phase transformations can be utilized in accordance with e.g. pressure-compositional phase diagrams known to or easily established by those skilled in the art.

According to another aspect of the invention it is directed to methods of preparing dispersions, preferably colloidal dispersions, of one or more liquid crystalline phases, or precursors thereof, comprising nicotine and a local analgesic or a combination thereof.

Said precursor is preferably chosen from, but not restricted to, another liquid crystalline, a solid phase, a solution phase, or any other phase structure, which is capable of under- going phase transition by means of any of the above-mentioned state variables so to transform to the desired liquid crystalline phases in question.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is directed to an article of compositions directed to the production of spontaneously forming dispersions of liquid crystalline phases in which said compositions nicotine, one fatty acid and one monoglyceride in proportions sufficient to form a liquid crystalline phase when put into contact with a po- lar solvent, preferably of, but not restricted to, aqueous nature, which upon further dilu- tion with said polar solvent, or another polar solvent, undergoes transformation to a sta- ble colloidal dispersion of the liquid crystalline phase or a precursor thereof.

According to another aspect, the invention is directed to formulation of liquid crys- talline compositions or precursors thereof comprising at least one monoglyceride, at least one fatty acid, and nicotine in which nicotine and said fatty acid forms an ion-pair com- plex. Formulation of said liquid crystalline phase in e.g., a buffered aqueous environment, such as saliva or mucosa, causes the nicotine-ion pair complex to be weakened at a cer- tain pH causing nicotine to be released in a controlled fashion from the liquid crystalline matrix, its precursor or its offspring.

According to yet another aspect, the invention is directed to formulations contain- ing nicotine and a local analgesic formulated in solution, liquid crystalline phase or a pre- cursor thereof in colloidal dispersions of one or more liquid crystalline phases or precur- sors thereof.

The term "precursor" used herein and in the claims refers to any formulation or state of formulation of the present invention which by means of changing one or several state variables in such a way that one or a multiple of the liquid crystalline phase(s) con- taining nicotine forms in situ as disclosed herein.

The term "offspring" used herein and in the claims refers to any resulting state of the present invention resulting from changes in the state variables after application of the present invention.

The term "nicotine" as used herein and in the claims encompasses nicotine base and its mono- and dicationic species, nicotine resinate (e g according to US 3,845,217) and nicotine complexes. Nicotine salts preferably, but not exclusively, encompass nico- tine hydrochloride, nicotine dihydrochloride, nicotine sulphate, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine zinc chloride and nicotine salicylate. Further the term "nicotine" also encompasses nicotine metabolites and nicotine type compounds, prefera- bly, but not exclusively, cotinine, myosmine, anabasine, anatabine, nornicotine, beta- nicotyrine, beta-nornicotyrine and nicotine-N-oxides.

The term "liquid crystalline phase" used herein and in the claims has the meaning of a thermodynamically stable state of matter which lacks short range order, thus not true crystalline, but possesses long range order, thus not liquid or amorphous.

The term "cubic liquid crystalline phase" and "cubic phase" as used herein has the meaning of an isotropic liquid crystalline phase whose long range order is characterized by one of the possible cubic space group arrangements as determined by X-ray scattering methods in combination with phase diagram studies, said methods being known to those skilled in the art.

The term "hexagonal liquid crystalline phase" or "hexagonal phase" as is used herein denotes an anisotropic liquid crystalline phase whose long range order is charac- terized by its X-ray scattering pattern revealing a two-dimensional lattice.

The term "L2-phase" as used herein and in the claims denotes an optical isotropic solution phase characterized by the lack of both long and short range order and is used synonymously to the term microemulsion.

The meaning of the "type" i.e., type I or type II, or synonymously reversed (inversed) or normal, respectively, crystalline phase as used herein and in the claims de- notes the curvature of the apolar-polar interface as defined by the direction of the normal to the interface as towards the polar or apolar constituents, respectively, following the terminology used in the current literature in the art. The type of phase is readily distin- guished by the behaviour of the phase upon increasing amount of polar constituents e.g., water dilution, upon which type I phases will be diluted and eventually transformed to

another phase e.g. normal micelles while phases of type II will swell to a certain point of water activity at which they will be in equilibrium with any further added polar constitu- ents e.g. water.

