Delivery system for active components as part of an edible composition having preselected tensile strength

Abstract

A delivery system for inclusion in an edible composition is formulated to have at least one active component encapsulated within an encapsulating material, whereby the delivery system has a tensile strength suitable for delivering the active component at a desired release rate.

1 . A delivery system comprising at least one active component encapsulated within an encapsulating material, the delivery system having a tensile strength of at least 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         2 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is from about 6,500 psi to 200,000 psi.  
     
     
         3 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the edible composition is selected from the group consisting of a food product, a pharmaceutical composition, a foodstuff, a nutrient-containing composition, a vitamin, a neutraceuticals, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the edible composition is selected from a food product, a pharmaceutical composition, a foodstuff, a nutrient-containing composition, a vitamin, a neutraceutical, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, crosslinked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polymethylmethacrylate, polylactidacid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, ethylcellulose, polyvinyl acetatephthalate, polyethylene glycol esters, methacrylicacid-co-methylmethacrylate and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 30% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         7 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 60% to 90% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         8 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the active component is selected from the group consisting of a sweetener, an acid, a flavorant, a pharmaceutical, a therapeutic agent, a vitamin, a breath freshener, a cooling agent and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the active component is a high intensity sweetener.  
     
     
         10 . The delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the active component is a sweetener and is selected from the group consisting of an amino acid based sweetener, a dipeptide sweetener, glycyrrhizin, saccharin, a saccharin salt, an acesulfame salt, a cyclamate, a stevioside, talin, a dihydrochalone compound, a chlorinated sucrose polymer, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The delivery system of  claim 9  wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of neotane, aspartame, sucralose and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The delivery system of  claim 8  wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 1% to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         13 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 10% to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         14 . The delivery system of  claim 1  further comprising a tensile strength modifying agent.  
     
     
         15 . The delivery system of  claim 14  wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of a fat, an emulsifier, a plasticizer, a softener, a low molecular weight polymer, a high molecular weight polymer, a wax, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The delivery system of  claim 14  wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated oil, a glycerol monostearate, a wax, a low molecular weight polymer, triacetin, glycerin, a rosin ester, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The delivery system of  claim 14  wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is present in an amount of up to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         18 . The delivery system of  claim 1  in the form of particles or granules.  
     
     
         19 . The delivery system of  claim 18  wherein the particles or granules have a particle size of up to 600 microns.  
     
     
         20 . The delivery system of  claim 19  wherein the particles or granules have a particle size of 75 to 600 microns.  
     
     
         21 . An edible composition comprising at least one edible composition forming component and the delivery system of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . The edible composition of  claim 21  selected from the group consisting of a chewing gum composition, a food product, a confectionery composition, a pharmaceutical composition, a beverage, a foodstuff, a nutrient-containing composition, a vitamin, a neutraceutical, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The edible composition of  claim 21  wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 0.2% to 10% by weight based on the total weight of the edible composition.  
     
     
         24 . The edible composition of  claim 22 , which is a chewing gum composition and wherein the at least one edible forming component comprises a gum base.  
     
     
         25 . The edible composition of  claim 24  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is from about 6,500 psi to 200,000 psi.  
     
     
         26 . The edible composition of  claim 24  wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 30% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         27 . The edible composition of  claim 24  wherein the active component is selected from the group consisting of a sweetener, an acid, a flavorant, a pharmaceutical, a therapeutic agent, a vitamin, a breath freshener, a cooling agent and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The edible composition of  claim 24  wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 1% to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         29 . The edible composition of  claim 24  wherein the encapsulating material further comprises a tensile strength modifying agent.  
     
     
         30 . The edible composition of  claim 29  wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of a fat, an emulsifier, a plasticizer, a softener, a low molecular weight polymer, a high molecular weight polymer, a wax, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         31 . The edible composition of  claim 22 , which is a confectionary and which comprises a confectionery carrier.  
     
     
         32 . The edible composition of  claim 31  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is from about 6,500 to 200,000 psi.  
     
     
         33 . The edible composition of  claim 31  wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 30% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         34 . The edible composition of  claim 31  wherein the active component is selected from the group consisting of a sweetener, an acid, a flavorant, a pharmaceutical, a therapeutic agent, a vitamin, a breath freshener, a cooling agent, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The edible composition of  claim 31  wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 1% to 70% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         36 . The edible composition of  claim 31  wherein the delivery system further comprises a tensile strength modifying agent.  
     
     
         37 . The edible composition of  claim 36  wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of a fat, an emulsifier, a plasticizer, a softener, a low molecular weight polymer, a high molecular weight polymer, a wax, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         38 . A method of preparing a target delivery system for an edible composition comprising combining at least one active component and at least one encapsulating material, until a preselected tensile strength of the target delivery system is obtained based on comparison with the tensile strength of at least one sample delivery system having the same or similar active component and a known release rate of the active component.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising obtaining a preselected tensile strength based on a comparison with a plurality of sample delivery systems.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising: 
 (a) obtaining a plurality of sample delivery systems comprising the at least one active component and the at least one encapsulating material wherein each of said sample delivery systems has a different tensile strength;    (b) testing the sample delivery systems to determine the respective release rates of the active component; and    (c) formulating the target delivery system containing the same or similar active component with a tensile strength corresponding to a desired release rate of the active component based on the sample delivery systems.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the additive is a tensile strength modifying agent.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the tensile strength of each sample delivery system is at least 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising: 
 determining a desired release rate for the at least one active component in the edible composition;    determining a tensile strength associated with the desired release rate; and    formulating the target delivery system for the at least one active component based, at least in part, on the tensile strength.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the tensile strength is at least 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the target delivery system includes at least one additive.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising: 
 associating a different tensile strength for each of a plurality of release rates for each of a plurality of different active components.    
     
