Dry acid-chitosan complexes

Abstract

The invention is an acid-chitosan complex which is made up of chitosan, a sufficient amount of one or more acids, and an effective amount of water. This acid-chitosan is water-soluble in a dry form. A further aspect of this invention is various methods for producing such a water-soluble acid-chitosan complex and methods for using this acid-chitosan complex, particularly for reducing fat absorption in an animal.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An acid-chitosan complex comprising chitosan, a sufficient amount of one or more acids, and an effective amount of water, wherein said acid-chitosan complex is water-soluble.  
     
     
         2 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 1  wherein the sufficient amount of acid comprises about 75% or more of stoichiometric, based on chitosan.  
     
     
         3 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 2  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 130% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         4 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 3  wherein the effective amount of water is about 5% to 15% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         5 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 1  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, nitric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, other physiologically acceptable carboxylic acids, betaine hydrochloride, amine hydrochlorides, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 5  wherein the acid comprises betaine hydrochloride.  
     
     
         7 . An acid-chitosan complex produced by the process comprising the following steps: 
 (1) forming a homogenous mix of chitosan and a sufficient amount of one or more acids; and    (2) adding an effective amount of water to the homogenous mix to form a uniform complex.    
     
     
         8 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 7  wherein the sufficient amount of acid comprises about 75% or more of stoichiometric, based on chitosan.  
     
     
         9 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 8  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 130% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         10 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 8  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 15% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         11 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 7  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, nitric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, other physiologically acceptable carboxylic acids, betaine hydrochloride, amine hydrochlorides, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . An acid-chitosan complex produced by a process comprising the following steps: 
 (3) dissolving one or more acids in water; and    (4) applying the acid-water mix to chitosan to form a complex wherein the chitosan is not dissolved; and    (5) drying the complex.    
     
     
         13 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 12  wherein the sufficient amount of acid comprises about 75% or more of stoichiometric, based on chitosan.  
     
     
         14 . The acid-chito san complex of  claim 13  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 130% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         15 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 13  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 15% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         16 . The acid-chitosan complex of  claim 12  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, nitric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, other physiologically acceptable carboxylic acids and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A method for reducing the release of trigycerides into the blood stream of an animal after the animal has digested a fat-containing substance, the method comprising administering to the animal an acid-chitosan complex prior to or during digestion of the fat-containing substance wherein the acid-chitosan complex comprises chitosan, a sufficient amount of an acid, and an effective amount of water, wherein said acid-chitosan complex is water-soluble.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the acid-chitosan complex is produced by a process comprising the following steps: 
 (1) forming a homogenous mix of chitosan and a sufficient amount of one or more acids; and  
 (2) adding an effective amount of water to the homogenous mix to form a uniform complex.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the sufficient amount of acid comprises about 75% of stoichiometric.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 130% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 15% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, nitric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, other physiologically acceptable carboxylic acids, betaine hydrochloride, amine hydrochlorides, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the acid-chitosan complex is produced by a process comprising the following steps: 
 (6) dissolving an acid in water; and  
 (7) applying the acid-water mix to chitosan to form a complex wherein the chitosan is not dissolved; and  
 (8) drying the complex.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the sufficient amount of acid comprises about 75% of stoichiometric.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 130% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the effective amount water is about 5% to 15% of the weight of the acid and the chitosan.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of: hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, nitric acid, malic acid, pyruvic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, other physiologically acceptable carboxylic acids, betaine hydrochloride, amine hydrochlorides, and combinations thereof.