Carotenoid particles and uses thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to the incorporation of bioactive cargo molecules into particles with carotenoids, such as lycopene. The incorporation of a cargo molecule into a carotenoid particle may for example increase the bioavailability of the cargo molecule in the bloodstream compared to other delivery systems. Carotenoid particles as described herein may be useful in the formulation of therapeutic and nutritional compounds for oral administration to individuals.

1 . A population of particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof, each particle comprising a carotenoid compound and one or more cargo molecules. 
     
     
         2 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein, in one or more particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles or clusters thereof in the population, the carotenoid compound forms an outer, interim or cluster-bed layer which encapsulates an inner core or embedded or anchored structure, said core or structure comprising the cargo molecules. 
     
     
         3 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein, in one or more particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles or clusters thereof in the population, the cargo molecules form an outer layer which encapsulates an inner core comprising the carotenoid compound. 
     
     
         4 . A population according to  claim 2  wherein the one or more particles form soluble micelles. 
     
     
         5 . A population according to  claim 4  wherein at least 90% of the particles in the population are soluble micelles. 
     
     
         6 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein, in one or more particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof, in the population, the carotenoid compound forms a matrix into which cargo molecules are anchored or embedded. 
     
     
         7 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the carotenoid particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof, comprise a single carotenoid compound. 
     
     
         8 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the carotenoid particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof comprise more than one carotenoid compound. 
     
     
         9 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the carotenoid compound is lycopene. 
     
     
         10 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the carotenoid compound is lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, phytoene, phytofluene, a xanthophyll, a carotene, or any other carotenoid. 
     
     
         11 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the carotenoid compound is an extract, oleoresin, concentrate, or enriched or other product obtained from fruit, vegetable, plant, animal, fungus, yeast, or algae, or bacteria, or other source containing lycopene, or lutein, zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, phytoene, phytofluene, or other xanthophylls, or carotenes, or any other carotenoids. 
     
     
         12 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein each particle, for example micelle, reverse micelle, or cluster thereof, in the population comprises 0.05 to 90% by weight of carotenoid compound. 
     
     
         13 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo molecule is selected from the group consisting of whey protein, statin, isoflavone, and revestarol. 
     
     
         14 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo molecule is a product of the fermentation, oxidation, processing, or degradation of food, or a product of microbial metabolism. 
     
     
         15 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo molecule is selected from the group consisting of food fermentation products; lecithin; phospholipids; carbohydrates; amino acids; flavones; flavonols; flavanones; flavanonols; isoflavones; catechins, gallocatechin, catechin 3-gallate, gallocatechin 3-gallate, epicatechins, epigallocatechin, epicatechin 3-gallate, and flavon-3-ols; proanthocyanidins; anthocyanidins; aglycones of anthocyanins; silibinin, silymarin, curcuminoids, gingerols, and ceramides; isoprene, prenol, isovaleric acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, eucalyptol, limonene, pinene, farnesyl pyrophosphate, artemisinin, bisabolol, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, retinol, retinal, phytol, taxol, forskolin, aphidicolin, squalene, lanosterol, terpenes, and terpenoids; sterols and sterol esters; phytosterols; alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols; oils, such as shark or other cartilaginous fish oils, vegetable oils, or oils from amaranth seed, rice, wheat germ, or olives; squalenes, retinoids, hydrolysable tannins, cinnamic acid, lignins polyphenols, vitamins, minerals, caffeine, theobromine, methy-, dimethyl-, and para-xanthines, xanthine alkaloid, penicillins, fungal metabolites, cephalosporins, cardapenems, sulphonamides, quinolones, oxazodinones, macrolides, anti-viral, cardio-vascular, metabolic, anti-fungal, and anti-parasite drugs; and statins. 
     
     
         16 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the particles, micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof in said population do not contain whey protein. 
     
     
         17 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein each particle, micelle, reverse micelle, or cluster thereof in the population comprises 0.05 to 90% by weight of cargo molecule. 
     
     
         18 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the ratio of carotenoid compound to cargo molecule by weight is 0.02 or more. 
     
     
         19 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the ratio of carotenoid compound to cargo molecule by weight is up to 20. 
     
     
         20 . A population according to  claim 1  wherein the bioavailability of the cargo molecule after oral administration is increased by two fold or more by incorporation into the carotenoid particles, for example micelles, reverse micelles, or clusters thereof. 
     
     
         21 - 42 . (canceled)