Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B13/00—Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/16—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of tobacco substitutes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/285—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances characterised by structural features, e.g. particle shape or size
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/30—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/30—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances
  • A24B15/302—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances by natural substances obtained from animals or plants

Definitions

• compositions intended for human use are adapted for oral use and deliver substances such as flavors and/or active ingredients during use.
• Such compositions may include tobacco or a product derived from tobacco, or may be tobacco-free alternatives.
• Such products typically contain flavorants and/or active ingredients such as nicotine, caffeine, botanicals, or cannabidiol.
• the format of such products can vary, and include pouched products containing a powdered or granular composition, lozenges, pastilles, gums, liquids, gels, emulsions, meltable compositions, and the like. See, for example, the types of products described in US Patent App. Pub. Nos. 2022/0160675 to Gerardi et al. ; 2022/0071984 to Poole et al. ; 2021/0378948 to Gerardi et al.
• the present disclosure is directed to oral products configured for oral use that include non-tobacco plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose as a filler component, either as the sole filler component or in addition to other filler components, such as microcrystalline cellulose.
• non-tobacco plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose as a filler component, either as the sole filler component or in addition to other filler components, such as microcrystalline cellulose.
• such materials provide advantages over microcrystalline cellulose in terms of lower density, greater fill value, and reduced synthesis complexity, resulting in reduced product weight and improved environmental impact of the oral product.
• it has been surprisingly discovered that oral compositions including such filler components exhibit active ingredient/flavorant release characteristics comparable to oral compositions containing only microcrystalline cellulose as a filler component, despite the greater water holding capacity of such materials.
• any reference herein to a particle size (e.g., D90, D50, D10, or mean particle size) with respect to a specific component of a composition is based on the entire population of particles of the specific component of the composition.
• reference to particle size value for a sugarcane plant fiber or a second filler is based on the entire population of particles of the sugarcane plant fiber or second filler in the composition.
• Embodiment 1 A composition adapted for oral use, comprising sugarcane plant fiber and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of active ingredients, flavorants, and combinations thereof.
• Embodiment 2 The composition of Embodiment 1, wherein the sugarcane plant fiber has a mean particle size of 65 microns or less or 60 microns or less, such as 35 to 65 microns; and/or a D50 particle size of 42 microns or less or 40 microns or less, such as 25 to 42 microns; and/or a D10 particle size of 17 microns or less or 15 microns or less, such as 12 to 17 microns; and/or a D90 particle size of 120 microns or less or 115 microns or less, such as 60 to 120 microns.
• Embodiment 3 The composition of Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the composition is substantially free of additional cellulosic filler, such as microcrystalline cellulose.
• Embodiment 4 The composition of Embodiment 1, wherein the sugarcane plant fiber has a mean particle size of 65 microns or higher or 85 microns or higher, such as 65 to 1200 microns; and/or a D50 particle size of 42 microns or higher or 50 microns or higher, such as 42 to 90 microns; and/or a D10 particle size of 16 microns or higher or 18 microns or higher, such as 16 to 800 microns; and/or a D90 particle size of 125 microns or higher or 150 microns or higher, such as 150 microns to 1600 microns.
• Embodiment 5 The composition of Embodiment 4, further comprising a second filler, such as a cellulose or starch material derived from a non-tobacco plant source, an inorganic material, or a bioceramic, optionally wherein the second filler is microcrystalline cellulose, and optionally wherein the second filler is substantially spherical, and wherein the second filler comprises about 80% or higher of the total weight of the sugarcane plant fiber and the second filler, and the sugarcane plant fiber comprises up to about 20% of the total weight of the sugarcane plant fiber and the second filler.
• a second filler such as a cellulose or starch material derived from a non-tobacco plant source, an inorganic material, or a bioceramic
• the second filler is microcrystalline cellulose
• the second filler is substantially spherical
• the second filler comprises about 80% or higher of the total weight of the sugarcane plant fiber and the second filler
• the sugarcane plant fiber comprises up
• Embodiment 6 The composition of Embodiment 5, wherein the second filler is a particulate material having a mean particle size of about 50 to about 250 microns, such as about 50 to about 175 microns.
• Embodiment 7 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the sugarcane plant fiber has a water holding capacity of about 3.0 g water/g fiber or higher, such as about 3.5 g water/g fiber or higher or about 4.0 g water/g fiber or higher, such as about 3.0 g water/g fiber to about 12.0 g water/g fiber.
• Embodiment 8 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 7, wherein the fill value of the composition is about 7.5 cc/g or greater or about 8.0 cc/g or greater, such as about 7.5 cc/g to about 10 cc/g or about 8.0 cc/g to about 9.5 cc/g.
• Embodiment 9 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the composition is substantially free of wheat or oat fiber.
• Embodiment 10 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the oven volatiles content of the composition is 30% by weight or higher, such as about 30% by weight to about 60% by weight or about 40% by weight to about 55% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• Embodiment 11 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of nicotine components, nutraceuticals, botanicals, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, cannabinoids, cannabimimetics, terpenes, and combinations thereof, and optionally wherein the active ingredient comprises a nicotine component, such as nicotine free base, a nicotine salt, a resin complex of nicotine, or a combination thereof, such as wherein the total amount of nicotine component present is from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight of the composition, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises a nicotine component, such as nicotine free base, a nicotine salt, a resin complex of nicotine, or a combination thereof, such as wherein the total amount of nicotine component present is from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight of the composition, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.
• Embodiment 12 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the composition is substantially free of tobacco material.
• Embodiment 13 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 12, further comprising one or more of the following: a salt, a sweetener, a buffer, a humectant, a binder, and combinations thereof.
• Embodiment 14 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 13, further comprising an ion pairing agent comprising an organic acid, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid, or a combination thereof, such as wherein the organic acid is octanoic acid, decanoic acid, benzoic acid, heptanesulfonic acid, or a combination thereof, and/or wherein the alkali metal is sodium or potassium, optionally wherein the ion pairing agent comprises an organic acid having a logP value of from about 1.2 to about 8.0, and optionally wherein a pH of the composition is from about 4.0 to about 9.0, such as about 5.0 to about 7.0.
• an ion pairing agent comprising an organic acid, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid, or a combination thereof, such as wherein the organic acid is octanoic acid, decanoic acid, benzoic acid, heptanesulfonic acid, or a combination thereof, and/or wherein the alkali
• Embodiment 15 The composition of any one of Embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the composition is enclosed in a water-permeable pouch to form a pouched product, optionally wherein the composition comprises nicotine and the percentage of nicotine released normalized to pouch nicotine is about 20% or higher after ten minutes, such as wherein the percentage of nicotine released normalized to pouch nicotine is about 30% or higher after ten minutes.
• dry weight percent or “dry weight basis” refers to weight on the basis of dry ingredients (i.e., all ingredients except water).
• wet weight refers to the weight of the mixture including water. Unless otherwise indicated, reference to “weight percent” of a mixture reflects the total wet weight of the mixture (i.e., including water).
• substantially free is meant that the particular material described (e.g., tobacco or microcrystalline cellulose) was not intentionally added to the composition of the disclosure.
• some substantially free embodiments can be characterized as having less than 0.01% by weight of the particular material, or less than 0.001%, or even 0% by weight of the particular material.
• compositions that include one or more plant-based filler components.
• Such filler components which are typically utilized in a particulate form, may fulfill one or more of a variety of functions, such as serving as bulking agents, enhancing certain organoleptic properties such as texture and mouthfeel, enhancing cohesiveness or compressibility of the product, serving as a carrier for active ingredients or flavorants, and enhancing manufacturability of oral products in the form of pouched compositions.
• Pouched products benefit from the use of filler components in the form of a relatively free-flowing material that is well-suited for pouching using commercially-available equipment.
• "particulate” refers to a material consisting of relatively small pieces that can be described as powders or fibers of relatively short length, and which are typically free-flowing and suitable for inclusion in a pouch.
• Microcrystalline cellulose is understood to be a purified, partially depolymerized cellulose material derived from plant-based alpha cellulose, and has the chemical name 4-O-[(1S)-hexopyranosyl]-D-glycero-hexopyranose.
• Microcrystalline cellulose is typically formed by treating cellulose obtained as a high-grade pulp from fibrous plant material with mineral acids, followed by purification and spray-drying.
• the alternative plant-based materials are non-tobacco plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose as explained in greater detail below.
• such materials provide advantages over microcrystalline cellulose in terms of lower density, greater fill value, and reduced synthesis complexity, which can reduce product weight and improve environmental impact of the product. It has been surprisingly discovered that, despite the greater water holding capacity of such materials as compared to microcrystalline cellulose, oral products containing active ingredients or flavorants for delivery to the oral cavity exhibit similar active ingredient/flavorant release characteristics as compared to products made using microcrystalline cellulose as the sole filler component.
• oral compositions including the non-tobacco plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose described herein exhibit a fill value, measured as set forth in Example 9 below, of about 7.5 cc/g or greater or about 8.0 cc/g or greater, such as about 7.5 cc/g to about 10 cc/g or about 8.0 cc/g to about 9.5 cc/g.
• This fill value range is significantly higher than the fill value of compositions made using microcrystalline cellulose as the sole filler.
• the composition exhibits higher fill value than compositions made solely with microcrystalline cellulose.
