# US 8,771,650 B2 · Inducible release vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,650 B2 - Document ID: US8771650B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/268,108 - Filed: 2011-10-07 - Published: 2012-02-02 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-05-30 - Assignees: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO - Applicants: Henricus Matheus Wilhelmus Maria Thijssen; Roy Christiaan Montijn; Johannes Wilhelmus Timmermans; Theodoor Maximiliaan Slaghek; Jacobus Johannes Frederik van Veen; Johannes Wilhelmus Leonardus Boumans - Inventors: Henricus Matheus Wilhelmus Maria Thijssen; Roy Christiaan Montijn; Johannes Wilhelmus Timmermans; Theodoor Maximiliaan Slaghek; Jacobus Johannes Frederik van Veen; Johannes Wilhelmus Leonardus Boumans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771650B2 ## CPC - A61L 15/46: Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria - A01N 25/10: Macromolecular compounds - A61P 17/10: Anti-acne agents - A61L 2300/208: Quaternary ammonium compounds - A61L 2300/404: Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents - A61L 2300/604: Biodegradation - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS ## Abstract This invention relates to inducible release vehicle comprised of crosslinked carbohydrates or proteins and an active ingredient. The release is induced by an external stimulus, e.g. an enzyme such as amylase. Such a vehicle can particularly be used in an applications for preventing microbial decay or combating microbial infections. Other uses are for oral applications such as providing anti-caries or flavoring compounds and for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical applications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to induce release of an active component from a vehicle, the method comprising providing a vehicle comprising a charged cross-linked carbohydrate consisting of only C-, O- and H-atoms and an active component; and contacting the vehicle with an enzyme external to the vehicle with specificity for the degradation of the carbohydrate, whereby the carbohydrate is degraded and the active component is released, wherein release of the active component does not occur in an aqueous medium until release thereof is triggered by the enzyme external to the vehicle being contacted with the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is prepared by incorporating the active ingredient after the vehicle has been isolated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a cross linker for said carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of divinyl sulphone, epichlorohydrin, a di-expoxide, sodium trimetaphosphate, and adipic acid or derivatives thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the cross linker is a di-epoxide and the di-epoxide is glycerol diglycidyl ether or butanedioldiglycidyl ether. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a charged compound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the charged compound has a molecular weight below 50 kD. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a pharmaceutical compound. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a hydrophobic compound. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a protein or an antimicrobial compound. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is an anti-acne agent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a deodorant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is a fungicide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component is an antifouling component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component masks a flavoring compound. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the masked flavoring compound is in a bitter tasting medicine or nutraceutical. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the active component comprises a flavoring compound. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle is a component of a chewing gum. ### Claim 18 A method for producing a vehicle comprising a charged cross-linked polymer and an active component, wherein the polymer is a carbohydrate or a protein, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing said polymer and a cross-linker or cross-linking enzyme; b) activating cross-linking of the polymer by addition of base or acid; c) allowing cross-linking of the polymer and gelation of the cross-linked polymer to occur; d) breaking the gel resulting from step c) into particles; e) drying the particles from step d) and optionally grinding the dried particles into finer particles; and f) loading said particles with an active component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein in a moist environment, the active component exists in an intact form within the vehicle until release of the active component from the vehicle is initiated by contact of the vehicle with the enzyme external to the vehicle.