# US 10,945,964 B2 · Microencapsulated chitosan, methods of making and methods for the use thereof

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- Number: US 10,945,964 B2
- Document ID: US10945964B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/492,107
- Filed: 2018-03-05
- Published: 2020-02-20
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-07
- Assignees: Primex Ehf.
- Applicants: Primex Ehf.
- Inventors: Einar Matthíasson; Sigrídur Vigdis Vigfúsdóttir; Hélène L. Lauzon; Ólafur Stefánsson; Gudnÿ Helga Kristjánsdóttir
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945964B2

## CPC

- A61K 9/5042: {Cellulose; Cellulose derivatives, e.g. phthalate or acetate succinate esters of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose}
- A21D 13/06: Products with modified nutritive value, e.g. with modified starch content
- A23L 33/28: Substances of animal origin, e.g. gelatin or collagen
- A23P 10/30: Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
- 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}
- A61K 31/722: Chitin, chitosan
- A61P 3/06: Antihyperlipidemics
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A21D: TREATMENT OF FLOUR OR DOUGH FOR BAKING, e.g. BY ADDITION OF MATERIALS; BAKING; BAKERY PRODUCTS (preservation of flour or dough before baking A23B40/00; preservation of bakery products A23B45/00)
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

Provided herein are microencapsulated chitosan materials and formulations containing same, methods of making such formulations, and methods of using such formulations. Application of a microencapsulation coating on chitosan materials and formulations containing same renders possible the use of chitosan materials for different, novel chitosan-based dietary applications with the primary aim to decrease intestinal absorption of fat and enhance overall health, without interfering with or reducing food palatability. The present invention provides methods to microencapsulate highly effective chitosan or chitosan salts to moderate their interaction with food components and mask any off-flavors and off-tastes but allow rapid chitosan solubilization under gastric acid conditions and simultaneous binding of ingested lipids. Chitosan contemplated for use herein is preferably of high quality with high fat-binding capacity, and its source is preferably of crustacean origin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plurality of microencapsulated chitosan particles comprising
(a) a core comprising a chitosan or a chitosan salt, and
(b) a shell enclosing the core, wherein the shell comprises a coating material;
wherein the coating material comprises shellac, a cellulose derivative, a carbohydrate, a polysaccharide gum, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or zein,
wherein the weight of the coating material is in the range of from about 5 to about 25% of the weight of the chitosan or chitosan salt;
wherein at least 95% of the microencapsulated chitosan particles have a particle size of less than 250 μm;
wherein the coating material is insoluble under acidic conditions of pH 3 or above, but solubilizes or releases the core material within 5 minutes at pH <2, thereby causing the chitosan material to become positively charged;
wherein the particles have a fat binding capacity of at least 50 g oil/g chitosan at pH <2.

### Claim 2

A plurality of microencapsulated chitosan particles comprising
(a) a core comprising a chitosan or a chitosan salt, and
(b) a shell enclosing the core, wherein the shell comprises a coating material;
wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt in the core comprises a particle size of at least about 100 mesh;
wherein the weight of the coating material is in the range of from about 5 to about 25% of the weight of the chitosan or chitosan salt;
wherein at least 95% of the microencapsulated chitosan particles have a particle size of less than 250 μm;
wherein the coating material is insoluble under acidic conditions of pH 3 or above, but solubilizes or releases the core material within 5 minutes at pH <2, thereby causing the chitosan material to become positively charged;
wherein the particles have a fat binding capacity of at least 50 g oil/g chitosan at pH <2.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt in the core comprises a particle size of from about 100 mesh to about 200 mesh.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt comprises chitosan succinate, chitosan adipate, chitosan chloride, chitosan glutamate, chitosan lactate, chitosan aspartate, chitosan acetate, chitosan pyruvate, or chitosan malate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt is of crustacean origin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt has an average molecular mass of from about 100,000 Daltons to about 1 million Daltons.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt has a Brookfield rotational viscosity at 25° C. of from about 10 cps to about 10,000 cps.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the chitosan or chitosan salt has a percentage of deacetylation of from about 70% to about 90%.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 2, wherein the weight of the coating material is about 10% of the weight of the chitosan or chitosan salt, and wherein the coating material adheres to the core non-covalently.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 2, wherein the coating material comprises shellac, a cellulose derivative, a carbohydrate, a polysaccharide gum, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or zein.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 10, wherein the cellulose derivative is carboxymethylcellulose or ethylcellulose.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the particles are in the form of a powder, granules, or pellets.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the particles have a moisture content of 0% to 10%.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The microencapsulated chitosan particles of claim 1, wherein the particles have a fat binding capacity of at least 100 times the weight of chitosan or chitosan salt at a pH of about 2.