Composition comprising oil drops

Abstract

A composition comprises a water-soluble polymer matrix in which are dispersed droplets of oil, the composition comprising an active principle. The invention includes embodiments in which the active principle is included in at least some of the oil droplets as well as embodiments in which the oil droplets are released as the matrix containing them dissolves in an aqueous medium. In one embodiment, the oil droplets are substantially immobilized in or by the matrix and the immobilizing feature is lost as the matrix dissolves in aqueous media. In certain embodiments, the oil drops may collectively be referred to as the oil phase of the composition of the invention. The product may be in the form of mini-beads. The oil phase and/or the polymer matrix may each include a surfactant.

1 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A composition comprising a water-soluble polymer matrix material in which are dispersed droplets of oil, the composition comprising a peptide or protein. 
     
     
         77 . A composition according to  claim 76  in which the water-soluble polymer matrix material is comprised in the aqueous phase of a dried oil-in-water emulsion. 
     
     
         78 . A composition according to  claim 77  in which the aqueous phase comprises at least one surfactant. 
     
     
         79 . A composition according to  claim 78 , wherein the at least one surfactant is an anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         80 . A composition according to  claim 79 , wherein the anionic surfactant is an alkyl sulfate salt. 
     
     
         81 . A composition according to  claim 80 , wherein the alkyl sulfate salt is sodium dodecyl sulphate. 
     
     
         82 . A composition according to  claim 76 , wherein the water-soluble matrix material is selected from a hydrocolloid, a non-hydrocolloid gum, and chitosan, or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         83 . A composition according to  claim 76 , wherein the water-soluble polymer matrix material is selected from one or more of gelatin, agar, a polyethylene glycol, starch, casein, chitosan, soya bean protein, safflower protein, alginates, gellan gum, carrageenan, xanthan gum, phthalated gelatin, succinated gelatin, cellulosephtalate-acetate, oleoresin, polyvinylacetate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, polymerisates of acrylic or methacrylic esters and polyvinylacetate-phthalate, or any derivative thereof. 
     
     
         84 . A composition according to  claim 83 , wherein the water-soluble polymer matrix material is gelatin. 
     
     
         85 . A composition according to  claim 76  wherein the peptide or protein is included in at least some of the oil droplets. 
     
     
         86 . A composition according to  claim 76 , in which the peptide or protein is of low aqueous solubility. 
     
     
         87 . A composition according to  claim 76 , in which the peptide or protein is soluble in the oil droplets. 
     
     
         88 . A composition according to  claim 76 , in which the oil droplets represent from 10-85% by dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
         89 . A composition according to  claim 76 , in which the oil droplets comprise at least one oil and at least one solubilizer. 
     
     
         90 . A composition according to  claim 89 , wherein the solubilizer has an HLB of 10-20. 
     
     
         91 . A composition according to  claim 89  in which the at least one oil has a low HLB and the at least one solubilizer has a high HLB. 
     
     
         92 . A composition according to  claim 91  in which the ratio of oil of low HLB to solubilizer of high HLB is in the range 1-4:1 by weight. 
     
     
         93 . A composition according to  claim 76 , wherein the oil droplets comprise an oil selected from a poly-unsaturated fatty acid, a natural triglyceride-based oil, a medium chain triglyceride, a linoleoyl macrogolglyceride, or a caprylocaproyl macrogolglyceride. 
     
     
         94 . A composition according to  claim 76 , wherein the oil is selected from caprylic/capric triglyceride, caprylic/capric/linoleic triglyceride, caprylic/capric/succinic triglyceride, or propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate. 
     
     
         95 . A composition according to  claim 94 , wherein the oil is caprylic/capric triglyceride. 
     
     
         96 . A composition according to  claim 76  in which the oil droplets comprises at least one co-solvent. 
     
     
         97 . A composition according to  claim 96  in which the co-solvent is 2-(2-ethoxy)ethanol. 
     
     
         98 . A composition according to claim  1 , in the form of a mini-bead. 
     
     
         99 . A composition according to  claim 98 , in which the mini-bead comprises a coating to modulate release of the protein or peptide from the mini-bead. 
     
     
         100 . A composition comprising a plurality of mini-beads according to  claim 98 .