Novel composition of matter for delivering lipid-soluble materials, and a method for producing it

Abstract

This invention describes a novel composition of matter describing a complex comprising leaf protein and a lipophilic substance(s), along with the method of producing it. Delivery of lipid-soluble materials into the body is challenging because they are generally highly insoluble in water and very subject to oxidative degradation. The inventors have found that leaf protein—the water-soluble proteins derived from plant leaves—can efficiently form a complex with lipophilic materials. This leaf protein-lipid-soluble material complex is an effective carrier of lipophilic substances. As such, the leaf protein-lipid-soluble material complex disclosed herein can be used for the delivery of lipophilic vitamins, fatty acids, caretenoids, lipophilic drugs, and other lipophilic materials. This complex can be used to deliver lipophiles in foods, nutritional and dietary supplements, topical compositions and in pharmaceutical products.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of preparing a leaf protein-lipid soluble material complex comprising the following steps:
 (a) preparing a suspension containing leaf protein in a suitable solvent; and   (b)combining the leaf protein suspension with the lipid-soluble material.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein non-water-soluble material is removed from the leaf protein after it is put into suspension. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the lipid-soluble material is solubilized in a solvent before it is combined with the leaf protein suspension. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in (b) the leaf protein in suspension is combined with lipid-soluble material in a solvent by means of magnetic stirring, sonication, manual stirring, shaking, or any combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the leaf-protein-lipid-soluble material mixture is frozen after the components are combined. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the mixture is frozen within one hour of combining the leaf protein and the lipid-soluble material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the freezing is performing by application of liquid nitrogen; dry ice, or storage at a sub-freezing temperature, or a combination of these techniques. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the mixture is frozen substantially immediately after combining the leaf protein and the lipid-soluble material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the leaf-protein-lipid-soluble substance(s) mixture is dried to a powder after it is mixed. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the drying is performed by freeze-drying, precipitation, spray drying, oven-drying, microwaving, or a combination of these techniques. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the frozen mixture is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the solvent in (a) is water. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the solvent in (b) is an organic solvent. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the organic solvent comprises ethanol, methanol, another alcohol, hexane, toluene, or acetone.