     
         47 . A method of preparing a the delivery system of  claim 1 , comprising encapsulating the at least one active component in the encapsulating material.  
     
     
         48 . A method of preparing an edible composition having at least one active component which releases the at least one active component at a desired release rate, said method comprising: 
 encapsulating the at least one active component in at least one encapsulating material to form a target delivery system having a tensile strength of at least 6,500 psi; and    adding the target delivery system to the edible composition.    
     
     
         49 . A method of selecting at least one delivery system suitable for incorporation into an edible composition, each of said delivery systems comprising an active component encapsulated within an encapsulation material, said method comprising: 
 determining a desired release rate for a first active component in the edible composition;    determining a first desired tensile strength for a first delivery system associated with said desired release rate; and    selecting a first delivery system for first said active component based, at least in part, on said first tensile strength.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  further comprising: 
 determining a second desired release rate for a second active component in the edible composition;    determining a second desired tensile strength for a second delivery system associated with said second desired release rate; and    selecting a second delivery system for said second active component based, at least in part, on said second tensile strength.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  further comprising repeating the steps of determining a desired release rate, determining a desired tensile strength and selecting a delivery system for at least one additional active component of the edible composition.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the tensile strength is at least 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the delivery system further comprises at least one additive.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the additive is a tensile strength modifying agent.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein determining the desired tensile strength comprises: 
 associating a different tensile strength for each of a plurality of release rates of said at least one active component.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the step of determining the desired tensile strength comprises: 
 associating a different tensile strength for each of a plurality of release rates for each of the plurality of active components.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 determining a desired tensile strength for each of a plurality of delivery systems.    
     
     
         58 . A method of preparing a target delivery system for an edible composition useful for delivering at least one active component at a desired release rate, said method comprising encapsulating the at least one active component in an encapsulating material in a manner that provides the target delivery system with a target tensile strength associated with the desired release rate, enabling the delivery system to release the at least one active component from the edible composition at the desired release rate.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  58  wherein the target tensile strength is at least 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  comprising: 
 a) determining the desired release rate of the active component;    b) determining the target tensile strength of the delivery system capable of delivering the at least one active component at the desired release rate; and    c) formulating the target delivery system containing the at least one active component having the target tensile strength.    
     
     
         61 . A method of preparing an edible composition containing a target delivery system useful for delivering at least one active component at a desired release rate, said method comprising encapsulating the at least one active component in an encapsulating material in a manner that provides the target delivery system with a target tensile strength associated with the desired release rate enabling the delivery system to release the at least one active component from the edible composition at desired release rate, and adding the target delivery system to the edible composition.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 38 , which further comprises combining at least one additive with the at least one active component and at least one encapsulating material.  
     
     
         63 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is at least about 10,000 psi.  
     
     
         64 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is at least about 22,000 psi.  
     
     
         65 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is at least about 24,000 psi.  
     
     
         66 . The delivery system of  claim 1  wherein the tensile strength of the delivery system is at least about 42,000 psi.  
     
     
         67 . The edible composition of  claim 21 , which comprises at least two delivery systems.  
     
     
         68 . The edible composition of  claim 67 , wherein each of the at least two delivery systems comprise at least two different active component.  
     
     
         69 . The edible composition of  claim 67 , wherein at least one active agent is a sweetener and a second active agent is a flavorant.  
     
     
         70 . The edible composition of  claim 66  wherein each of the at least two delivery systems has a different tensile strength.  
     
     
         71 . A chewing gum composition, comprising a gum base and at least one active component encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material, wherein the active component is released for at least 15 minutes following the start of chewing the composition.  
     
     
         72 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 71 , wherein the active component is released for at least 20 minutes following the start of chewing the composition.  
     
     
         73 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 71 , wherein the active component is released for at least 30 minutes following the start of chewing the composition.  
     
     
         74 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 71 , wherein the release of the active component varies during the at least 15 minutes.  
     
     
         75 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 71 , wherein the at least one active component encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material has a tensile strength of above 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         76 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 71 , wherein the at least one active component encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material has a tensile strength of above 10,000 psi.  
     
     
         77 . The delivery system of  claim 16 , wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is a fat.  
     
     
         78 . The delivery system of  claim 77 , wherein the fat is present in an amount up to 5% by weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         79 . The delivery system of  claim 14 , wherein the tensile strength modifying agent is an oil.  
     
     
         80 . The delivery system of  claim 79 , wherein the oil is present in an amount up to 5% by weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         81 . The delivery system of  claim 14 , which comprises two tensile strength modifying agents and the tensile strength modifying agents are a fat and an oil.  
     
     
         82 . The delivery system of  claim 80 , wherein the combination of fat and oil is present in an amount up to 5% by weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         83 . A chewing gum composition, comprising a gum base and at least one sweetener encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material, wherein the sweetener is perceived by a consumer for at least 15 minutes following the start of chewing the composition.  
     
     
         84 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 83 , wherein the sweetener is perceived by the consumer for at least 20 minutes following the start of chewing the composition.  
     
     
         85 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 83 , wherein the sweetener is perceived by the consumer for at least 30 minutes following the start of chewing the composition  
     
     
         86 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 83 , wherein the at least one active component encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material has a tensile strength of above 6,500 psi.  
     
     
         87 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 83 , wherein the at least one active component encapsulated within a polymer encapsulating material has a tensile strength of above 10,000 psi.  
     
     
         88 . The edible composition of  claim 33 , wherein the encapsulating material is present in an amount of from about 60% to 90% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         89 . The edible composition of  claim 35 , wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 10 to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         90 . The edible composition of  claim 89 , wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.  
     
     
         91 . The edible composition of  claim 89 , wherein the active component is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the delivery system.