Imagine Mary Poppins dancing around the Banks household with a foam dispenser. If Dow Chemical has its way, we won’t need as much sugar, because the company is out there touting a new ‘drug delivery’ technology that would, presumably, make it easier to ensure the pediatric and geriatric sets swallow those sloppy liquid meds.

“A parent can deliver medicine to a child without worrying about spilling and staining associated with typical coloured liquid medicines. The same is true for elderly patients and even pets that need medications,” Paul Sheskey, Dow’s technical services leader, tells in-PharmaTechnologist.com.

“Foam-on-a-spoon was developed to aid the dispensing of liquid preparations. Dow scientists were looking for a fast dissolving drug delivery system that would be easier to administer to people with difficulty taking tablets and capsules,” he continues. “Potential advantages for this technology include product differentiation (and) line extension, convenience because no water is required, fast dissolution, and spill resistance. Typical uses would include analgesics, cough-cold preparations, and allergy medications.”

The technology works by incorporating air into a liquid formulation using a foam dispenser, and Sheskey explains that when a foamed formulation is dispensed onto a spoon, the “yield stress imparts to the fluid a significant spill-resistance.” Dow uses a foam dispenser made by Rexam Airspray, which is currently used in many applications including hair, skin care, liquid soaps and sun screens. The foaming agent is methylcellulose, which in various forms can be found in toothpaste, shampoo, crayons and wallpaper.

Dow has so far developed three prototypes using the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) acetaminophen, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and dextromethorphan hydrobromide; though Sheskey said any API soluble in a liquid vehicle could be delivered this way.