• the non-tobacco plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose described herein exhibit a water holding capacity, measured as set forth in Example 12, of about 3.0 g water/g fiber or higher, such as about 3.5 g water/g fiber or higher or about 4.0 g water/g fiber or higher (e.g., about 3.0 g water/g fiber to about 12.0 g water/g fiber). These values are significantly higher than the water holding capacity of microcrystalline cellulose. Despite this, it was surprisingly discovered that the rate of nicotine release from products made with these materials were substantially the same as the nicotine release rate of products made using microcrystalline cellulose as the sole filler component. It would have been expected that the tendency of such materials to retain water would impede the release of active ingredients such as nicotine.
• the alternative plant-based materials are non-tobacco plant fiber materials.
• Plant fiber materials are fibers extracted from plants, typically from plant stalks, and are formed by isolating the fibrous portion the plant from other portions of the plant such as the sheath or pith.
• One common process for extracting fiber from a plant material is referred to as retting.
• the plant fiber material can be further treated such as by washing and alkalization to further purify the fiber material. Thereafter, the fiber material is typically ground into smaller pieces and divided into various material grades based on fiber size characteristics.
• Example non-tobacco plant fiber material include maize fiber, sugarcane fiber, oat fiber, wheat fiber, barley fiber, rye fiber, buckwheat fiber, sugar beet fiber, bran fiber, bamboo fiber, wood pulp fiber, cotton fiber, citrus fiber, grass fiber, willow fiber, poplar fiber, cocoa fiber, and combinations thereof.
• the non-tobacco plant fiber material is bamboo fiber or sugarcane fiber.
• non-tobacco plant fiber materials do not encompass microcrystalline cellulose.
• the non-tobacco plant fiber material is selected, in part, based on the tendency of the material to cause discoloration of an oral product over time. For example, as noted in Example 8 below, wheat fiber and oat fiber were shown to introduce yellowing into the product when aged. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the oral compositions of the disclosure are substantially free of wheat fiber and oat fiber.
• the alternative plant-based materials are in the form of powdered cellulose, which is understood to be a cellulose material derived from a plant fiber material.
• Cellulose is a linear, insoluble polymer of D-glucose units joined by glycosidic linkages, and is considered a polysaccharide.
• Powdered cellulose is typically made by separating alpha cellulose from hemicellulose and lignins. Thereafter, the powdered cellulose is typically ground into smaller pieces and divided into various material grades based on fiber size characteristics. For the avoidance of doubt, powdered cellulose materials do not encompass microcrystalline cellulose.
• Non-tobacco plant fiber materials and powdered cellulose materials are commercially available, such as products sold under the brand name ALBAFIBER by Azelis, products sold under the brand name JELUCEL by Jelu-Werk J. Ehrler GmbH & Co. KG, products sold by Natural Fiber Solutions (NFS), products sold under the UNICELL brand name by InterFiber, products sold by Domsjö Fiber AB, and the like.
• Particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose can be determined using dynamic light scattering techniques, such as set forth in Example 11 below. Particle size distribution data generated using such techniques can provide various particle size values, such as D10, D50, or D90 values, as well as particle size mean or average values.
• a D90 particle size means 90% of a population of particles are smaller than the D90 particle size value.
• a D50 particle size means 50% of a population of particles are smaller than D50 particle size value (i.e., the median particle size value).
• a D10 particle size means 10% of a population of particles are smaller than D 10 particle size value.
• Example particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose used in the present disclosure include average or mean particle size ranges of about 30 microns to about 1500 microns, such as about 35 microns to about 1100 microns or about 40 microns to about 200 microns.
• Example particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose used in the present disclosure include D90 size ranges of about 60 microns to about 1700 microns, such as about 65 microns to about 1000 microns or about 70 microns to about 600 microns.
• Example particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose used in the present disclosure include D50 size ranges of about 25 microns to about 1200 microns, such as about 30 microns to about 1100 microns or about 35 microns to about 100 microns.
• Example particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose used in the present disclosure include D10 size ranges of about 12 microns to about 900 microns, such as about 13 microns to about 800 microns or about 14 microns to about 20 microns.
• a second filler component in order to improve manufacturability.
• the non-tobacco plant fiber material or powdered cellulose is combined with a second filler, such as a cellulose or starch material derived from a non-tobacco plant source (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose) or a bioceramic material.
• a second filler such as a cellulose or starch material derived from a non-tobacco plant source (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose) or a bioceramic material.
• Example larger particle sizes of plant fiber materials or powdered cellulose include a D90 particle size of 125 microns or higher or 150 microns or higher (e.g., a D90 of about 125 to about 1700 microns or about 150 to about 1600 microns), and/or a mean particle size of 65 microns or higher or 85 microns or higher (e.g., a mean particle size of about 65 to about 1200 microns or about 100 to about 500 microns), and/or a D50 particle size of 42 microns or higher or 50 microns or higher (e.g., a D50 of about 42 to about 90 microns), and/or a D10 particle size of 16 microns or higher or 18 microns or higher (e.g., about 16 to about 800 microns).
• the second filler is a particulate material having an average or mean particle size of about 50 to about 250 microns, such as about 50 to about 175 microns.
• the second filler is present in an amount of about 80% to about 99% by weight (based on total filler content), such as about 85% to about 95% by weight.
• the combined amount of the two fillers can be, for example, about 30% by weight or higher, such as about 40% or higher or about 50% or higher (e.g., about 30% by weight to about 75% by weight or about 40% by weight to about 60% by weight), based on the total weight of the composition.
• compositions of the present disclosure include a smaller-sized non-tobacco plant fiber material or powdered cellulose having a D90 particle size of 120 microns or less or 115 microns or less (e.g., a D90 of about 60 to about 120 microns or about 65 to about 115 microns), and/or a mean particle size of 65 microns or less or 60 microns or less (e.g., a mean particle size of about 35 to about 65 microns or about 40 to about 60 microns), and/or a D50 particle size of 42 microns or less or 40 microns or less (e.g., about 25 to about 42 microns); and/or a D10 particle size of 17 microns or less or 15 microns or less (e.g., about 12 to about 17 microns).
• a D90 particle size of 120 microns or less or 115 microns or less e.g., a D90 of about 60 to about 120 microns or about 65 to about
• the smaller-sized plant fiber or powdered cellulose materials comprise about 30% by weight or higher (or about 40% by weight or higher or about 50% by weight by higher), based on the total weight of the composition (e.g., about 30% by weight to about 70% by weight or about 40% by weight to about 60% by weight).
• the smaller-sized plant fiber or powdered cellulose materials are used in the absence of other filler components, such as wherein the composition is substantially free of additional cellulosic filler, such as microcrystalline cellulose.
• the non-tobacco plant material utilized in the present disclosure is sugarcane fiber.
• sugarcane or sugar cane
• sugar cane is a species of perennial grass in the genus Saccharum (tribe Andropogoneae) often used for sugar production.
• Sugarcane belongs to the grass family, Poaceae, which also includes maize, wheat, oat, rice, and sorghum.
• sugarcane fiber did not cause product discoloration as noted in Example 8, unlike wheat or oat fiber, which belongs to the same family.
• Example additional filler components include cellulose or starch materials derived from a non-tobacco plant source, inorganic materials, maltodextrin, dextrose, lactose, mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol (as well as other sugar alcohols).
• Starch as used herein may refer to pure starch from any source, modified starch, or starch derivatives. Starch is present, typically in granular form, in almost all green plants and in various types of plant tissues and organs (e.g., seeds, leaves, rhizomes, roots, tubers, shoots, fruits, grains, and stems). Starch can vary in composition, as well as in granular shape and size. Often, starch from different sources has different chemical and physical characteristics. A specific starch can be selected for inclusion in the composition based on the ability of the starch material to impart a specific organoleptic property to composition. Starches derived from various sources can be used.
• starch major sources include cereal grains (e.g., rice, wheat, and maize) and root vegetables (e.g., potatoes and cassava).
• sources of starch include acorns, arrowroot, arracacha, bananas, barley, beans (e.g., favas, lentils, mung beans, peas, chickpeas), breadfruit, buckwheat, canna, chestnuts, colacasia, katakuri, kudzu, malanga, millet, oats, oca, Polynesian arrowroot, sago, sorghum, sweet potato, quinoa, rye, tapioca, taro, tobacco, water chestnuts, and yams.
• modified starches are modified starches.
• a modified starch has undergone one or more structural modifications, often designed to alter its high heat properties.
• Some starches have been developed by genetic modifications, and are considered to be “genetically modified” starches.
• Other starches are obtained and subsequently physically (e.g., heat, cool water swelling, etc.), chemically, or enzymatically modified.
• modified starches can be starches that have been subjected to chemical reactions, such as esterification, etherification, oxidation, depolymerization (thinning) by acid catalysis or oxidation in the presence of base, bleaching, transglycosylation and depolymerization (e.g., dextrinization in the presence of a catalyst), cross-linking, acetylation, hydroxypropylation, and/or partial hydrolysis.
• Enzymatic treatment includes subjecting native starches to enzyme isolates or concentrates, microbial enzymes, and/or enzymes native to plant materials, e.g., amylase present in corn kernels to modify corn starch.
• modified starches are modified by heat treatments, such as pregelatinization, dextrinization, and/or cold water swelling processes.
• Certain modified starches include monostarch phosphate, distarch glycerol, distarch phosphate esterified with sodium trimetaphosphate, phosphate distarch phosphate, acetylated distarch phosphate, starch acetate esterified with acetic anhydride, starch acetate esterified with vinyl acetate, acetylated distarch adipate, acetylated distarch glycerol, hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropyl distarch glycerol, starch sodium octenyl succinate.
• the filler comprises or is an inorganic material.
• inorganic fillers include calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and bioceramic materials (e.g., porous hydroxyapatite).
• the additional particulate filler component is a cellulose material or cellulose derivative and can, in some embodiments, comprise microcrystalline cellulose ("MCC").
