Gastro-resistant microencapsulates, and uses thereof to stimulate in-vivo ileal glp-1 release in a mammal

Abstract

A cold-gelated mono-nuclear microencapsulate comprises a unitary liquid core encapsulated within a gastro-resistant, ileal-sensitive, polymerized denatured protein membrane shell, wherein the liquid core comprises a GLP-1 release stimulating agent in a substantially solubilised form. The GLP-1 release stimulating agent is a native protein selected from native dairy protein, native vegetable protein or native egg protein.

1 . A mono-nuclear microencapsulate comprising a core material encapsulated within a gastro-resistant, ileal-sensitive, polymerized protein membrane shell, wherein the core material comprises a GLP-1 release stimulating agent selected from the group consisting of native dairy protein, native vegetable protein, native egg protein, disaccharide, or a mixture thereof, in a substantially solubilised form. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the GLP-1 release stimulating agent is native pea protein. 
     
     
         4 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the core material has a GLP-1 release stimulating agent concentration of 6-8% (w/v). 
     
     
         5 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the protein of the membrane shell is selected from the group consisting of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, or pea protein isolate. 
     
     
         6 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the core material forms at least 50% of the microencapsulate (v/w). 
     
     
         7 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the core material forms 70-95% of the microencapsulate (v/w). 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the core material comprises 7-9% native protein (w/v). 
     
     
         10 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the core material comprises disaccharide. 
     
     
         11 . A composition suitable for oral administration to a mammal comprising a multiplicity of mono-nuclear microencapsulates according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of inducing satiety in a mammal comprising a step of orally administering to the mammal a mono-nuclear microencapsulate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A method of inducing or promoting weight loss in a mammal comprising a step of orally administering to the mammal a mono-nuclear microencapsulate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method of glycaemic management, promoting insulin secretion, reducing blood sugar levels, or treating or preventing obesity, in a mammal, comprising a step of orally administering to the mammal a mono-nuclear microencapsulate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of making a microencapsulate having a unitary liquid core encapsulated within a gastro-resistant polymerized protein membrane shell, which method employs a double nozzle extruder comprising an outer nozzle concentrically formed around an inner nozzle, the method comprising the steps of:
 co-extruding a core-forming solution comprising a GLP-1 release stimulating agent through the inner nozzle of a double nozzle extruder and a protein solution through the outer nozzle of the double nozzle extruder to form microdroplets;   and curing the microdroplets.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in claim  14  in which the core forming solution comprises a GLP-1 release stimulating agent selected from a native dairy protein, a native vegetable protein, a disaccharide, or any mixture thereof, in a substantially solubilised form. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in claim  15  in which the native vegetable protein is native pea protein. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in claim  15  in which the protein solution is selected from whey protein isolate or whey protein concentrate at a concentration of 10-12% (w/v), milk protein concentrate at a concentration of 4-6% (w/v), or pea protein isolate at a concentration of 7-9% (w/v). 
     
     
         26 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The mono-nuclear microencapsulate as claimed in  claim 1  in which the polymerized protein is a polymerized denatured protein. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in claim  15  in which the protein solution comprises a denatured protein solution. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in claim  15  further comprising the step of drying the cured microdroplets. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the drying step comprises vacuum/drum drying the cured microdroplets.