Natural Water-Insoluble Encapsulation Compositions and Processes for Preparing Same

Abstract

The present invention relates to dry particulate encapsulation compositions comprising a water-insoluble matrix comprising at least 70% by weight of proteins, based on the total weight of the matrix and a moisture content of about 5 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the matrix and an encapsulate encapsulated in the matrix, wherein the matrix once wetted in a clear colorless aqueous solution or in mineral oil has a lightness value (L*) greater than about 40, a color vividness or Chroma (C*) lower than about 33 and a hue angle between about 70 and 90. The encapsulation compositions of the present invention are useful in encapsulating dyes, medications and vitamins. Fine particulate encapsulation compositions comprising natural dyes can be used in lieu of artificial lakes in confectionery, cosmetics and caplets color coatings.

1 . A dry particulate encapsulation composition, comprising:
 (a) a water-insoluble matrix, said matrix comprising at least 70% by weight of proteins, based on the total weight of said matrix and a moisture content of about 5 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of said matrix; and   (b) an encapsulate, dispersed in said water insoluble matrix,   wherein said matrix is capable of encapsulating water soluble and water-insoluble encapsulates and wherein said matrix once wetted in a clear colorless aqueous solution or in mineral oil has a lightness value (L*) greater than about 40, a color vividness or Chroma (C*) lower than about 33 and a hue angle between about 70° and 90°.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said matrix retains completely or releases completely or releases partially said encapsulate after said encapsulation composition is dispersed into an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said matrix comprises a protein concentrate, a protein isolate or a mixture thereof having a protein content greater than 77% by weight, based on the dry weight of said protein concentrate, protein isolate or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said protein concentrate is a rice protein concentrate with a protein content greater than about 77% by weight, based on the dry weight of said rice protein concentrate. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said protein isolate is a soy protein isolate with a protein content greater than about 87% by weight, based on the dry weight of said soy protein isolate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is comprised of a powder possessing brittleness such as to enable dry milling to particles smaller than 20 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said powder is comprised of particles having an average size smaller than about 20 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said powder is comprised of particles having an average size smaller than 10 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said powder is optionally coated with oil, wax, zein, gum, an emulsifier or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said encapsulate is composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of one or more medication, one or more vitamin, and one or more coloring agent. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said encapsulate is a coloring agent. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein said coloring agent is selected from the group consisting of a natural dye, a nature-identical dye, a lake of natural dye, a synthetic dye and a synthetic lake. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said natural dye is selected from the group consisting of anthaquinones, betalains, caramel, carotenoids, curcuminoids, flavins, flavonoids, porphyrins and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a flavonoid. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said flavonoid is obtained from at least one of the group consisting of: red cabbage, sweet potato, red radish, elderberry and grape. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a betalain. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said betalain is beet red. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising ascorbic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is an anthraquinone. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said anthraquinone is selected from the group consisting of: carminic acid and carmine. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a carotenoid. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein said carotenoid is selected from the group consisting of: annatto, apocarotenal, apocarotenal ester, canthaxanthin, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, paprika and saffron. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein said carotenoid is selected from bixin, norbixin and crocin. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a porphyrin. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein said porphyrin is selected from the group consisting of: chlorophyll and chlorophyllin. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a curcuminoid. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein said curcuminoid is turmeric. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein said natural dye is a flavin. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 28 , wherein said flavin is riboflavin. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said composition is a high dye encapsulate having a concentration of dye ranging from 5-15% by weight based on the total dry weight of said matrix and said encapsulate. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said high dye encapsulate has a concentration of dye ranging from 5-10% by weight based on the total dry weight of said matrix and said encapsulate. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one agent selected from the group consisting of:
 a) an organic or inorganic acid, tannic acid, ascorbic acid, a calcium salt, zein, an emulsifier, a gum, or a mixture thereof;   b) a stabilizer or preservative agent selected from the group consisting of: a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, isoascorbic acid, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, sodium citrate, sorbic acid, potassium sodium bisulphate and a mixture thereof; and   c) a non-polar coating selected from the group consisting of: waxes, oils, fats, long chain fatty acids, acacia, gelatin, lecithin, cholesterol, sulfates or sulfonates, gums, zein and a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 14 , further comprising organic or inorganic acids or calcium salts to alter the hue of the color of said flavonoid. 
     
     
         36 . A process for preparing the dry particulate encapsulation composition of  claim 1  comprising:
 (i) mixing an encapsulate (A), a matrix (B) and water in an extruder, to obtain a melted mixture which comprises said encapsulate (A), said matrix (B) and water;   (ii) extruding said melted mixture, to obtain an extruded mixture;   (iii) drying said pieces of extruded mixture to a moisture content between about 5 and 10% by weight, based on the total weight of dried extruded mixture; and   (iv) grinding said dried extruded mixture,   wherein said matrix comprises at least 70% by weight of proteins, based on the total weight of said matrix, and wherein said encapsulate is selected from the group consisting of: a natural dye, a nature-identical dye, an artificial dye, a lake of a natural dye, a lake of an artificial dye, a medication, a vitamin or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said dried extruded mixture is ground to a fine powder wherein particles have an average size smaller than about 20 microns. 
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said dried extruded mixture is ground to a fine powder with particles having an average size smaller than about 10 microns. 
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said dried extruded mixture is ground, suspended in a liquid media and homogenized. 
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 37 , wherein said matrix (B) comprises rice protein concentrate with a protein content above about 77% by weight, based on the dry weight of said rice protein concentrate. 
     
     
         41 . The process of  claim 37 , wherein said matrix (B) comprises a soy protein isolate with a protein content above about 87% by weight, based on the dry weight of said soy protein isolate. 
     
     
         42 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said extruder is a twin screw extruder. 
     
     
         43 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said extruded mixture comprises 30 to 50% by weight of water prior to drying, based on the total weight of said extruded mixture. 
     
     
         44 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said extruded mixture comprises 45 to 70% by weight of water prior to drying, based on the total weight of said extruded mixture. 
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said encapsulate is a medication. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 45 , wherein said composition enables a time release of said medication after ingestion. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said natural dye is selected from geniposide, sandalwood, sepia and vegetable black. 
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 36 , wherein said extruded mixture is cut into pieces having an average size smaller than 10 mm prior to drying.