• MCC microcrystalline cellulose
• the MCC may be synthetic or semi-synthetic, or it may be obtained entirely from natural celluloses.
• the MCC is a particulate material having an average particle size in the range of about 25 to about 800 microns, about 50 microns to about 250 microns, about 75 microns to about 150 microns, or about 90 microns to about 100 microns.
• the MCC may be selected from the group consisting of AVICEL ® grades PH-100, PH-102, PH-103, PH-105, PH-112, PH-113, PH-200, PH-300, PH-302, VIVACEL ® grades 101, 102, 12, 20 and EMOCEL ® grades 50M and 90M, and the like, and mixtures thereof.
• a substantially spherical filler in particulate form is utilized, and such fillers can be defined by their sphericity, which is a measure of how closely an object resembles a perfect sphere.
• the sphericity of a sphere is unity by definition and any shape that is not a perfect sphere will have a sphericity less than 1.
• the sphericity of the substantially spherical fillers of the present disclosure will be about 0.7 or higher, such as about 0.8 or higher or about 0.9 or higher (e.g., about 0.7 to 1 or about 0.75 to 1 or about 0.8 to 1 or about 0.85 to 1, or about 0.9 to 1).
• the substantially spherical filler comprises microcrystalline cellulose ("MCC").
• MCC microcrystalline cellulose
• substantially spherical MCC is meant a material comprising, consisting essentially of, or consisting of MCC, wherein the material is a substantially spherical particulate filler component as referenced herein above.
• the average diameter (mean) or D50 (median) particle size of the substantially spherical particulate filler particles provided herein can vary, and is not particularly limited.
• the spherical filler particles have an average diameter and/or a D50 value of about 100 ⁇ m to about 2000 ⁇ m, such as about 250 ⁇ m to about 750 ⁇ m.
• the average diameter is about 100 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, e.g., about 100 ⁇ m to about 400 ⁇ m, about 100 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m, about 100 ⁇ m to about 200 ⁇ m, about 200 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, about 200 ⁇ m to about 400 ⁇ m, about 200 ⁇ m to about 300 ⁇ m, about 300 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, about 300 ⁇ m to about 400 ⁇ m, or about 400 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m.
• the average diameter is about 500 ⁇ m to about 1000 ⁇ m, e.g., about 500 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, about 500 ⁇ m to about 800 ⁇ m, about 500 ⁇ m to about 700 ⁇ m, about 500 ⁇ m to about 600 ⁇ m, about 600 ⁇ m to about 1000 ⁇ m, about 600 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, about 600 ⁇ m to about 800 ⁇ m, about 600 ⁇ m to about 700 ⁇ m, about 700 ⁇ m to about 1000 ⁇ m, about 700 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, about 700 ⁇ m to about 800 ⁇ m, about 800 ⁇ m to about 1000 ⁇ m, about 800 ⁇ m to about 900 ⁇ m, or about 900 ⁇ m to about 1000 ⁇ m.
• the substantially spherical filler component has an average diameter and/or D50 value of about 300 to 650 microns, such as about 350 to about 500 microns.
• the distribution of diameters around this average diameter can also vary; in some embodiments, the distribution of diameters is close to the listed value (e.g., +/- about 25% of the stated value, +/- about 20% of the stated value, +/- about 15% of the stated value, +/- about 10% of the stated value, +/- about 5% of the stated value, or +/- about 1% of the stated value.
• the disclosure is not, however, limited to materials with such narrow distributions; in other embodiments, the diameter of the MCC spheres within a given material can vary within a wider range.
• Particle size distributions can be determined using a sieve analysis or dynamic light scattering as set forth in Example 11.
• the substantially spherical filler component comprises MCC. In some embodiments, the substantially spherical filler component comprises solid (although porous) MCC spheres. In some embodiments, the substantially spherical filler component comprises hollow MCC spheres. In some embodiments, the center/core of such hollow MCC spheres may be unfilled; in other embodiments, the center/core of such hollow MCC spheres may be filled with one or more additional components (e.g., flavorants, fillers, active ingredients, etc.).
• additional components e.g., flavorants, fillers, active ingredients, etc.
• suitable MCC spheres include, but are not limited to, Vivapur ® MCC spheres from JRS Pharma, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 100-200 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 100), 200-355 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 200), 355-500 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 350), 500-710 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 500), 710-1000 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 700), and 1000-1400 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 1000).
• Vivapur ® MCC spheres from JRS Pharma, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 100-200 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 100), 200-355 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 200), 355-500 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 350), 500-710 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 500), 710-1000 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 700), and 1000-1400 ⁇ m (Vivapur ® 1000).
• suitable MCC spheres include, but are not limited to, Celphere TM MCC spheres from Asahi Kasei Corporation, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 75-212 ⁇ m (Celphere TM SCP-100), 106-212 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-102), 150-300 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-203), 300-500 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-305), and 500-710 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-507).
• Celphere TM MCC spheres from Asahi Kasei Corporation, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 75-212 ⁇ m (Celphere TM SCP-100), 106-212 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-102), 150-300 ⁇ m (Celphere TM CP-203), 300-500 ⁇ m (Celp
• the total amount of filler can vary, but is typically up to about 75 percent of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition.
• a typical range of filler within the composition can be from about 5 to about 70% by total weight of the composition, for example, from about 5, about 10, about 15, or about 20 to about 30, about 35, about 45, or about 60 weight percent (e.g., about 5 to about 60 weight percent or about 10 to about 45 weight percent).
• the filler further comprises a cellulose derivative or a combination of such derivatives.
• the composition comprises from about 1% to about 10% of the cellulose derivative by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, with some embodiments comprising about 1 to about 5% by weight of cellulose derivative.
• the cellulose derivative is a cellulose ether (including carboxyalkyl ethers), meaning a cellulose polymer with the hydrogen of one or more hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure replaced with an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl group.
• Non-limiting examples of such cellulose derivatives include methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose ("HPC”), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (“HPMC”), hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose (“CMC”).
• the cellulose derivative is one or more of methylcellulose, HPC, HPMC, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and CMC.
• the cellulose derivative is HPC.
• the composition comprises from about 0% to about 5% HPC by weight, e.g., about 1% to about 3% HPC by weight, based on the total weight of the composition by weight.
• compositions of the present disclosure can include additional ingredients, such as active ingredients, flavorants, water, salts, sweeteners, buffers, humectants, binders, and the like, as described more fully below.
• the water content and/or oven volatiles of the composition described herein, prior to use by a consumer of the product, may vary according to the desired properties.
• the composition, as present within the product prior to insertion into the mouth of the user is less than about 60 percent by weight of water and/or oven volatiles, and generally is from about 1 to about 60% by weight of water and/or oven volatiles, for example, from about 5 to about 55, about 10 to about 50, about 20 to about 45, or about 25 to about 40 percent water by weight, including amounts of at least about 5% by weight, at least about 10% by weight, at least about 15% by weight, and at least about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the water and/or oven volatile content is about 30% by weight or above, such as about 35% by weight or above or about 40% by weight or above (e.g., about 30% by weight to about 60% by weight or about 35% by weight to about 55% by weight), based on the total weight of the composition.
• Moisture content reflecting both water and humectant, may be determined as oven volatiles.
• Oven volatiles are defined as the reduction in mass when a sample is dried in a forced draft oven at a temperature regulated to 100°C ⁇ 1 °C for three hours ⁇ 0.5 minutes.
• a binder (or combination of binders) can be employed in the composition in an amount sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes and physical integrity.
• the binder materials can serve to add cohesiveness to a composition, and can also serve as gelling agents.
• the amount of binder present is up to about 50% by weight, and some embodiments are characterized by a binder content of at least about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the binder is present in an amount by weight in a range from about 5 to about 50% based on the total weight of the composition, such as from about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, or about 30%, to about 35%, about 40%, or about 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• Typical binders can be organic or inorganic, or a combination thereof.
• Representative binders include povidone, sodium alginate, pectin, gums, carrageenan, pullulan, zein, cellulose derivatives, and the like, and combinations thereof.
• combinations or blends of two or more binder materials may be employed.
• Other examples of binder materials are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al. ; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,887 to Raker et al. , each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the binder is selected from the group consisting of agar, alginates, carrageenan and other seaweed hydrocolloids, exudate gum hydrocolloids, cellulose ethers, starches, gums, dextrans, povidone, pullulan, zein, or combinations thereof.
• the binder is a cellulose ether (including carboxyalkyl ethers), meaning a cellulose polymer with the hydrogen of one or more hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure replaced with an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl group.
• cellulose derivatives include methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose ("HPC”), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (“HPMC”), hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose (“CMC”).
• Suitable cellulose ethers include hydroxypropylcellulose, such as Klucel H from Aqualon Co.; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, such as Methocel K4MS from DuPont; hydroxyethylcellulose, such as Natrosol 250 MRCS from Aqualon Co.; methylcellulose, such as Methocel A4M, K4M, and E15 from DuPont.; and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, such as CMC 7HF, CMC 7LF, and CMC 7H4F from Aqualon Co.
• the binder is one or more cellulose ethers (e.g., a single cellulose ether or a combination of several cellulose ethers, such as two or three, for example).
• the binder is a cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and combinations thereof.
• the oral composition comprises one or more flavoring agents.
• a "flavoring agent” or “flavorant” is any flavorful or aromatic substance capable of altering the sensory characteristics associated with the oral product. Examples of sensory characteristics that can be modified by the flavoring agent include taste, mouthfeel, moistness, coolness/heat, and/or fragrance/aroma. Flavoring agents may be natural or synthetic, and the character of the flavors imparted thereby may be described, without limitation, as fresh, sweet, herbal, confectionary, floral, fruity, or spicy.