The meaning of "adhesiveness" as used herein and in the appended claims denotes the capacity of a liquid crystalline phase so formulated as it has the capacity to change its state by e.g. absorption of polar constituents from the surroundings of its site of applica- tion, causing it to further swell, or causing a phase transformation. This is readily appre- ciated, by those skilled in the art, to be a consequence of the phase behaviour of the for- mulation in question in the environment of the site of application with which it is striving to approach uniformity in the sense of thermodynamics and mass transport which result in an adhesiveness through the driving force to reach close apposition caused by its thermodynamic degree of freedom followed by the establishment of non-covalent bonds to the surface or site of application.

The term "state variables" as used herein and in the claims denotes any of the alter- able parameters defining the phase behaviour as expressed by Gibb's phase rule known to those skilled in the art.

The meaning of the term "thermodynamically stable" as used herein and in the ap- pended claims denotes a physical composition whose stability with respect to the integ- rity of its structure is limited only by chemical degradation.

In the present application such anionic surfactants are preferred which are capable of forming ion pairs or salts so favouring the formation of liquid crystalline phases.

Description of the figures Figure 1 shows a four component phase diagram oleic acid-nicotine (1 :1 mole ra- tio)/monoolein/water illustrating various physical phases of oleic acid-nicotine (1:1 mole ratio)/monoolein/water mixtures which may be used for predicting embodiments of the invention. The phases indicated are: lamellar phase form 1 and 5, reversed hexagonal phase form 2, micro emulsion of L2 phase form 3, solid crystalline form 4, cubic phase form 6, and three-phase dispersion area 7. Phase determination by means of small angle X-ray and polarizing microscopy was performed according to Landh, T., J. Phys. Chem 98, 8453 - 8467, 1994. Examples of phase progression upon the addition of aqueous solution are shown in 8 and 9.

Figure 2 shows in vitro over time (minutes) release of nicotine performed in USP paddle dissolution test. Compositions of samples are given in Table 1.

Figure 3 shows a buccal patch device with a release liner 1, an optional empty cav- ity 2, a controlled release matrix 3 of any of the liquid crystalline compositions men- tioned herein and a backing 4.

Figure 4 shows in vitro skin (pig skin from the back) permeation over time (minutes) of nicotine from the liquid crystalline phases given in Table 2. The experiments were performed in a Franz diffusion cell with a available diffusion area of 1.8 cm2. Ex- periments were performed at room temperature and with a receptor phase at 37 centi- grades. About 180 mg of samples in Table 2 were applied to the skin. Two control solu- tions were employed - control sol. 1 and 2 respectively, consisting of 114 mg nicotine/g water (pH = 10.80) and 114 mg/g phosphate buffer (pH = 6.95).

Figure 5 shows examples of in vitro permeation of nicotine through pig buccal epithelium. Compositions of the applied liquid crystalline phases are given in Table 3.

The experiments were performed in a Franz diffision cell with a available diffusion area of 1.8 cm2. Experiments were performed at room temperature and with a receptor phase at 37 centigrades. About 55 mg of samples in Table 3 were applied to the buccal epithe- lium corresponding to an amount of 1 mg nicotine per experiment. Experiments, condi- tions and average fluxes of permeated nicotine are given in Table 4.

Figure 6 shows in vitro release of nicotine over time (minutes) from liquid crystal- line phase compositions formulated in a chewing gum base with the appropriate excipi- ents known to those skilled in the art. Sample 1, shown with the line having a diamond symbol, corresponds to commercially available Nicorettes 2 mg as manufactured by Pharmacia & Upjohn.. Compositions of sample 2, shown with the line having a square symbol, and of sample 3, shown with the line having a triangle symbol, are given in Ex- ample 8. Experiments were essentially performed as described in US 5,087,424.

