Porous protein particles as carriers for actives

Abstract

Disclosed are high-porosity protein particles useful for carrying one or more agents of interest, methods for their manufacture and use, and products comprising them.

1 . A method for preparing a porous protein particle, comprising:
 providing a protein isolate;   forming a protein isolate emulsion with an oil;   drying the protein isolate emulsion to produce a powder; and   extracting the oil from the powder to produce the porous protein particle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein isolate emulsion is formed by a procedure comprising one of:
 (i) emulsifying an oil with one or more surfactants with an HLB of 8 to 18;   (ii) emulsifying an oil with a surfactant having an HLB of 14 to 18 in the water phase and surfactant with an HLB of 1 to 6 in the oil phase; or   (iii) mixing a surfactant stabilized emulsion with the protein isolate.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forming of the protein isolate emulsion comprises any of procedures (a)-(e):
 (a) i) providing a mixture comprising an oil, a surfactant and water;
 ii) homogenizing or fluidizing the mixture to form a surfactant stabilized emulsion; 
 iii) combining the protein isolate and the surfactant stabilized emulsion to form a protein isolate-surfactant stabilized emulsion; and 
 iv) optionally combining the protein isolate-surfactant stabilized emulsion with a further component; 
   (b) i) providing a mixture comprising the protein isolate, a modified cellulose, and water; and
 ii) combining the mixture with an oil to form an emulsion; and 
 iii) homogenizing or fluidizing the emulsion; 
   (c) i) providing a mixture comprising the protein isolate and a surfactant; and
 ii) combining the mixture with an oil to form an emulsion; and 
 iii) homogenizing or fluidizing the emulsion; 
   (d) i) providing a mixture comprising an oil, an amphipathic surfactant, and water to form an emulsion;
 ii) homogenizing or fluidizing the emulsion; and 
 iii) combining the protein isolate and the emulsion; 
   (e) i) combining an oil with the protein isolate together with water; and
 ii) homogenizing or fluidizing the mixture to form an emulsion. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein isolate is dissolved or suspended in water. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein isolate is at least one protein isolate chosen from whey protein isolate, soy protein isolate, casein, sodium caseinate, egg white proteins, ovalbumin, rice protein isolate, potato protein isolates, canola protein isolates, pea protein isolates and bovine serum albumin; each of which can be either native or denatured. 
     
     
         6 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oil is selected from rapeseed oil, soybean oil, triglyceride oils and medium-chain triglyceride oil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drying is spray drying or freeze drying. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the modified cellulose comprises one or more of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracting of the powder comprises extracting with supercritical carbon dioxide or extracting with an organic solvent. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsion is homogenized to produce an average droplet diameter of from 100 nm to 1000 nm; or 100 nm to 300 nm, or about 200 nm. 
     
     
         18 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for loading one or more active substances into a porous protein particle, comprising contacting said active substances with a porous protein particle, for a time and under conditions effective to load the active substances; wherein the porous protein particle is prepared by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein each active substance is independently selected from flavors, fragrances, nutrients, active substances, taste-masking substances, biocides, pesticides vitamins and personal care substances. 
     
     
         31 - 67 . (canceled)