• flavors include, but are not limited to, vanilla, coffee, chocolate/cocoa, cream, mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, wintergreen, eucalyptus, lavender, cardamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple, peach, lime, cherry, strawberry, melatonin, terpenes, and any combinations thereof. See also, Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (1972 ), which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Flavorings also may include components that are considered moistening, cooling or smoothening agents, such as eucalyptus or menthol. These flavors may be provided neat (i.e., alone) or in a composite, and may be employed as concentrates or flavor packages (e.g., spearmint and menthol, orange and cinnamon; lime, pineapple, and the like). Representative types of components also are set forth in US Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al. ; US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0244521 to Strickland et al. ; and PCT Application Pub. No. WO 05/041699 to Quinter et al. , each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some instances, the flavoring agent may be provided in a spray-dried form or a liquid form.
• the flavoring agent generally comprises at least one volatile flavor component.
• volatile refers to a chemical substance that forms a vapor readily at ambient temperatures (i.e., a chemical substance that has a high vapor pressure at a given temperature relative to a nonvolatile substance).
• a volatile flavor component has a molecular weight below about 400 Da, and often include at least one carbon-carbon double bond, carbon-oxygen double bond, or both.
• the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, terpenes, terpenoids, or a combination thereof.
• Non-limiting examples of aldehydes include vanillin, ethyl vanillin, p-anisaldehyde, hexanal, furfural, isovaleraldehyde, cuminaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and citronellal.
• Non-limiting examples of ketones include 1-hydroxy-2-propanone and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone-1-one.
• Non-limiting examples of esters include allyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, and 3-methylbutyl acetate.
• Non-limiting examples of terpenes include sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-farnesene, nerolidol, thujone, myrcene, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, linalool, and eucalyptol.
• the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more of ethyl vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-farnesene, or citral.
• the at least one volatile flavor component comprises ethyl vanillin.
• the at least one volatile flavor component comprises menthol.
• the flavoring agent may be provided in a spray-dried form or a liquid form.
• a liquid flavorant is disposed (i.e., adsorbed or absorbed in or on) a porous particulate carrier, for example microcrystalline cellulose, which is then combined with the other composition ingredients.
• a porous particulate carrier for example microcrystalline cellulose
• Embodiments with flavorant present in dry form may be advantageous in providing a more homogenous product.
• the amount of flavoring agent, where present in the oral composition can vary, but is typically up to about 10 weight percent, and some embodiments are characterized by a flavoring agent content of at least about 0.1 weight percent, such as about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent, 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, about 1 to about 6 weight percent, or about 2 to about 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the oral composition.
• the amount of flavoring agent present within the composition may vary over a period of time (e.g., during a period of storage after preparation of the composition). For example, certain volatile components present in the composition may evaporate or undergo chemical transformations, leading to a reduction in the concentration of one or more volatile flavor components.
• the composition may include one or more taste modifying agents ("taste modifiers") which may serve to mask, alter, block, or improve the flavor of a composition as described herein.
• taste modifiers include trigeminal sensates, analgesic or anesthetic herbs, spices, and flavors which produce a perceived cooling (e.g., menthol, eucalyptus, mint), warming (e.g., cinnamon), or painful (e.g., capsaicin) sensation.
• Certain taste modifiers fall into more than one overlapping category.
• the taste modifier is a cooling agent, such as WS-3 (N-ethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexane carboxamide), WS-23 (N,2,3-trimethyl-2-propan-2-ylbutanamide), WS-5 (N-[(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide), EVERCOOL TM 180 ((1R,2S,5R)-N-(4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl)menthylcarboxamide ), EVERCOOL TM 190 ((1R,2S,SR)-N-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)menthylcarboxamide), or combinations thereof.
• WS-3 N-ethyl-5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)-cyclohexane carboxamide
• WS-23 N,2,3-trimethyl-2-propan-2-ylbutanamide
• WS-5
• the taste modifier modifies one or more of bitter, sweet, salty, or sour tastes.
• the taste modifier targets pain receptors.
• the composition comprises an active ingredient having a bitter taste, and a taste modifier which masks or blocks the perception of the bitter taste.
• the taste modifier is a substance which targets pain receptors (e.g., vanilloid receptors) in the user's mouth to mask e.g., a bitter taste of another component (e.g., an active ingredient).
• the taste modifier is capsaicin.
• the taste modifier is the amino acid gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), referenced herein above with respect to amino acids.
• GABA amino acid gamma-amino butyric acid
• GABA may suppress the perception of certain tastes, such as bitterness.
• the composition comprises caffeine and GABA.
• the taste modifier is adenosine monophosphate (AMP).
• AMP is a naturally occurring nucleotide substance which can block bitter food flavors or enhance sweetness. It does not directly alter the bitter flavor, but may alter human perception of "bitter” by blocking the associated receptor.
• the taste modifier is lactisole.
• Lactisole is an antagonist of sweet taste receptors. Temporarily blocking sweetness receptors may accentuate e.g., savory notes.
• a representative amount of taste modifier is about 0.01% by weight or more, about 0.1% by weight or more, or about 1.0% by weight or more, but will typically make up less than about 10% by weight of the total weight of the composition, (e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 5%, or about 10% by weight of the total weight of the composition).
• the oral composition may further comprise a salt (e.g., alkali metal salts), typically employed in an amount sufficient to provide desired sensory attributes to the composition.
• a salt e.g., alkali metal salts
• suitable salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, flour salt, and the like.
• a representative amount of salt is about 0.25 percent by weight or more, about 1.0 percent by weight or more, or at about 1.5 percent by weight or more, but will typically make up about 10 percent or less of the total weight of the composition, or about 7.5 percent or less or about 5 percent or less (e.g., about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight).
• the composition typically further comprises one or more sweeteners.
• the sweeteners can be any sweetener or combination of sweeteners, in natural or artificial form, or as a combination of natural and artificial sweeteners.
• natural sweeteners include isomaltulose, fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, mannose, galactose, lactose, stevia, honey, and the like.
• artificial sweeteners include sucralose, maltodextrin, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K, neotame and the like.
• the sweetener comprises one or more sugar alcohols.
• Sugar alcohols are polyols derived from monosaccharides or disaccharides that have a partially or fully hydrogenated form.
• Sugar alcohols have, for example, about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms and include erythritol, arabitol, ribitol, isomalt, maltitol, dulcitol, iditol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, sorbitol, and combinations thereof (e.g., hydrogenated starch hydrolysates).
• the composition provided herein can include a sugar alcohol (e.g., xylitol or erythritol) in combination with a lesser amount of artificial or non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K, or any combination thereof).
• a representative amount of sweetener may make up from about 0.1 to about 20 percent or more of the of the composition by weight, for example, from about 0.1 to about 1%, from about 1 to about 5%, from about 5 to about 10%, or from about 10 to about 20% of the composition on a weight basis, based on the total weight of the composition.
• one or more humectants may be employed in the composition.
• humectants include, but are not limited to, polyols such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and the like.
• the humectant is typically provided in an amount sufficient to provide desired moisture attributes to the composition.
• a humectant will typically make up about 20% or less of the weight of the composition or 15% or less of the weight of the composition (e.g., from about 1% to about 20% by weight or about 5% to about 15% by weight).
• a flow aid can also be added to the composition in order to enhance flowability of the composition.
• Example flow aids include microcrystalline cellulose, silica, polyethylene glycol, stearic acid, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, canauba wax, and combinations thereof.
• the flow aid is sodium stearyl fumarate.
• a representative amount of flow aid may make up at least about 0.5% or at least about 1%, of the total weight of the composition. The amount of flow aid within the composition typically will not exceed about 5%, and frequently will not exceed about 3%, of the total weight of the composition.
• the composition of the present disclosure can comprise pH adjusters or buffering agents.
• pH adjusters and buffering agents that can be used include, but are not limited to, metal hydroxides (e.g., alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), and other alkali metal buffers such as metal carbonates (e.g., potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate), or metal bicarbonates such as sodium bicarbonate, and the like.
• suitable buffers include alkali metal acetates, glycinates, phosphates, glycerophosphates, citrates, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, borates, or mixtures thereof.
• the buffering agent or pH adjuster is typically present in an amount less than about 5 percent based on the weight of the composition, for example, from about 0.1% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, or 0.5% to about 5%, such as, e.g., from about 0.75% to about 4%, from about 0.75% to about 3%, or from about 1% to about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• At least one pH adjuster is added to the composition to further enhance stability of a volatile flavorant or active ingredient contained therein.
• sufficient pH adjuster could be added to the composition to maintain a pH level below 7.0, such as about 4.0 to about 7.0 or about 5.0 to about 7.0.
• Another example pH range for the composition is about 4.0 to about 9.0.
• the pH of a composition can be measured as set forth in Example 10 herein.
• the composition can include an oral care ingredient, which can provide various oral health benefits, such as inhibiting tooth decay or loss, inhibiting gum disease, relieving mouth pain, whitening teeth, inhibiting tooth staining, eliciting salivary stimulation, inhibiting breath malodor, freshening breath, and the like.
• oral health components include xylitol, thyme oil, eucalyptus oil, and zinc or zinc-containing compounds like zinc citrate.
• commercially available products sold under the brand names ZYTEX ® from Discus Dental, MALTISORB ® by Roquette, and DENTIZYME ® by NatraRx can be incorporated into the composition.
