# US 11,077,060 B2 · Chitin-glucan complex, its preparation, and uses

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,077,060 B2
- Document ID: US11077060B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/312,546
- Filed: 2015-05-19
- Published: 2017-03-23
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-21
- Assignees: Pharma73, S. A.
- Applicants: Maria Filomena Andrade De Freitas; Fernando Miguel Da Silva Cruz; Maria D'Ascensão Carvalho Fernandes de Miranda Reis; Inês Da Silva Farinha
- Inventors: Maria Filomena Andrade De Freitas; Fernando Miguel Da Silva Cruz; Maria D'Ascensão Carvalho Fernandes de Miranda Reis; Inês Da Silva Farinha
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077060B2

## CPC

- A61K 9/146: {with organic macromolecular compounds}
- A61K 8/022: {Powders; Compacted Powders}
- A61K 8/73: Polysaccharides
- A61K 8/736: {Chitin; Chitosan; Derivatives thereof}
- A61K 8/9728: Fungi, e.g. yeasts
- A61K 8/99: from microorganisms other than algae or fungi, e.g. protozoa or bacteria
- A61K 9/0075: {for inhalation via a dry powder inhaler [DPI], e.g. comprising micronized drug mixed with lactose carrier particles}
- A61K 9/205: {Polysaccharides, e.g. alginate, gums; Cyclodextrin}
- A61K 9/4866: {Organic macromolecular compounds}
- A61K 31/715: Polysaccharides, i.e. having more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers, esters
- A61K 31/722: Chitin, chitosan
- A61Q 19/00: Preparations for care of the skin
- A61K 2800/10: General cosmetic use
- A61K 2800/41: Particular ingredients further characterized by their size
- A61K 2800/412: Microsized, i.e. having sizes between 0.1 and 100 microns
- 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)
- A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

A biocomposite powder comprising 20-95% (w/w) chitin-glucan complex (CGC), and up to 50% (w/w) mannose-containing polysaccharides, wherein the biocomposite powder has a bulk density of 0.5 to 1.0 g/cm3, and wherein greater than 60% (w/w) of the particles of the biocomposite powder have a size below 212 μm.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A biocomposite powder comprising 20-95% (w/w) chitin-glucan complex (CGC), and 1-50% (w/w) mannose-containing polysaccharides, wherein the biocomposite powder has a bulk density of 0.8-1.0 g/cm3, a tapped density of 1.0-1.1 g/cm3, a Carr index of 9-20, a stability index of 0.9-1.1 and a flow rate index of 0.9-1.4, and wherein the biocomposite powder is a mixture of at least two fractions of biocomposite powder selected from:
(a) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size greater than 212 μm;
(b) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size of 160 to 212 μm;
(c) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size of 100 to 160 μm;
(d) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size of 75 to 100 μm;
(e) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size of 40 to 75 μm; and
(f) a fraction of biocomposite powder wherein the particles of the fraction have a size of less than 40 μm; and
wherein the chitin-glucan complex and mannose-containing polysaccharides are extracted from Komagataella pastoris, and wherein greater than 60% (w/w) of the particles of the biocomposite powder have a size below 212 μm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein:
(a) 65% (w/w) of the particles of the biocomposite powder have a size below 212 μm;
(b) no less than 45% (w/w) of the particles have a size of 75 to 100 μm;
(c) no less than 25% (w/w) of the particles have a size of 100 to 160 μm;
(d) no more than 15% (w/w) of the particles have a size of 160 to 212 μm; or
(e) no more than 20% (w/w) of the particles have a size of less than 75 μm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein no more than 20% (w/w) of the particles have a size below 75 μm, no less than 45% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 75 μm to 100 μm, no less than 25% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 100 μm to 160 μm, and no more than 15% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 160 μm to 212 μm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein:
(a) 5-15% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 160 to 212 μm;
(b) 20-35% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 100 to 160 μm;
(c) 5-15% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 75 to 100 μm;
(d) 10-30% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 40 to 75 μm; or
(e) 0.5-10% (w/w) of the particles have a size less than 40 μm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein no more than 70% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 40 μm to 75 μm and no more than 30% (w/w) of the particles have a size less than 40 μm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein no more than 90% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 40 μm to 75 μm and no more than 10% (w/w) of the particles have a size less than 40 μm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein 70-90% (w/w) of the particles have a size from 40 μm to 75 μm and 10-30% (w/w) of the particles have a size less than 40 μm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein:
(a) the bulk density of the biocomposite powder is 0.80-0.85 g/cm3, 0.85-0.90 g/cm3, 0.90-0.95 g/cm3, or 0.95-1.0 g/cm3; or
(b) the biocomposite powder has a conditioned bulk density of 0.70 to 0.85 g/cm3.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The biocomposite powder of claim 8, wherein the chitin-glucan complex and mannose-containing polysaccharides are extracted from Komagataella pastoris strain DSM 70877.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A pharmaceutical product comprising the biocomposite powder of claim 1 and an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The pharmaceutical product of claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical product is a tablet or a capsule.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The pharmaceutical product of claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical product is a dry powder inhaler formulation, and wherein the active pharmaceutical ingredient is adsorbed to the biocomposite powder or encapsulated by the biocomposite powder.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A cosmetic product comprising the biocomposite powder of claim 1 and one or more additional ingredients.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A process for making the biocomposite powder of claim 1, comprising
a) drying a wet biocomposite to form a dried biocomposite; and
b) milling and fragmentation of the dried biocomposite, followed by sieving in a tower of sieves stacked on top of one another in ascending degree of coarseness, to produce fractions of biocomposite powder of different particle sizes; and
c) mixing the fractions to produce the biocomposite powder.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The process of claim 14, wherein:
(a) step a) comprises drying the wet biocomposite in an aerated oven at a temperature between 40° C. and 100° C. for 6-24 hours;
(b) the wet biocomposite is dried in an aerated oven at a temperature of 70° C. for 16 hours;
(c) the wet biocomposite is dried in an aerated oven under vacuum; or
(d) the dried biocomposite produced in step a) is washed with a solvent and lyophilized prior to step b).

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The process of claim 14, further comprising, prior to step a), a step of forming wet biocomposite comprising
i) contacting biomass containing the chitin-glucan complex and mannose containing polysaccharides with an alkaline aqueous solution to form suspension reaction mixture;
ii) separating the reaction mixture into an alkaline insoluble fraction and an alkaline soluble fraction; and
iii) washing the alkaline insoluble fraction one or more times with one or more solvents to form the wet biocomposite.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The process of claim 16, wherein:
(a) step (i) is performed at a temperature between 60 to 70° C.;
(b) the biomass comprises Komagataella pastoris;
(c) the alkaline insoluble fraction and the alkaline soluble fraction are separated by centrifugation, filtration, or sedimentation; or
(d) one or more solvents of step iii) is water, an aqueous saline solution, acetone, an alcohol, an aqueous solution of an acid, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The process of claim 17, wherein:
(a) the Komagataella pastoris is strain DSM 70877; or
(b) the alcohol is ethanol, methanol, propanol, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The cosmetic product of claim 13 wherein the one or more additional ingredients comprises water, glycerin, a plant oil, a plant butter, an acid, a vitamin, an antioxidant, a pigment, and/or a fragrance.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The biocomposite powder of claim 1, wherein 20-35% (w/w) of the particles of the biocomposite powder have a size above 212 μm.