Colloidal plant powder/extract encapsulation with pectin-protein coacervate gels

Abstract

A process for preparing coated particles of a plant material includes: (a) combining plant material particles and a protein in a liquid medium, wherein the protein adsorbs onto at least a portion of a surface of the particles to form a first layer; and (b) mixing a polysaccharide including a pectin with the liquid medium, so that the polysaccharide adsorbs onto at least a portion of a surface of the first layer to form a second layer. In addition, a palatable product comprising at least one coated particle prepared by this process is described.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A coated particle comprising:
 a base particle including a plant material, the base particle having a negative charge;   a first layer at least partially coating the base particle, the first layer having a positive charge, the first layer including,
 a protein; and 
   a second layer at least partially coating the first layer, the second layer having a negative charge, the second layer including,   a polysaccharide.   
     
     
         22 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the plant material includes a tobacco substitute. 
     
     
         23 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the particle has a net negative charge. 
     
     
         24 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the particle has a neutral charge. 
     
     
         25 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the second layer further includes a non-gelling polysaccharide including curdlan, agar, locust bean gum, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a third layer at least partially coating the second layer, the third layer including, κ-carrageenan.   
     
     
         27 . The coated particle of  claim 26 , wherein the κ-carrageenan is included in an amount ranging from 10 weight percent to 60 weight percent of the total polysaccharides in the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         28 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the first layer further includes a salt. 
     
     
         29 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the second layer further includes a salt. 
     
     
         30 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the particle has a first color lighter than a second color of the plant material. 
     
     
         31 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the protein includes milk protein, whey protein, soy protein, wheat protein, rice protein, egg white protein, protein obtained from tobacco, gelatin, protein hydrolyzates, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the protein is a tobacco-sourced protein. 
     
     
         33 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the polysaccharide includes a pectin. 
     
     
         34 . The coated particle of  claim 33 , wherein the second layer further includes gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, gum tragacanth, gellan gum, xanthan gum, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The coated particle of claim  13 , wherein the second layer further includes κ-carageenan. 
     
     
         36 . The coated particle of  claim 33 , wherein the pectin includes tobacco pectin, apple pectin, citrus pectin, plum pectin, gooseberry pectin, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The coated particle of  claim 36 , wherein the pectin includes the tobacco pectin. 
     
     
         38 . The coated particle of  claim 37 , wherein the tobacco pectin includes unwashed tobacco pectin or undialyzed tobacco pectin. 
     
     
         39 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the coated particle has a moisture content ranging from 2 weight percent to 6 weight percent. 
     
     
         40 . The coated particle of  claim 21 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are free of a salt.