• ingredients that can be incorporated in desired effective amounts within the present composition can include those that are incorporated within the types of oral care compositions set forth in Takahashi et al., Oral Microbiology and Immunology, 19(1), 61-64 (2004 ); U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,527 to Thistle ; and US Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2006/0210488 to Jakubowski and 2006/02228308 to Cummins et al.
• a representative amount of oral health ingredient is at least about 1%, often at least about 3%, and frequently at least about 5% of the total dry weight of the composition.
• the amount of oral health component within the composition will not typically exceed about 30%, often will not exceed about 25%, and frequently will not exceed about 20%, of the total weight of the composition.
• a colorant may optionally be employed in amounts sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes to the composition.
• colorants include various dyes and pigments, such as caramel coloring and titanium dioxide.
• the amount of colorant utilized in the composition can vary, but when present is typically up to about 3 weight percent, such as from about 0.1%, about 0.5%, or about 1%, to about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the composition comprises one or more active ingredients.
• an "active ingredient” refers to one or more substances belonging to any of the following categories: API (active pharmaceutical ingredient), food additives, natural medicaments, and naturally occurring substances that can have an effect on humans.
• Example active ingredients include any ingredient known to impact one or more biological functions within the body, such as ingredients that furnish pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or which affect the structure or any function of the body of humans (e.g., provide a stimulating action on the central nervous system, have an energizing effect, an antipyretic or analgesic action, or an otherwise useful effect on the body).
• the active ingredient may be of the type generally referred to as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals” or “functional foods.”
• dietary supplements e.g., nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals” or “functional foods.”
• Non-limiting examples of active ingredients include those falling in the categories of botanical ingredients, stimulants, amino acids, nicotine components, and/or pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medicinal ingredients (e.g., vitamins, such as A, B3, B6, B12, and C, and/or cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)). Each of these categories is further described herein below.
• the particular choice of active ingredients will vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and desired characteristics of the particular product.
• the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of caffeine, taurine, GABA, theanine, vitamin C, lemon balm extract, ginseng, citicoline, sunflower lecithin, and combinations thereof.
• the active ingredient can include a combination of caffeine, theanine, and optionally ginseng.
• the active ingredient includes a combination of theanine, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), and lemon balm extract.
• the active ingredient includes theanine, theanine and tryptophan, or theanine and one or more B vitamins (e.g., vitamin B6 or B12).
• the active ingredient includes a combination of caffeine, taurine, and vitamin C.
• an active ingredient or combination thereof is present in a total concentration of at least about 0.001% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.001% to about 20%.
• the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.5% w/w to about 10%, from about 1% to about 10%, from about 1% to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients is present in a concentration of from about 0.001%, about 0.01%, about 0.1% , or about 1%, up to about 20% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.001%, about 0.002%, about 0.003%, about 0.004%, about 0.005%, about 0.006%, about 0.007%, about 0.008%, about 0.009%, about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, about 0.1%, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 15%, about 16%, about 17%, about 18%,
• the active ingredient comprises a botanical ingredient.
• botanical ingredient refers to any plant material or fungal-derived material, including plant material in its natural form and plant material derived from natural plant materials, such as extracts or isolates from plant materials or treated plant materials (e.g., plant materials subjected to heat treatment, fermentation, bleaching, or other treatment processes capable of altering the physical and/or chemical nature of the material).
• a “botanical” includes, but is not limited to, "herbal materials,” which refer to seed-producing plants that do not develop persistent woody tissue and are often valued for their medicinal or sensory characteristics (e.g., teas or tisanes).
• compositions as disclosed herein can be characterized as free of any tobacco material (e.g., any embodiment as disclosed herein may be completely or substantially free of any tobacco material exclusive of any nicotine component present).
• a botanical When present, a botanical is typically at a concentration of from about 0.01% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01% w/w, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the botanical materials useful in the present disclosure may comprise, without limitation, any of the compounds and sources set forth herein, including mixtures thereof. Certain botanical materials of this type are sometimes referred to as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals” or “functional foods.” Certain botanicals, as the plant material or an extract thereof, have found use in traditional herbal medicine, and are described further herein.
• Non-limiting examples of botanicals or botanical-derived materials include acai berry ( Euterpe oleracea martius ), acerola ( Malpighia glabra ), alfalfa, allspice, Angelica root, anise (e.g., star anise), annatto seed, apple ( Malus domestica ), apricot oil, ashwagandha, Bacopa monniera , baobab, basil ( Ocimum basilicum ), bay, bee balm, beet root, bergamot, blackberry ( Morus nigra ), black cohosh, black pepper, black tea, blueberries, boldo ( Peumus boldus), borage, bugleweed, cacao, calamus root, camu ( Myrcaria dubia ), cannabis/hemp, caraway seed, cardamom, cassis, catnip, catuaba, cayenne pepper, Centella asiatica, chaga mushroom, Chai-hu,
• the active ingredient comprises lemon balm.
• Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) is a mildly lemon-scented herb from the same family as mint ( Lamiaceae ) . The herb is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The tea of lemon balm, as well as the essential oil and the extract, are used in traditional and alternative medicine.
• the active ingredient comprises lemon balm extract.
• the lemon balm extract is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises ginseng.
• Ginseng is the root of plants of the genus Panax, which are characterized by the presence of unique steroid saponin phytochemicals (ginsenosides) and gintonin. Ginseng finds use as a dietary supplement in energy drinks or herbal teas, and in traditional medicine. Cultivated species include Korean ginseng ( P . ginseng ), South China ginseng ( P. notoginseng ), and American ginseng ( P. quinquefolius ). American ginseng and Korean ginseng vary in the type and quantity of various ginsenosides present. In some embodiments, the ginseng is American ginseng or Korean ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises Korean ginseng. In some embodiments, ginseng is present in an amount of from about 0.4 to about 0.6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises one or more stimulants.
• stimulants refers to a material that increases activity of the central nervous system and/or the body, for example, enhancing focus, cognition, vigor, mood, alertness, and the like.
• Non-limiting examples of stimulants include caffeine, theacrine, theobromine, and theophylline.
• Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a purine alkaloid which is structurally related to caffeine, and possesses stimulant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Present stimulants may be natural, naturally derived, or wholly synthetic.
• certain botanical materials may possess a stimulant effect by virtue of the presence of e.g., caffeine or related alkaloids, and accordingly are “natural” stimulants.
• the stimulant e.g., caffeine, theacrine
• caffeine can be obtained by extraction and purification from botanical sources (e.g., tea).
• whole synthetic it is meant that the stimulant has been obtained by chemical synthesis.
• the active ingredient comprises caffeine.
• the caffeine is present in an encapsulated form.
• Vitashure ® available from Balchem Corp., 52 Sunrise Park Road, New Hampton, NY, 10958.
• a stimulant or combination of stimulants is typically at a concentration of from about 0.1% w/w to about 15% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the composition comprises caffeine in an amount of from about 1.5 to about 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises an amino acid.
• amino acid refers to an organic compound that contains amine (-NH 2 ) and carboxyl (-COOH) or sulfonic acid (SO 3 H) functional groups, along with a side chain (R group), which is specific to each amino acid.
• Amino acids may be proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic. By “proteinogenic” is meant that the amino acid is one of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids found in proteins.
• the proteinogenic amino acids include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine.
• non-proteinogenic is meant that either the amino acid is not found naturally in protein, or is not directly produced by cellular machinery (e.g., is the product of post-translational modification).
• Non-limiting examples of non-proteinogenic amino acids include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), theanine (L- ⁇ -glutamylethylamide), hydroxyproline, and beta-alanine.
• the active ingredient comprises theanine.
• the active ingredient comprises GABA.
• the active ingredient comprises a combination of theanine and GABA.
• the active ingredient is a combination of theanine, GABA, and lemon balm.
• the active ingredient is a combination of caffeine, theanine, and ginseng.
• the active ingredient comprises taurine.
• the active ingredient is a combination of caffeine and taurine.
• an amino acid or combination of amino acids is typically at a concentration of from about 0.1% w/w to about 15% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises a vitamin or combination of vitamins.
• vitamin refers to an organic molecule (or related set of molecules) that is an essential micronutrient needed for the proper functioning of metabolism in a mammal.
• vitamins required by human metabolism which are: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl-esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate), vitamin B12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), and vitamin K (quinones).
• the active ingredient comprises vitamin C. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of vitamin C, caffeine, and taurine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises one or more of vitamin B6 and B12. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises theanine and one or more of vitamin B6 and B 12.
• the active ingredient comprises vitamin A.
• the vitamin A is encapsulated.
• the vitamin is vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin C, or a combination thereof.
• the active ingredient comprises a mineral.
• mineral refers to an inorganic molecule (or related set of molecules) that is an essential micronutrient needed for the proper functioning of various systems in a mammal.
• minerals include iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, cobalt, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, and the like.
• the active ingredient comprises iron. Suitable sources of iron include, but are not limited to, ferrous salts such as ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate. In some embodiments, the iron is encapsulated.
• a vitamin or mineral is typically at a concentration of from about 0.01% w/w to about 6% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, or about 0.1% w/w, to about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, about 0.9%, about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5% , or about 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient comprises one or more antioxidants.
• antioxidant refers to a substance which prevents or suppresses oxidation by terminating free radical reactions, and may delay or prevent some types of cellular damage. Antioxidants may be naturally occurring or synthetic. Naturally occurring antioxidants include those found in foods and botanical materials. Non-limiting examples of antioxidants include certain botanical materials, vitamins, polyphenols, and phenol derivatives.