Table 1 Wt % of components Sample Glycerol- Oleic Nicotine Water Buffer Buffer No monoolein acid pH 5 pH 7 S1:1 47.50 1.84 3.16 47.50 S1:2 47.50 1.84 3.16 47.50 S2:1 47.50 3.18 1.82 47.50 52:2 1 47.50 1 3.18 1.82 47.50 S4:1 | 23.75 | 3.18 l 1.82 7125 S4:2 23.75 3.18 1.82 71.25 S5:1 47.50 4.20 0.80 47.50 S5:2 | 47.50 l 4.20 1 0.80 | 47.50 S6:1 71.25 3.18 1.82 23.75 S6:2 71.25 3.18 1.82 23.75 S7:1 47.50 3.18 1.82 47.50 S7:2 47.50 3.18 1.82 47.50 S9:1 47.50 3.18 1.82 47.50 S9:2 47.50 3.18 1.82 47.50

Table 2 Wt % of components Sample Glycerol- Oleic Nicotine Benzyl Glyc- Water Buffer No monoolein acid alcohol erol pH 7 1 45.96 11.50 11.47 11.56 19.51 2 45.96 20.07 11.46 11.56 10.97 3 45.95 11.50 11.46 11.55 19.54 4 2.00 0.35 1.00 0.90 95.75 Table 3 Amount of components in gram. Sample Glycerol- Oleic Nicotine Water Buffer No monoolein acid pH 7 1 4.7502 0.3182 0.1818 4.7484 4 2.3759 0.3180 0.1818 7.1259 6 7.1253 0.3184 0.1825 2.3741 9 4.7503 0.3182 0.1817 4.7501

Table 4 Average offluxes of nicotine (g/cm3/h t SD) (n=3) (Experiment la, Ib, ic, id and 2)* Sample Experiment Experiment Experiment Experiment Experiment No la ib 1c 1d 2 1 132+68** 112 + 41 165 + 76 117+55 257 + 29 4 ~ 229 + 75 89 + 15 226 + 0 ** 134 + 31 201 + 49 6 166 + 44 82 + 31 223 + 81 ** 147 + 41 160+51 9 249 # 89 134 # 9 146 # 53 143 # 37 277 # 101 *) la: Artificial saliva as donorphase, backing membrane on cubic phases.

1b: Artificial saliva as donorphase, no backing membrane on cubic phases.

1c: Buffer pH 7 as donorphase, backing membrane on cubic phases.

1d: Buffer pH 7 as donorphase, no backing membrane on cubic phases.

2: No donorphase, backing membrane on cubic phases.

**) n=2 Detailed description of the invention Compositions of the invention includes an active drug, preferably nicotine. More precisely, the compositions comprise nicotine formulated in liquid crystalline phases or any precursor or offspring thereof, and dispersions, preferably, but not restricted to, colloidal dispersions of said liquid crystalline phases, their precursors or offspring. Spe- cifically the invention includes controlled release compositions directed to formulations of the biologically active compound, preferably, but not exclusively, nicotine, in type I and II cubic liquid crystalline phases, type I and II hexagonal liquid crystalline phases, type I and II intermediate liquid crystalline phases, and lamellar phases, in all cases ir- respective of space group arrangement, and precursors of or offspring to said liquid crys- talline phases, including any different phase or mixture thereof as adopted upon or during application of the formulation by the so induced change or changes taking place through changes of a physical and or a chemical nature having an effect on one or more of the state variables defining the system.

Precursor and offspring phases thus include, besides the above mentioned liquid crystalline phases, any phase which is not characterized as a liquid crystalline phase in- cluding, but not restricted to, solid phases, solution phases of micellar type I and II, so-

lution phase of bilayered type including the sponge phase (L3 phase), the L2 phase, and true solutions.

