Innovative gel aid for administering tablets to stroke and other dysphagic patients

我们建议开发一种凝胶，其中可以插入片剂，这使得吞咽困难的患者吞咽更容易和更安全。目前帮助吞咽困难的患者服用片剂的方法包括将粉碎的、分散的或完整的片剂混合在诸如果酱和酸奶的食品中。篡改未被设计为粉碎或分散的片剂可能会产生不良后果。同样，与食物混合可能会影响药物吸收，或使护理人员在未经患者同意的情况下服用药物（秘密用药）。我们已经开发出一种透明的凝胶，可以放在药片周围，从而使药片更容易吞咽。我们的凝胶由对人类使用安全且已知不与片剂成分或涂层相互作用的产品组成。这种凝胶被设计成在与唾液接触时变得更加光滑，这意味着片剂可以在没有水的情况下吞咽。这对于不能同时安全吞咽固体和液体的患者特别有用。我们相信，有了2年的额外资金，我们将能够通过潜在的稳定剂，防腐剂和可能的调味剂（可以增加唾液产生）来最终确定凝胶的组成，并进行小型患者试验，以证明在健康志愿者中对药物吸收没有影响，并且凝胶对于可能使用它的患者来说是可以接受的。

We propose to develop a gel, within which tablets can be inserted, which makes swallowing easier and safer for patients with swallowing difficulties. Current approaches to helping patients with swallowing difficulties to take their tablets involve mixing crushed, dispersed or whole tablets in foodstuffs such as jam and yoghurt. Tampering with tablets not designed to be crushed or dispersed can have undesirable consequences. Similarly mixing with foodstuffs may affect drug absorption or leave carers open to accusations of administering medicines without the patient s consent (covert administration). We have developed a clear gel to be placed around tablets and therefore make them easier to swallow. Our gel consists of products which are both safe for human use and are known not to interact with tablet ingredients or coatings. The gel is designed to become more slippy on contact with saliva which means that tablets can be swallowed without water. This is particularly useful in patients who cannot safely swallow solids and liquids at the same time. We believe that with 2 years additional funding we will be able to both finalise the composition of the gel by the potential addition of stabilising agents, preservatives and possible flavourings (which can increase saliva production) and perform small patient trials to demonstrate that in healthy volunteers there is no effect on drug absorption and that the gel is acceptable to patients who are likely to utilise it.