• Examples of botanical materials which are associated with antioxidant characteristics include without limitation acai berry, alfalfa, allspice, annatto seed, apricot oil, basil, bee balm, wild bergamot, black pepper, blueberries, borage seed oil, bugleweed, cacao, calamus root, catnip, catuaba, cayenne pepper, chaga mushroom, chervil, cinnamon, dark chocolate, potato peel, grape seed, ginseng, gingko biloba, Saint John's Wort, saw palmetto, green tea, black tea, black cohosh, cayenne, chamomile, cloves, cocoa powder, cranberry, dandelion, grapefruit, honeybush, echinacea, garlic, evening primrose, feverfew, ginger, goldenseal, hawthorn, hibiscus flower, jiaogulan, kava, lavender, licorice, marjoram, milk thistle, mints (menthe), oo
• Such botanical materials may be provided in fresh or dry form, essential oils, or may be in the form of an extracts.
• the botanical materials (as well as their extracts) often include compounds from various classes known to provide antioxidant effects, such as minerals, vitamins, isoflavones, phytoesterols, allyl sulfides, dithiolthiones, isothiocyanates, indoles, lignans, flavonoids, polyphenols, and carotenoids.
• Examples of compounds found in botanical extracts or oils include ascorbic acid, peanut endocarb, resveratrol, sulforaphane, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, co-enzyme Q, carnitine, quercetin, kaempferol, and the like. See, e.g., Santhosh et al., Phytomedicine, 12(2005) 216-220 , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Non-limiting examples of other suitable antioxidants include citric acid, Vitamin E or a derivative thereof, a tocopherol, epicatechol, epigallocatechol, epigallocatechol gallate, erythorbic acid, sodium erythorbate, 4-hexylresorcinol, theaflavin, theaflavin monogallate A or B, theaflavin digallate, phenolic acids, glycosides, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, polyphenols, catechols, resveratrols, oleuropein, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), and combinations thereof.
• a tocopherol epicatechol, epigallocatechol, epigallocatechol gallate
• erythorbic acid sodium erythorbate
• 4-hexylresorcinol theaf
• an antioxidant is typically at a concentration of from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.001%, about 0.005%, about 0.01%, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10%, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the products of the present disclosure can include a nicotinic compound.
• nicotinic compounds and methods for their administration, are set forth in US Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0274628 to Borschke , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• “nicotinic compound” or “source of nicotine” often refers to naturally-occurring or synthetic nicotinic compound unbound from a plant material, meaning the compound is at least partially purified and not contained within a plant structure, such as a tobacco leaf.
• nicotine is naturally-occurring and obtained as an extract from a Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco).
• the nicotine can have the enantiomeric form S(-)-nicotine, R(+)-nicotine, or a mixture of S(-)-nicotine and R(+)-nicotine.
• the nicotine is in the form of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., in a form that is virtually all S(-)-nicotine) or a racemic mixture composed primarily or predominantly of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., a mixture composed of about 95 weight parts S(-)-nicotine and about 5 weight parts R(+)-nicotine).
• the nicotine can be employed in virtually pure form or in an essentially pure form.
• the nicotine that is employed can have a purity of greater than about 95 percent, greater than about 98 percent, or greater than about 99 percent, on a weight basis.
• a nicotine component may be included in the composition in free base form, salt form, as a complex, or as a solvate.
• nicotine component is meant any suitable form of nicotine (e.g., free base or salt) for providing oral absorption of at least a portion of the nicotine present.
• the nicotine component is selected from the group consisting of nicotine free base and a nicotine salt.
• nicotine is in its free base form, which easily can be adsorbed in for example, a microcrystalline cellulose material to form a microcrystalline cellulose-nicotine carrier complex. See, for example, the discussion of nicotine in free base form in US Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0191322 to Hansson , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the nicotine can be employed in the form of a salt.
• Salts of nicotine can be provided using the types of ingredients and techniques set forth in US Pat. No. 2,033,909 to Cox et al. and Perfetti, Beitrage Tabak Kauutz. Int., 12: 43-54 (1983 ), which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, salts of nicotine are available from sources such as Pfaltz and Bauer, Inc. and K&K Laboratories, Division of ICN Biochemicals, Inc.
• the nicotine component is selected from the group consisting of nicotine free base, a nicotine salt such as hydrochloride, dihydrochloride, monotartrate, bitartrate, sulfate, salicylate, and nicotine zinc chloride.
• the nicotine component or a portion thereof is a nicotine salt with one or more organic acids, as explained more fully below.
• the nicotine can be in the form of a resin complex of nicotine, where nicotine is bound in an ion-exchange resin, such as nicotine polacrilex, which is nicotine bound to, for example, a polymethacrilic acid, such as Amberlite IRP64, Purolite C115HMR, or Doshion P551.
• an ion-exchange resin such as nicotine polacrilex
• a polymethacrilic acid such as Amberlite IRP64, Purolite C115HMR, or Doshion P551.
• a polymethacrilic acid such as Amberlite IRP64, Purolite C115HMR, or Doshion P551.
• a nicotine-polyacrylic carbomer complex such as with Carbopol 974P.
• nicotine may be present in the form of a nicotine polyacrylic complex.
• a basic amine-containing oral product configured for oral use which retains the initial basic amine content (e.g., nicotine content) during storage, and which delivers substantially the full amount of basic amine (e.g., nicotine) initially present in the oral product.
• nicotine or other basic amine is employed in association with at least a portion of an organic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof (referred to herein as "ion pairing").
• ion pairing agents The organic acid or alkali metal salt thereof are referred to herein as ion pairing agents.
• the basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the basic amine present in the composition can exist in multiple forms, including ion paired, in solution (i.e., fully solvated), as the free base, as a cation, as a salt, or any combination thereof.
• the relative amounts of the various components within the oral product composition may vary, and typically are selected so as to provide the desired sensory and performance characteristics to the oral product.
• the association between the basic amine and at least a portion of the organic acid or the alkali metal salt thereof is in the form of an ion pair between the basic amine and a conjugate base of the organic acid.
• Ion pairing describes the partial association of oppositely charged ions in relatively concentrated solutions to form distinct chemical species called ion pairs.
• the strength of the association depends on the electrostatic force of attraction between the positive and negative ions (i.e., a protonated basic amine such as nicotine, and the conjugate base of the organic acid).
• conjugate base is meant the base resulting from deprotonation of the corresponding acid (e.g., benzoate is the conjugate base of benzoic acid).
• benzoate is the conjugate base of benzoic acid
• the basic amine for example nicotine
• the conjugate base of the organic acid exist at least partially in the form of an ion pair.
• ion pairing may minimize chemical degradation of the basic amine and/or enhance the oral availability of the basic amine (e.g., nicotine).
• alkaline pH values e.g., such as from about 7.5 to about 9
• certain basic amines, for example nicotine are largely present in the free base form, which has relatively low water solubility, and low stability with respect to evaporation and oxidative decomposition, but high mucosal availability.
• Lipophilicity is conveniently measured in terms of logP, the partition coefficient of a molecule between a lipophilic phase and an aqueous phase, usually octanol and water, respectively. Lipophilicity can also be expressed as logD, a commonly used descriptor for the lipophilicity of ionizable compounds.
• LogD values can be calculated using commercial software or may be determined experimentally in a similar manner to logP but instead of using water, the aqueous phase is adjusted to a specific pH using a buffer.
• LogD is pH dependent and therefore requires that the pH at which the logD was measured be specified. Generally, a logD from about -1.0 to about 3 at a pH in a range from about 3 to about 11 is predictive of good absorption of the basic amine present in the composition through the oral mucosa.
• alkaline pH values e.g., such as from about 7.5 to about 9
• nicotine is largely present in the free base form (and accordingly, a high partitioning into octanol)
• acidic pH values such as from about 6.5 to about 4
• nicotine is largely present in a protonated form (and accordingly, a low partitioning into octanol).
• An ion pair between certain organic acids e.g., having a logP value of from about 1.4 to about 8.0. such as from about 1.4 to about 4.5, allows nicotine partitioning into octanol consistent with that predicted for nicotine partitioning into octanol at a pH of 8.4.
• the extent of ion pairing in the disclosed composition may vary based on, for example, pH, the nature of the organic acid, the concentration of nicotine, the concentration of the organic acid or conjugate base of the organic acid present in the composition, the water content of the composition, the ionic strength of the composition, and the like.
• ion pairing is an equilibrium process influenced by the foregoing variables. Accordingly, quantification of the extent of ion pairing is difficult or impossible by calculation or direct observation.
• the presence of ion pairing may be demonstrated through surrogate measures such as partitioning of the nicotine between octanol and water or membrane permeation of aqueous solutions of the basic amine plus organic acids and/or their conjugate bases.
• the nicotine component when present, is in a concentration of at least about 0.001% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.001% to about 10%.
• the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.
• the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 3% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w to about 2.5%, from about 0.1% to about 2.0%, from about 0.1% to about 1.5%, or from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.
• concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 3% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w to about 2.5%, from about 0.1% to about 2.0%, from about 0.1% to about 1.5%, or from about 0.1% to about 1% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.
• the products or compositions of the disclosure can be characterized as free of any nicotine component (e.g., any embodiment as disclosed herein may be completely or substantially free of any nicotine component).
• organic acid refers to an organic (i.e., carbon-based) compound that is characterized by acidic properties.
• organic acids are relatively weak acids (i.e., they do not dissociate completely in the presence of water), such as carboxylic acids (-CO 2 H) or sulfonic acids (-SO 2 OH).
• reference to organic acid means an organic acid that is intentionally added.
• an organic acid may be intentionally added as a specific composition ingredient as opposed to merely being inherently present as a component of another composition ingredient (e.g., the small amount of organic acid which may inherently be present in a composition ingredient, such as a tobacco material).
