Oral products having filler material for controlled release of active compounds

Abstract

An oral product includes a filler and an active ingredient. The filler includes a modified agglomerate and a surface modifier. The modified agglomerate includes a porous carrier. The surface modifier coats at least a portion of a surface of the agglomerate, is in pores of the agglomerate, or both coats at least a portion of the surface of the agglomerate and is in pores of the agglomerate. The surface modifier includes a sugar alcohol or a hydrophobic material. The active ingredient is admixed with the filler.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An oral product comprising:
 a filler including,
 a modified agglomerate including,
 an agglomerate including,
 a porous carrier material, and 
 
 a surface modifier coating at least a portion of a surface of the agglomerate, in pores of the agglomerate, or both coating at least a portion of the surface of the agglomerate and in pores of the agglomerate, the surface modifier including, a sugar alcohol, or
 a hydrophobic material; and 
 a releasable ingredient admixed with the filler. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the porous carrier material includes cellulose. 
     
     
         3 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the porous carrier material includes microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         4 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the modified agglomerate further includes a flavoring agent absorbed in the porous carrier material. 
     
     
         5 . The oral product of  claim 1 , the filler has a water content ranging from 1 weight percent to 5 weight percent. 
     
     
         6 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifier includes the hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         7 . The oral product of  claim 6 , wherein a surface of the hydrophobic material has an artificial saliva contact angle ranging from 60° to 80°. 
     
     
         8 . The oral product of  claim 6 , wherein the hydrophobic material includes corn zein. 
     
     
         9 . The oral product of  claim 6 , wherein the surface modifier further includes a base. 
     
     
         10 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the surface modifier includes the sugar alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The oral product of  claim 10 , wherein the sugar alcohol has a water solubility ranging from 0.1 g/g to less than or equal to about 2.5 g/g. 
     
     
         12 . The oral product of  claim 10 , wherein the sugar alcohol includes sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, lactitol, erythritol, isomaltose, mannitol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The oral product of  claim 12 , wherein the sugar alcohol includes maltitol. 
     
     
         14 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the modified agglomerate has an average particle size ranging from 200 μm to 450 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein in the modified agglomerate has a porosity ranging from 40% to 70%. 
     
     
         16 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the modified agglomerate has an average pore size ranging from 3 micrometers (μm) to 8 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The oral product of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable ingredient includes nicotine. 
     
     
         18 . The oral product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pouch,   wherein the filler and the releasable ingredient are in the pouch.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a filler for an oral product, the method comprising:
 forming an agglomerate by agglomerating a porous carrier material;   forming a modified agglomerate by contacting a surface modifier with the agglomerate such that the surface modifier coats at least a portion of a surface of the agglomerate, impregnates pores of the agglomerate, or both coats at least a portion of the surface of the agglomerate and impregnates pores of the agglomerate; and   preparing the filler by drying the modified agglomerate.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing an oral product, the method comprising:
 preparing a filler material including,
 forming an agglomerate by agglomerating a porous carrier material, 
 forming a modified agglomerate by contacting a surface modifier with the agglomerate such that the surface modifier coats at least a portion of a surface of the agglomerate, impregnates pores of the agglomerate, or both coats at least a portion of the surface of the agglomerate and impregnates pores of the agglomerate, and 
 preparing the filler material by drying the modified agglomerate; and 
   forming the oral product by admixing a releasable ingredient with the filler material.