Preferably compositions of the invention relates to the use of said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors thereof and offspring thereof in tobacco substitution, smoking cessation and smoking replacement. More specifically, said liquid crystalline formula- tions, precursors thereof and offspring thereof are useful in said therapies when applied alone, or in appropriate devices known to those skilled in the arts of drug delivery and dosage forms, transdermally and through mucosa. The aforementioned liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof can be applied to plasters, patches, chew- ing gum, lozenges or other devices used in combination or in conjunction with said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof. More specifically, the afore- said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors thereof and offspring to are preferably applied as, or in conjunction with, transdermal dosage forms of nicotine and buccal dos- age forms of nicotine. Most preferably, said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof are applicable to buccal delivery of nicotine in several dosage forms, including, but not restricted to, chewing gum, lozenges, sublingual tablets and patches, including dosage forms used as wet or chewable tobacco replacement. Afore- mentioned compositions of said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof are applicable to coat a bulk carrier system of preferably, but not restricted to, inert nature. Most preferably, said coating is applied on starch granules or powder, or plastic or other polymeric material.

Formulations of the aforementioned dispersed liquid crystalline formulations, pre- cursors and offspring thereof nicotine comprising a biologically active agent, preferably, but not exclusively, being nicotine, in which the liquid crystalline phase, its precursors or offspring are preferably selected from, but not restricted to, colloidal particles suitable for nasal spray or drop dosage forms and mouth spray or drop dosage forms. The dis- persed liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof, are preferably selected from the group of, but not restricted to, type I and II cubic liquid crystalline phases, type I and II hexagonal liquid crystalline phases, type I and II intermediate liquid crystalline phases, and lamellar phases, in all cases irrespective of space group arrange- ment, and precursors of or offspring to said liquid crystalline phases, including any dif- ferent phase or mixture thereof than adopted upon or during application of the formula-

tion by the so induced change or changes taking place through changes of a physical and or a chemical nature having an effect on one or more of the state variables defining the system. Stable dispersed particles of the aforementioned liquid crystalline phase or mix- ture of phases or their precursors or offspring are readily produced by various fragmen- tation methods known to those skilled in the art. Preferable is spontaneous formation of stable colloidal dispersions of the aforementioned liquid crystalline phase or mixture of phases or their precursors. The aforementioned colloidal particulate formulations, con- taining nicotine, of the aforesaid liquid crystalline phases or precursors or offspring thereof can be applied to nasal and buccal/sublingual drop and spray dosage forms and pulmonary aerosol dosage form or other devices used in combination or in conjunction with said liquid crystalline formulations, precursors or offspring thereof. More specifi- cally, the aforesaid liquid crystalline formulations, precursors and offspring thereof are preferably applied in, or in conjunction with, dosage forms intended for nasal, pulmonary or buccal administration of nicotine.

Compositions of the invention comprise co-formulations of nicotine and preferably, but not exclusively, local topical analgesics. Said compositions include a topical local analgesic chosen from the following, non-limiting examples, bensyl alcohol, benzocaine, chlorbutanol, chloroprocaine, clove, eugenol, lidocain, lidocain hydrochloride, mepiva- caine, phenol, prilocaine, procaine, tetracaine, tetracaine hydrochloride and salicyl alco- hol, or combinations thereof. Preferably, said compositions are formulated in solution or in the aforesaid formulations of the aforementioned liquid crystalline phases, their pre- cursors or offspring and colloidal dispersions thereof. Said formulations exhibit reduced side-effects related to or caused by the local irritation originating from nicotine through blocking peripheral pain receptors which otherwise would be occupied by nicotine.

Specifically, compositions of the invention include one or more surface active agents, preferably, but not restricted to, one or more polar lipids, chosen from the non- limiting group of glycolipids, phospholipids, monoglycerides and diglycerides or a mix- ture thereof, preferably those polar lipids which are known, to those skilled in the art, to form liquid crystalline phases in equilibrium with any of the factors defined by a state variable.

More specifically, compositions of the invention include one or more biologically active agents, preferably nicotine, one or more monoglycerides preferably chosen from, but not restricted to, the group consisting of glycerol esters of palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acid. Most preferable is the glycerol ester of oleic acid. Optional components besides usual pharmaceutical excipients, include, but are not restricted to, one or more fatty acids preferably chosen from, but not restricted to, the group of stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, one or more polar solutions, such as aqueous solutions, glycerol or propylenegly- col, or a mixture thereof, one or more local analgesic(s), all components in relative amounts so as the formulation forms or is capable of forming a liquid crystalline phase by change of any of the state variables composition, temperature and pressure, or a combi- nation thereof. In addition are included usually employed pharmaceutical excipients such as flavouring agents, sweeteners, buffering agents, preservatives and such components can be added without departing from the gist of the invention.