• Suitable organic acids will typically have a range of lipophilicities (i.e., a polarity giving an appropriate balance of water and organic solubility). Typically, lipophilicities of suitable organic acids, as indicated by logP, will vary between about 1.2 and about 4.5 (more soluble in octanol than in water). In some embodiments, the organic acid has a logP value of from about 1.5 to about 4.0, e.g., from about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, or about 3.0, to about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5, or about 5.0. Particularly suitable organic acids have a logP value of from about 1.7 to about 4, such as from about 2.0, about 2.5, or about 3.0, to about 3.5, or about 4.0.
• the organic acid has a logP value of about 2.5 to about 3.5. In some embodiments, organic acids outside this range may also be utilized for various purposes and in various amounts, as described further herein below.
• the organic acid may have a logP value of greater than about 4.5, such as from about 4.5 to about 8.0.
• certain solvents or solubilizing agents e.g., inclusion in the composition of glycerin or propylene glycol
• moderately lipophilic organic acids e.g., logP of from about 1.2 to about 4.5
• partitioning into octanol is predictive of favorable oral availability.
• the organic acid has a log P value of from about 1.2 to about 4.5, such as about 1.5, about 2, about 2.5, about 3, about 3.5, about 4 or about 4.5.
• the organic acid has a log P value of from about 2.5 to about 3.5.
• the organic acid is a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid.
• the carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid functional group may be attached to any alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group having, for example, from one to twenty carbon atoms (C 1 -C 20 ).
• the organic acid is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl carboxylic or sulfonic acid.
• alkyl refers to any straight chain or branched chain hydrocarbon.
• the alkyl group may be saturated (i.e., having all sp 3 carbon atoms), or may be unsaturated (i.e., having at least one site of unsaturation).
• unsaturated refers to the presence of a carbon-carbon, sp 2 double bond in one or more positions within the alkyl group.
• Unsaturated alkyl groups may be mono- or polyunsaturated.
• Representative straight chain alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, and n-hexyl.
• Branched chain alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, isopropyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, isopentyl, and 2-methylbutyl.
• Representative unsaturated alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethylene or vinyl, allyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, isobutylenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, and the like.
• An alkyl group can be unsubstituted or substituted.
• aryl refers to a carbocyclic aromatic group. Examples of aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl and naphthyl. An aryl group can be unsubstituted or substituted.
• a heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl may be a monocycle having 3 to 7 ring members (for example, 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S) or a bicycle having 7 to 10 ring members (for example, 4 to 9 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S), for example: a bicyclo[4,5], [5,5], [5,6], or [6,6] system.
• heteroaryl groups include by way of example and not limitation, pyridyl, thiazolyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, benzofuranyl, thianaphthalenyl, indolyl, indolenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, 1H-indazolyl, purinyl, 4H-quinolizinyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, 4aH-car
• heterocycloalkyls include by way of example and not limitation, dihydroypyridyl, tetrahydropyridyl (piperidyl), tetrahydrothiophenyl, piperidinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidonyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, bis-tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, octahydroisoquinolinyl, piperazinyl, quinuclidinyl, and morpholinyl. Heteroaryl and heterocycloalkyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted.
• Substituted as used herein and as applied to any of the above alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, means that one or more hydrogen atoms are each independently replaced with a substituent.
• a group is described as “optionally substituted,” that group can be substituted with one or more of the above substituents, independently selected for each occasion.
• the substituent may be one or more methyl groups or one or more hydroxyl groups.
• the organic acid is an alkyl sulfonic acid.
• alkyl sulfonic acids include propanesulfonic acid, heptanesulfonic acid, and octanesulfonic acid.
• the alkyl carboxylic or sulfonic acid is substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups.
• Non-limiting examples include glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, and lactic acid.
• an organic acid may include more than one carboxylic acid group or more than one sulfonic acid group (e.g ., two, three, or more carboxylic acid groups).
• Non-limiting examples include oxalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, and glutaric acid.
• organic acids containing multiple carboxylic acids e.g., from two to four carboxylic acid groups
• one or more of the carboxylic acid groups may be esterified.
• Non-limiting examples include succinic acid monoethyl ester, monomethyl fumarate, monomethyl or dimethyl citrate, and the like.
• the organic acid is an aryl carboxylic acid or an aryl sulfonic acid.
• aryl carboxylic and sulfonic acids include benzoic acid, toluic acids, salicylic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, and p -toluenesulfonic acid.
• organic acids which may be useful in some embodiments include caftaric acid, chicoric acid, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid, 2,2-dichloroacetic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, 4-acetamidobenzoic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid (L), aspartic acid (L), alpha-methylbutyric acid, camphoric acid (+), camphor-10-sulfonic acid (+), cinnamic acid, cyclamic acid, dodecylsulfuric acid, ethane-1,2-disulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, furoic acid, galactaric acid, gentisic acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, glutamic acid, glycerophosphoric acid, glycolic acid, hippuric acid, isobutyric acid, isovale
• suitable acids include, but are not limited to, the list of organic acids in Table 1.
• Table 1 Non-limiting examples of suitable organic acids Acid Name log(P)* benzoic acid 1.9 phenylacetic 1.4 p-toluic acid 2.3 ethyl benzoic acid 2.9 isopropyl benzoic acid 3.5 4-phenylbutyric 2.4 2-(4-Isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid 3.5 2-napthoxyacetic acid 2.5 napthylacetic acid 2.7 heptanoic acid 2.5 octanoic acid 3.05 nonanoic acid 3.5 decanoic acid 4.09 9-deceneoic acid 3.3 2-deceneoic acid 3.8 10-undecenoic acid 3.9 dodecandioic acid 3.2 dodecanoic acid 4.6 myristic acid 5.3 palmitic acid 6.4 stearic acid 7.6 cyclohexanebutanoic acid 3.4 1-heptanesulfonic acid 2.0 1-oc
• organic acid may further depend on additional properties in addition to consideration of the logP value. For example, an organic acid should be one recognized as safe for human consumption, and which has acceptable flavor, odor, volatility, stability, and the like. Determination of appropriate organic acids is within the purview of one of skill in the art.
• the organic acid is a mono ester of a dicarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid.
• the dicarboxylic acid is malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, or a combination thereof.
• the dicarboxylic acid is succinic acid, glutaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, or a combination thereof.
• the dicarboxylic acid is succinic acid, glutaric acid, or a combination thereof.
• the alcohol forming the mono ester of the dicarboxylic acid is a lipophilic alcohol.
• suitable lipophilic alcohols include, but are not limited to, octanol, menthol, and tocopherol.
• the organic acid is an octyl mono ester of a dicarboxylic acid, such as monooctyl succinate, monooctyl fumarate, or the like.
• the organic acid is a monomenthyl ester of a dicarboxylic acid.
• Certain menthyl esters may be desirable in oral compositions as described herein by virtue of the cooling sensation they may provide upon use of the product comprising the composition.
• the organic acid is monomenthyl succinate, monomenthyl fumarate, monomenthyl glutarate, or a combination thereof.
• the organic acid is a monotocopheryl ester of a dicarboxylic acid. Certain tocopheryl esters may be desirable in oral compositions as described herein by virtue of the antioxidant effects they may provide.
• the organic acid is tocopheryl succinate, tocopheryl fumarate, tocopheryl glutarate, or a combination thereof.
• the organic acid is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids.
• Carotenoids are tetraterpenes, meaning that they are produced from 8 isoprene molecules and contain 40 carbon atoms. Accordingly, they are usually lipophilic due to the presence of long unsaturated aliphatic chains, and are generally yellow, orange, or red in color.
• Certain carotenoid derivatives can be advantageous in oral compositions by virtue of providing both ion pairing and serving as a colorant in the composition.
• the organic acid is 2 E ,4 E ,6 E ,8 E ,10 E ,12 E ,14 E ,16 Z ,18 E )-20-methoxy-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl-20-oxoicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenoic acid (bixin) or an isomer thereof.
• Bixin is an apocarotenoid found in annatto seeds from the achiote tree ( Bixa orellana ), and is the naturally occurring pigment providing the reddish orange color to annatto.
• Bixin is soluble in fats and alcohols but insoluble in water, and is chemically unstable when isolated, converting via isomerization into the double bond isomer, trans -bixin ( ⁇ -bixin), having the structure:
• the organic acid is (2 E ,4 E ,6 E ,8 E ,10 E ,12 E ,14 E ,16 E ,18 E )-4,8,13,17-tetramethylicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenedioic acid (norbixin), a water soluble hydrolysis product of bixin having the structure:
• more than one organic acid may be present.
• the composition may comprise two, or three, or four, or more organic acids.
• an organic acid contemplates mixtures of two or more organic acids.
• the relative amounts of the multiple organic acids may vary.
• a composition may comprise equal amounts of two, or three, or more organic acids, or may comprise different relative amounts.
• certain organic acids e.g., citric acid or myristic acid
• it is possible to include certain organic acids e.g., citric acid or myristic acid which have a logP value outside the desired range, when combined with other organic acids to provide the desired average logP range for the combination.
• organic acids in the composition which have logP values outside the desired range for purposes such as, but not limited to, providing desirable organoleptic properties, stability, as flavor components, and the like.
• certain lipophilic organic acids have undesirable flavor and or aroma characteristics which would preclude their presence as the sole organic acid (e.g., in equimolar or greater quantities relative to nicotine).
• a combination of different organic acids may provide the desired ion pairing while the concentration of any single organic acid in the composition remains below the threshold which would be found objectionable from a sensory perspective.
