Method For Encapsulation Of Orally Ingested Materials To Alter The Site Of Digestion, Site Of Action, Or Stability

Abstract

Comestible materials encapsulated by a film-forming composition including a plant protein source and methods of forming the same are provided. The film-forming composition affects the site of digestion of the comestible material within the digestive tract of an animal or a human thereby allowing the material to be most effectively utilized by the body. Also, the film-forming compositions maybe used to enhance the stability of the encapsulated material and prevent undesired interaction with other components of a mixture.

1 . An encapsulated comestible material comprising: 
 at least one comestible particulate material; and    a coating composition applied to and encapsulating said at least one particulate material, said coating material comprising a plant-derived protein source.    
   
   
       2 . The encapsulated material of  claim 1 , wherein said protein source is selected from the group consisting of vital wheat gluten, wheat protein isolate, wheat protein derivatives, zein protein, soy protein, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The encapsulated material of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one particulate material is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, drugs, food additives, nutriceuticals, microorganisms, enzymes, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, antimicrobial products, vaccines, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The encapsulated material of  claim 1 , wherein said coating composition comprises from about 1-50% by weight of said protein source.  
   
   
       5 . The encapsulated material of  claim 1 , wherein said coating composition comprises less than 1% by weight animal protein.  
   
   
       6 . A method of forming an encapsulated material comprising the steps of: 
 providing a film-forming solution comprising a plant-derived protein source;    coating at least one particulate comestible material with said film-forming solution; and    drying said film-forming solution on said at least one particulate comestible material thereby forming said encapsulated material.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said protein source is selected from the group consisting of vital wheat gluten, wheat protein isolate, wheat protein derivatives, zein protein, soy protein, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one comestible material is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, drugs, food additives, nutriceuticals, microorganisms, enzymes, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, antimicrobial products, vaccines, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said film-forming solution comprises from about 1-50% by weight of said protein source.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said film-forming solution comprises less than 1% by weight animal protein.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said film-forming solution comprises a solute selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said coating step comprises blending said particulate comestible material and said film-forming solution to form a homogeneous mixture.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said drying step comprises vacuum drying, spray-drying, freeze-drying, oven-drying, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       14 . A method of feeding an animal or a human comprising: 
 feeding said animal or human a particulate material encapsulated with a film-forming composition comprising a plant-derived protein source.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said plant derived protein source is selected from the group consisting of vital wheat gluten, wheat protein isolate, wheat protein derivatives, zein protein, soy protein, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said particulate material is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, drugs, food additives, nutriceuticals, microorganisms, enzymes, peptides, proteins, carbohydrates, antimicrobial products, vaccines, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said film-forming composition comprises less than 1% by weight animal protein.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said animal is a ruminant animal.