The embodiments, practice and methods of manufacturing the compositions of this invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Example 1 Glycerol monooleate, oleic acid, nicotine, glycerol purum and water according to the following composition Component: I Weight %: Glycerol monooleate ' 45 Oleic acid 10 Nicotine 10 Glycerol 10 Phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) 15 are mixed at room temperature. The above example can be prepared in different ways.

One way is as follows: to solid glycerol monooleate is added oleic acid and the mixture is allowed to form a solution to which nicotine is added. To the so obtained solution glyc- erol is added and the mixture is allowed to form a solution to which water is added to form a cubic liquid crystalline phase.

This composition of the invention in this application is useful in tobacco substitu- tion, replacement and cessation therapies in a number of different ways. The composition is inserted as an adhesive gel applied directly to the buccal mucosa at which site nicotine is delivered through it. The composition is melted and poured into patch devices as illus- trated in Figure 3 which is applied to a desired topical site of action such as the inner cheek at which site nicotine is released.

Example 2 Compositions according to Table 1 were prepared in duplicates as described in Ex- ample 1 and the in vitro release of nicotine in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) from the com- positions was determined by means of commercially available instrument for testing dis- solution according to USP. The results are shown in Figure 2.

It is readily appreciated that the composition controls the rate of release. Important factors are the nicotine:oleic acid ratio and the water content. It is thus shown that the present invention can be used to control the release rate of nicotine.

Example 3 Glycerol monooleate, oleic acid, bensyl alcohol, nicotine, and water were mixed according to the following composition Component: Weight %: Glycerol monooleate 8 Oleic acid 4 Bensyl alcohol 4 Nicotine 4 Water 80 The above example can be prepared in different ways. One way is as follows: to solid glycerol monooleate is added oleic acid and bensyl alcohol and the mixture is al- lowed to form a solution to which nicotine is added. To the so obtained solution water is added and the mixture is allowed to form a hexagonal liquid crystalline phase of type I.

This composition of the invention in this application is useful in tobacco substitu- tion, replacement and cessation therapies in a number of different ways. The composition

is inserted as an adhesive gel applied directly to the buccal mucosa at which site nicotine is delivered through it. The composition is melted and poured into patch devices as illus- trated in Figure 3 which is applied to a desired topical site of action such as the inner cheek at which site nicotine is released.

Example 4 Glycerol monooleate, oleic acid, benzocaine, and nicotine were mixed in the fol- lowing proportions: Component: Weight %: Glycerol monooleate 2 Oleic acid 1 Benzocaine Nicotine 1 Water 95 The above example can be prepared in different ways. One way is as follows: to solid glycerol monooleate is added oleic acid and nicotine and the mixture is allowed to form a solution to which benzocaine is added and let to dissolve. To the so obtained solution one fifth of the total amount of water as indicated in the table is added and the mixture is allowed to form a hexagonal liquid crystalline phase of type I to which the remaining water is added upon which a stable colloidal dispersion is spontaneously formed. The composition of the invention of this application is applicable in tobacco substitution, re- placement and cessation therapies in a number of different ways as exemplified in the following. The composition is dropable and sprayable using a standard device for nasal administration of nicotine. For similar purposes, it is useful as mouth drops or spray.

Furthermore, it forms liquid aerosols using standard devices known to those skilled in the art with particle sizes in the range of the size of colloidal particles suited for pulmonary delivery of nicotine through the lung mucosa.

Example 5 Bensyl alcohol and nicotine is mixed to form a solution to which water is added to reach a final composition of: Component: Weight %: Nicotine 1 Bensyl alcohol 1 Water 98 The above example can be prepared in different ways and optional components such as preservatives, buffer, sweetness and flavouring agents can be added. The com- position can be delivered to the nasal mucosa by means of a metered spray device such as described in US 4,579,858 for use in tobacco substitution, replacement and cessation therapies. Furthermore, the composition can be used similarly as a mouth spray for appli- cation of the solution directly to the oral region and its mucosal lining.

