IN-VITRO STUDY OF NICOTINE RELEASE FROM SMOKELESS TOBACCO

Four brands (Copenhagen Snuff, Skoal Bandit Classic, Skoal Wintergreen Long Cut, and Skoal Wintergreen Fine Cut) of smokeless tobacco produc ts were tested for their rate of nicotine release into artificial sali va via direct contact or through a dialysis bag. Nicotine was determin ed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. When samples were in direc t contact with artificial saliva, most of the nicotine was released fr om the tobacco in the first minute. Nicotine release from Skoal Bandit Classic, marketed as smokeless tobacco in a sachet, was slower with t he sachet intact than without the sachet, When smokeless tobacco and a rtificial saliva were placed inside a dialysis bag, nicotine release w as much slower and primarily depended upon the permeability of the dia lysis membrane. Although total nicotine was lowest for Skoal Bandit Cl assic, little difference was seen in nicotine release rates among the brands tested. When smokeless tobacco was placed in dialysis bags with artificial saliva outside, a significant difference was seen in rates of nicotine migration through the membrane. In this model, nicotine r elease from Copenhagen Snuff was much faster than from Skoal Bandit Cl assic with or without the sachet. This difference may be related to th e pH of the smokeless tobacco products.