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 products were tested for their rate of nicotine release into artificial saliva via direct contact or through a dialysis bag. Nicotine was determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography. When samples were in direct contact with artificial saliva, most of the nicotine was released from the tobacco in the first minute. Nicotine release from Skoal Bandit Classic, marketed as smokeless tobacco in a sachet, was slower with the sachet intact than without the sachet. When smokeless tobacco and artificial saliva were placed inside a dialysis bag, nicotine release was much slower and primarily depended upon the permeability of the dialysis membrane. Although total nicotine was lowest for Skoal Bandit Classic, 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 release from Copenhagen Snuff was much faster than from Skoal Bandit Classic with or without the sachet. This difference may be related to the pH of the smokeless tobacco products.