Encapsulation of sensitive liquid components into a matrix to obtain discrete shelf-stable particles

• US 8,313,757 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Mills Incorporated
• Original Assignee: General Mills Incorporated
• Inventors: van Lengerich, Bernhard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarazano, D Lawrence
• Assistant Examiner(s): Badr, Hamid R
• Application Number:
  US11/677,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20070141096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 424/401, 424/490, 424/93.45, 424/439, 264/4
• US Class Current: 424/401
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 13/28 characterised by the coating composition
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 8/04 treating dough with microorganisms or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A21D 8/042 with enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 2220/204 Use of bacteria which are encapsulated, entrapped or immobilised; Fermentation with these bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/72 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/065 Microorganisms addition of bacteria for nutritional purposes A23L33/135
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 7/135 Individual or non-extruded flakes, granules or shapes having similar size, e.g. breakfast cereals
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 9/10 Puddings; Dry powder puddings
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/25 Agglomeration or granulation by extrusion or by pressing, e.g. through small holes, through sieves or between surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0056 Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

A liquid encapsulant component which contains an active, sensitive encapsulant, such as a live microorganism or an enzyme dissolved or dispersed in a liquid plasticizer is admixed with a plasticizable matrix material. The matrix material is plasticizable by the liquid plasticizer and the encapsulation of the active encapsulant is accomplished at a low temperature and under low shear conditions. The active component is encapsulated and/or embedded in the plasticizable matrix component or material in a continuous process to produce discrete, solid particles. The liquid content of the liquid encapsulant component provides substantially all or completely all of the liquid plasticizer needed to plasticize the matrix component to obtain a formable, extrudable, cuttable, mixture or dough. Removal of liquid plasticizer prior to extrusion is not needed to adjust the viscosity of the mixture for formability. Release of an active component from the matrix may be delayed or controlled over time so that the active component is delivered when and where it is needed to perform its intended function. Controlled release, discrete, solid particles which contain an encapsulated and/or embedded component such as a heat sensitive or readily oxidizable pharmaceutically, biologically, or nutritionally active component are continuously produced without substantial destruction of the matrix material or encapsulant.

Claims

1. An encapsulated product comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of:

at least one plasticized matrix material comprising a plasticized biopolymer in an amount of at least about 30% by weight, based upon the weight of the encapsulated product, said plasticized biopolymer being plasticized at a temperature of less than about 50°

C. and

about 1% by weight to about 85% by weight of an encapsulant, based upon the weight of the matrix material, wherein the encapsulant is at least substantially uniformly distributed in said at least one plasticized matrix material, said encapsulant being at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes, lactobacilli, probiotics, and prebiotics,

at least one component for controlling the rate of release of the encapsulant, wherein the at least one release-rate controlling component slows the rate of release of the encapsulant, and is present in an amount of about 5% to about 70% by weight, based upon the weight of the matrix material,

wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material is plasticized by a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous-based composition, alcohol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, silicone, hexanol, pentanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), hexane, and mixtures thereof, and said encapsulated product is in substantially non-expanded, particulate form.

2. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biopolymer is a carbohydrate.

3. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a durum ingredient, a pregelatinized starch, and a modified starch.

4. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a pregelatinized starch, and a modified starch.

5. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material comprises at least one durum ingredient.

6. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least one durum ingredient is selected from the group consisting of durum semolina, durum granular, and durum flour.

7. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes and lactobacilli.

8. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one enzyme.

9. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said encapsulant is at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, lipases, pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases, pentosanases, and phytases.

10. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 3 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes and lactobacilli.

11. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 4 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes and lactobacilli.

12. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 5 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes and lactobacilli.

13. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 3 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one enzyme.

14. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 3 wherein said encapsulant is at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of amylases, proteases, lipases, pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases, pentosanases, and phytases.

15. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 comprising about 3% by weight to about 50% by weight of the encapsulant, based upon the weight of the matrix material.

16. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 comprising about 5% by weight to about 30% by weight of the encapsulant, based upon the weight of the matrix material.

17. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of said at least one plasticized matrix material is from about 60% by weight to about 95% by weight, based upon the weight of the encapsulated product.

18. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one release-rate controlling component is a hydrophobic agent for controlling the rate of release of the encapsulant.

19. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one release-rate controlling component is a high water binding capacity component for controlling the rate of release of the encapsulant.

20. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of said at least one release-rate controlling component is about 10% to about 70% by weight, based upon the weight of the at least one plasticizable matrix material.

21. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 18 wherein the amount of said hydrophobic agent is about 10% to about 70% by weight, based upon the weight of the at least one plasticizable matrix material.

22. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 18 comprising about 10% to about 35% by weight of the hydrophobic agent, based upon the weight of the at least one plasticizable matrix material.

23. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 18 wherein the hydrophobic agent is selected from the group consisting of fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, and synthetic polymers.

24. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 18 wherein the hydrophobic agent comprises an oil.

25. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein a liquid encapsulant component comprising the encapsulant and a liquid plasticizer provides at least a substantial portion of liquid plasticizer for forming the at least one plasticized matrix material.

26. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an at least substantially ungelatinized starch.

28. A food topping comprising an encapsulated product according to claim 1 in granular form.

29. A food composition comprising:

an encapsulated product according to claim 1; and

a food product selected from the group consisting of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, snacks, soups, salads, cakes, cookies, crackers, ice creams, yogurts, puddings, custards, baby foods, medicinal foods, sports bars, and beverages.

30. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lactobacilli and probiotics.

31. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 5 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lactobacilli and probiotics.

27. An encapsulated product comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of:

at least one plasticized matrix material in an amount of at least about 30% by weight, based upon the weight of the encapsulated product, wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a durum ingredient, a pregelatinized starch, and a modified starch, said plasticized matrix material being plasticized at a temperature of less than about 50°

C.,

about 1% by weight to about 85% by weight of an encapsulant, based upon the weight of the matrix material, wherein the encapsulant is at least substantially uniformly distributed in said at least one plasticized matrix material, said encapsulant being at least one member selected from the group consisting of enzymes, lactobacilli, probiotics, and prebiotics,

at least one component for controlling the rate of release of the encapsulant, wherein said at least one release-rate controlling component comprises a hydrophobic agent for controlling the rate of release of the encapsulant, wherein the amount of said hydrophobic agent is about 5% to about 70% by weight, based upon the weight of the at least one plasticizable matrix material,

wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material is plasticized by a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous-based composition, alcohol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, silicone, hexanol, pentanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), hexane, and mixtures thereof, and said encapsulated product is in substantially non-expanded, particulate form.

32. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 27 wherein said encapsulant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lactobacilli and probiotics.

33. An encapsulated product as claimed in claim 32 wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material comprises at least one durum ingredient.

34. An encapsulated product comprising a substantially homogeneous mixture of:

at least one plasticized matrix material comprising a plasticized biopolymer in an amount of at least about 30% by weight, based upon the weight of the encapsulated product, said plasticized biopolymer being plasticized at a temperature of less than about 50°

C., and

about 1% by weight to about 85% by weight of an encapsulant, based upon the weight of the matrix material, wherein the encapsulant is at least substantially uniformly distributed in said at least one plasticized matrix material, said encapsulant being at least one member selected from the group consisting of lactobacilli, probiotics, and prebiotics,

wherein said at least one plasticized matrix material is plasticized by a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of water, an aqueous-based composition, alcohol, glycerol, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, silicone, hexanol, pentanol, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), hexane, and mixtures thereof, and said encapsulated product is in substantially non-expanded, particulate form.