Method of controlling release of N-substituted derivatives of aspartame in chewing gum and gum produced thereby

Abstract

The present invention includes a method for producing a chewing gum with a modified release sweetener selected from the group of N-substituted derivatives of aspartame, particularly neotame, as well as the chewing gum so produced. The modified release neotame or other N-substituted derivative of aspartame sweetener is obtained by physically modifying the sweetener properties by coating and drying. Neotame or another N-substituted derivative of aspartame sweetener is coated by encapsulation, partially coated by agglomeration, entrapped by absorption or extrusion, or treated by multiple steps of encapsulation, agglomeration, absorption, or extrusion. The coated sweetener is then co-dried and particle sized to produce a release-modified high-intensity sweetener. When incorporated into the chewing gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the sweetener and/or produce a modified release when the gum is chewed.

1 . A method of producing a chewing gum product containing a physically-modified N-substituted derivative of aspartame in order to control the release rate of the N-substituted derivative of aspartame comprising the steps of: 
 a) mixing a quantity of a N-substituted derivative of aspartame with a polymer as an encapsulating agent and extruding the resulting mixture in such a way as to encapsulate the N-substituted derivative of aspartame in order to modify the rate of release of the N-substituted derivative of aspartame in the chewing gum; and    b) adding a quantity of the extruded material to a chewing gum formulation to provide a N-substituted derivative of aspartame level in the chewing gum formulation of from about 0.0001% to about 0.1%.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein an additional high-potency sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, cyclamate and its salts, saccharin and its salts, sucralose, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcone, glycyrrhizin, stevioside and combinations thereof is mixed in the mixture in combination with the N-substituted derivative of aspartame before extruding.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a bulk sweetener selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, maltose, maltodextrin, xylose, palatinose, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, hydrogenated isomaltulose, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates and combinations thereof is mixed in the mixture in combination with the N-substituted derivative of aspartame before extruding.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the N-substituted derivative of aspartame is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester (neotame);    b) N-[N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-menthoxyphenyl)propyl]-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester; and    c) N-[N-(3-phenylpropyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of PVAC, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene and plastic polymers.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of N-substituted derivative of aspartame is more than zero but less than about 55% of the extruded material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the level of N-substituted derivative of aspartame is between about 10% and about 55% of the extruded material.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extruded material is ground prior to being added to the chewing gum.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the extrusion results in a very long, delayed release of N-substituted derivative of aspartame from the chewing gum.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the N-substituted derivative of aspartame comprises neotame.  
   
   
       11 . A method of producing a chewing gum product containing a physically-modified N-substituted derivative of aspartame in order to delay the release rate of the N-substituted derivative of aspartame comprising the steps of: 
 a) encapsulating a N-substituted derivative of aspartame with a polymer selected from the group consisting of PVAC, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene and plastic polymers; and    b) adding a quantity of the encapsulated N-substituted derivative of aspartame to a chewing gum formulation to provide an N-substituted derivative of aspartame level in the chewing gum formulation of from about 0.0001% to about 0.1%.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the polymer comprises PVAC.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the encapsulation step comprises extrusion.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  in which the polymer comprises PVAC having a molecular weight of about 15,000.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  in which the polymer comprises PVAC having a molecular weight of about 30,000.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  in which the polymer comprises PVAC having a molecular weight from about 50,000 to about 80,000.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  in which the polymer comprises a blend of PVACs having molecular weights from about 15,000 to about 100,000.  
   
   
       18 . A process for making chewing gum which comprises the steps of: 
 a) preparing a gum base;    b) preparing a water soluble bulk portion;    c) preparing a gradual release structure which comprises the steps of: 
 i) preparing a mixture of a N-substituted derivative of aspartame and wall material, having more than zero but less than about 55% N-substituted derivative of aspartame;  
 ii) extruding the mixture;  
 iii) cooling the mixture; and  
 iv) grinding the cooled mixture into gradual release structure; and,  
   d) combining the gradual release structure, the gum base and the water soluble bulk portion.    
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18  in which the wall material comprises a blend of PVACs having molecular weights from about 15,000 to about 100,000.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein the N-substituted derivative of aspartame comprises N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester.