Compositions having an oil-in-water dispersion of submicron particles to enhance foods and beverages
First Claim
1. A method of using a composition having an oil-in-water dispersion to enhance a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of a food, comprising:
- applying, into or onto the food, a substantially surfactant-free composition that remains stable when diluted at least up to 1000 fold with an aqueous fluid, the composition comprising;
a first oil-in-water dispersion having an oil phase comprising one or more hydrophobic particles that have a net negative charge that is −
30 mV or lower of a hydrophobic agent that is edible and 90% wt. or more non-polar suspended in an aqueous phase comprising either water or water and one or more water-miscible substances;
wherein the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have an average particle size of about 100 nm to about 999 nm in diameter, at least 85 wt % of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have a particle size that is ±
200 nm of the average particle size, and the particles have a polydispersity of 0.25 or less;
wherein the net negative charge imparted to the hydrophobic particles causes the particles of the hydrophobic agent to repel each other with a force of repulsion;
wherein the force of repulsion sufficiently exceeds the force of coalescence among the particles of the hydrophobic agent, thereby enhancing stability of the first oil-in-water dispersion by resisting aggregation of the particles of the hydrophobic agent;
wherein small average particle size, low polydispersity, and force of repulsion of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion increase an extent of penetration of the first oil-in-water dispersion throughout a water phase of a substrate of the food; and
thereby producing a bloom effect distributing the particles of the hydrophobic agent uniformly throughout the water phase of the substrate that enhances a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of the food.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A composition having an oil-in-water dispersion with enhanced stability is provided. The oil-in-water dispersion has particles of a hydrophobic agent with an average particle size between about 100 to about 999 nm, where the distribution of particle sizes are a monodispersity about the average particle size, and the negative charge on the particles generates a force of repulsion that exceeds the force of coalescence among the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the oil-in-water dispersion. A method for applying the composition to a food and/or beverage is also provided. The submicron average particle size, dispersity, and force of repulsion of the particles in the dispersion increase the extent of penetration and accelerate diffusion of the particles of the hydrophobic agent throughout a water phase of a food or beverage, to enhance the physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory properties of the food or beverage, and to prevent freezer burn.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of using a composition having an oil-in-water dispersion to enhance a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of a food, comprising:
applying, into or onto the food, a substantially surfactant-free composition that remains stable when diluted at least up to 1000 fold with an aqueous fluid, the composition comprising; a first oil-in-water dispersion having an oil phase comprising one or more hydrophobic particles that have a net negative charge that is −
30 mV or lower of a hydrophobic agent that is edible and 90% wt. or more non-polar suspended in an aqueous phase comprising either water or water and one or more water-miscible substances;wherein the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have an average particle size of about 100 nm to about 999 nm in diameter, at least 85 wt % of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have a particle size that is ±
200 nm of the average particle size, and the particles have a polydispersity of 0.25 or less;wherein the net negative charge imparted to the hydrophobic particles causes the particles of the hydrophobic agent to repel each other with a force of repulsion; wherein the force of repulsion sufficiently exceeds the force of coalescence among the particles of the hydrophobic agent, thereby enhancing stability of the first oil-in-water dispersion by resisting aggregation of the particles of the hydrophobic agent; wherein small average particle size, low polydispersity, and force of repulsion of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion increase an extent of penetration of the first oil-in-water dispersion throughout a water phase of a substrate of the food; and thereby producing a bloom effect distributing the particles of the hydrophobic agent uniformly throughout the water phase of the substrate that enhances a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of the food. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 19, 20, 21)
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10. A method of using a composition having an oil-in-water dispersion to enhance a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of a beverage, comprising:
applying, into the beverage, a substantially surfactant-free composition that remains stable when diluted at least up to woo fold with an aqueous fluid, the composition comprising; a first oil-in-water dispersion having an oil phase comprising one or more hydrophobic particles that have a net negative charge that is −
30 mV or lower of a hydrophobic agent that is edible and 90% wt. or more non-polar suspended in an aqueous phase comprising either water or water and one or more water-miscible substances;wherein the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have an average particle size of about 100 nm to about 999 nm in diameter, at least 85 wt % of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion have a particle size that is ±
200 nm of the average particle size, and the particles have a polydispersity of 0.25 or less;wherein the net negative charge imparted to the hydrophobic particles causes the particles of the hydrophobic agent to repel each other with a force of repulsion; wherein the force of repulsion sufficiently exceeds the force of coalescence among the particles of the hydrophobic agent, thereby enhancing stability of the first oil-in-water dispersion by resisting aggregation of the particles of the hydrophobic agent; wherein the small average particle size, low polydispersity, and force of repulsion of the particles of the hydrophobic agent in the first oil-in-water dispersion increase an extent of penetration of the first oil-in-water dispersion throughout a water phase of the beverage, thereby producing a bloom effect distributing the particles of the hydrophobic agent uniformly throughout the water phase of the beverage that enhances a physical, chemical, nutritional and/or sensory property of the beverage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24)
Specification