Example 6 Compositions according to Table 2 were prepared as described in Example 1 above and tested for the in vitro skin permeation of nicotine. The results are shown in Figure 4 and the experimental design as described in the figure legend. It is readily ap- preciated that the current invention can be used for controlled skin permeation of nico- tine.

Example 7 Compositions according to Table 3 were prepared as described in Example 1 and tested for the in vitro pig buccal epithelium permeation of nicotine. The results are given in Figure 5 with average nicotine fluxes compiled in Table 4. The experimental design is given in the legend to Table 4. It is readily appreciated that the current invention provide controlled release of nicotine and controlled fluxes and permeation through pig buccal epithelium in vitro.

Example 8 Compositions as below Component: Comp. 2 Comp. 3 Weight % Glycerol monooleate 45.95 45.95 Oleic acid 11.50 20.02 Nicotine 11.46 11.46 Gl cerol 11.55 11.55 Buffer pH 7 19.54 11.02 can be mixed with a gum base and optional flavouring agents according to the following example Component: @ Weight %: Liquid crystalline phase composition 2 according to comp. 2 or 3 above Gum base (from Dreyco) 77 Sorbitol power 15 Sorbitol solution (70 O/o) 4 Flavouring agents 2 which with the appropriate techniques can be treated by conventional means to result in a chewing gum. The in vitro release of nicotine from the above chewing gum formulations determined according to US 5,087,424 is shown in Figure 6 together with that of Ni- corette X 2 mg. It is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the composition controls the release rate of nicotine. Also the use of precursors to the herein disclosed liquid crystalline phases is readily appreciated in which case the change is brought out by change in state variables chosen from chemical composition, preferably of aqueous activ- ity, or body temperature, or a combination thereof.

Further aspects of the invention can be appreciated from figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a triangular diagram used to illustrate the phase behaviour of a four component system consisting of oleic acid:nicotine, glycerol monooleate and water. The

non-limiting example of phase behaviour shown in figure 1 represent 1:1 molar ratio of the oleic acid:nicotine mixture. Other ratios are applicable as well.

Shown in this diagram are some of the physical phases formed at various composi- tions represented by the diagram. These phases may be, for example, a water-rich one- dimensional lamellar liquid crystalline phase 1, a hexagonal type II liquid crystalline phase 2, a free-flowing liquid phase 3, a solid crystalline phase 4, a water-poor one- dimensional lamellar liquid crystalline phase 5 and a three-dimensional cubic liquid crys- talline phase of type II 6.

It can be appreciated from the figure that a composition of phase 3 along the indi- cated line 8 will upon contact with water or any polar liquid such as saliva or any other body fluid changes effectively the physical state of the formulation towards the water corner along line 8. Thus by exposure to more water the free-fluid composition will in- crease its viscosity once it adopts the hexagonal liquid crystalline state of type II and subsequently enter more-phase areas (not shown in figure 1) to finally enter a three com- ponent phase area in which the cubic liquid crystalline phase coexist with the lamellar phase 1 according to the composition given along line 8. Within this three-phase area the cubic liquid crystalline phase 6 is easily dispersed and form small particles surrounded by the lamellar phase 1.

As known to those skilled in the art adhesiveness to such surfaces as the mucous lining of the mouth is obtained and significantly increased through the absorption of wa- ter and the successive changes of physical states such as appreciated along line 8 in fig- ure 1.

Similar a solid crystalline phase 4 with a composition along line 9 goes through successive changes of physical states upon the uptake or addition of water as illustrated along line 9 to finally enter the aforementioned three-phase area illustrated along line 8.

Above has been disclosed utility of nicotine-containing liquid crystalline phases for tobacco substitution or replacement of tobacco and smoking cessation. Anyhow, for persons skilled in the art use of said phases is evident for treatment of other indications, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ulcerative colitis, for which it is known that nicotine has a curative effect.