• the composition comprises an organic acid which is a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid or is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids as described herein above, and further comprises an additional organic acid or salt thereof.
• the additional organic acid is benzoic acid, an alkali metal salt thereof, or a combination thereof.
• the composition comprises an alkali metal salt of an organic acid.
• the organic acid may be present in the composition in the form of an alkali metal salt.
• Suitable alkali metal salts include lithium, sodium, and potassium.
• the alkali metal is sodium or potassium.
• the alkali metal is sodium.
• the composition comprises an organic acid and a sodium salt of the organic acid.
• the weight ratio of the organic acid to the sodium salt (or other alkali metal) of the organic acid is from about 0.1 to about 10, such as from about 0.1, about 0.25, about 0.3, about 0.5, about 0.75, or about 1, to about 2, about 5, or about 10.
• both an organic acid and the sodium salt thereof are added to the other components of the composition, wherein the organic acid is added in excess of the sodium salt, in equimolar quantities with the sodium salt, or as a fraction of the sodium salt.
• the relative amounts will be determined by the desired pH of the composition, as well as the desired ionic strength.
• the organic acid may be added in a quantity to provide a desired pH level of the composition, while the alkali metal (e.g., sodium) salt is added in a quantity to provide the desired extent of ion pairing.
• the quantity of organic acid (i.e., the protonated form) present in the composition, relative to the alkali metal salt or conjugate base form present in the composition will vary according to the pH of the composition and the pKa of the organic acid, as well as according to the actual relative quantities initially added to the composition.
• the amount of organic acid or alkali metal salt thereof present in the composition, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), may vary. Generally, as the concentration of the organic acid (or the conjugate base thereof) increases, the percent of basic amine (e.g., nicotine) that is ion paired with the organic acid increases. This typically increases the partitioning of the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), in the form of an ion pair, into octanol versus water as measured by the logP (the log 10 of the partitioning coefficient).
• the composition comprises from about 0.05, about 0.1, about 1, about 1.5, about 2, or about 5, to about 10, about 15, or about 20 molar equivalents of the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), calculated as the free base of the basic amine.
• the basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the composition comprises from about 2 to about 10, or from about 2 to about 5 molar equivalents of the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), on a free-base basis.
• the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof is present in a molar ratio with basic amine (e.g., nicotine) from about 2, about 3, about 4, or about 5, to about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, or about 10.
• basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the organic acid inclusion is sufficient to provide a composition pH of from about 4.0 to about 9.0, such as from about 4.5 to about 7.0, or from about 5.5 to about 7.0, from about 4.0 to about 5.5, or from about 7.0 to about 9.0. In some embodiments, the organic acid inclusion is sufficient to provide a composition pH of from about 4.5 to about 6.5, for example, from about 4.5, about 5.0, or about 5.5, to about 6.0, or about 6.5.
• the organic acid is provided in a quantity sufficient to provide a pH of the composition of from about 5.5 to about 6.5, for example, from about 5.5, about 5.6, about 5.7, about 5.8, about 5.9, or about 6.0, to about 6.1, about 6.2, about 6.3, about 6.4, or about 6.5.
• a mineral acid e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, or the like
• the organic acid is added as the free acid, either neat (i.e., native solid or liquid form) or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components.
• the alkali metal salt of the organic acid is added, either neat or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components.
• the organic acid and the basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the organic acid and the basic amine are combined to form a salt, either before addition to the composition, or the salt is formed within and is present in the composition as such.
• the organic acid and basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the organic acid and basic amine are present as individual components in the composition, and form an ion pair upon contact with moisture (e.g., saliva in the mouth of the consumer).
• the organic acid is added as the free acid, either neat (i.e., native solid or liquid form) or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components.
• the alkali metal salt of the organic acid is added, either neat or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components.
• the organic acid and the basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the organic acid and the basic amine are combined to form a salt, either before addition to the composition, or the salt is formed within and is present in the composition as such.
• the organic acid and basic amine e.g., nicotine
• the organic acid and basic amine are present as individual components in the composition, and form an ion pair upon contact with moisture (e.g., saliva in the mouth of the consumer).
• the oral composition comprises nicotine benzoate and sodium benzoate, wherein at least a portion of the nicotine and benzoate ions present are in an ion paired form.
• the composition comprises nicotine benzoate, sodium benzoate, and an organic acid, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid, or a combination thereof, the organic acid having a logP value from about 1 to about 12, wherein the organic acid is a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid or is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids.
• the oral composition further comprises a solubility enhancer to increase the solubility of one or more of the organic acid or salt thereof.
• Suitable solubility enhancers include, but are not limited to, humectants as described herein, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.
• the active ingredient comprises one or more cannabinoids.
• cannabinoid refers to a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors, also known as the endocannabinoid system, in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. Ligands for these receptor proteins include the endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body by animals; phytocannabinoids, found in cannabis; and synthetic cannabinoids, manufactured artificially.
• Cannabinoids found in cannabis include, without limitation: cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabinerolic acid, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol propyl variant (CBNV), cannabitriol (CBO), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), and tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCV A).
• CBD cannabigerol
• the cannabinoid is selected from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and/or cannabidiol (CBD) another major constituent of the plant, but which is devoid of psychoactivity. All of the above compounds can be used in the form of an isolate from plant material or synthetically derived.
• the cannabinoid e.g., CBD
• CBD cannabinoid
• An isolate is an extract from a plant, such as cannabis, where the active material of interest (in this case the cannabinoid, such as CBD) is present in a high degree of purity, for example greater than 95%, greater than 96%, greater than 97%, greater than 98%, or around 99% purity.
• the cannabinoid is an isolate of CBD in a high degree of purity, and the amount of any other cannabinoid in the composition is no greater than about 1% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.5% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.1% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.01% by weight of the composition.
• the active ingredient can be a cannabimimetic, which is a class of compounds derived from plants other than cannabis that have biological effects on the endocannabinoid system similar to cannabinoids.
• cannabimimetic is a class of compounds derived from plants other than cannabis that have biological effects on the endocannabinoid system similar to cannabinoids. Examples include yangonin, alpha-amyrin or beta-amyrin (also classified as terpenes), cyanidin, curcumin (tumeric), catechin, quercetin, salvinorin A, N-acylethanolamines, and N-alkylamide lipids.
• a cannabinoid e.g., CBD
• cannabimimetic is typically in a concentration of at least about 0.1% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.1% to about 30%, such as, e.g., from about 0.1%, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, or about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the choice of cannabinoid and the particular percentages thereof which may be present within the disclosed composition will vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and other characteristics of the composition.
• terpenes Active ingredients suitable for use in the present disclosure can also be classified as terpenes, many of which are associated with biological effects, such as calming effects.
• Terpenes are understood to have the general formula of (CsHs)n and include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes.
• Terpenes can be acyclic, monocyclic or bicyclic in structure. Some terpenes provide an entourage effect when used in combination with cannabinoids or cannabimimetics.
• Examples include beta-caryophyllene, linalool, limonene, beta-citronellol, linalyl acetate, pinene (alpha or beta), geraniol, carvone, eucalyptol, menthone, iso-menthone, piperitone, myrcene, beta-bourbonene, and germacrene, which may be used singly or in combination.
• the terpene is a terpene derivable from a phytocannabinoid producing plant, such as a plant from the strain of the cannabis sativa species, such as hemp.
• Suitable terpenes in this regard include so-called “C10" terpenes, which are those terpenes comprising 10 carbon atoms, and so-called “C15” terpenes, which are those terpenes comprising 15 carbon atoms.
• the active ingredient comprises more than one terpene.
• the active ingredient may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more terpenes as defined herein.
• the terpene is selected from pinene (alpha and beta), geraniol, linalool, limonene, carvone, eucalyptol, menthone, iso-menthone, piperitone, myrcene, beta-bourbonene, germacrene and mixtures thereof.
• the active ingredient comprises an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).
• API can be any known agent adapted for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic use. These can include, for example, synthetic organic compounds, proteins and peptides, polysaccharides and other sugars, lipids, phospholipids, inorganic compounds (e.g., magnesium, selenium, zinc, nitrate), neurotransmitters or precursors thereof (e.g., serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, oxitriptan, acetylcholine, dopamine, melatonin), and nucleic acid sequences, having therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic activity.
• synthetic organic compounds proteins and peptides, polysaccharides and other sugars, lipids, phospholipids, inorganic compounds (e.g., magnesium, selenium, zinc, nitrate), neurotransmitters or precursors thereof (e.g., serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, oxitriptan, acetylcho
• Non-limiting examples of APIs include analgesics and antipyretics (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, 3-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid), phosphatidylserine, myoinositol, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, Omega-3), arachidonic acid (AA, Omega-6), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), citicoline (cytidine-5'-diphosphate-choline), and cotinine.
• the active ingredient comprises citicoline.
• the active ingredient is a combination of citicoline, caffeine, theanine, and ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises sunflower lecithin. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of sunflower lecithin, caffeine, theanine, and ginseng.
• an API when present, is typically at a concentration of from about 0.001% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, about 0.9%, or about 1%, to about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.
• the composition is substantially free of any API.
• substantially free of any API means that the composition does not contain, and specifically excludes, the presence of any API as defined herein, such as any Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutic agent intended to treat any medical condition.
• FDA Food and Drug Administration
• the composition may include a tobacco material.
• the tobacco material can vary in species, type, and form. Generally, the tobacco material is obtained from for a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species.
• Various representative other types of plants from the Nicotiana species are set forth in Goodspeed, The Genus Nicotiana , (Chonica Botanica) (1954); US Pat. Nos. 4,660,577 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al. ; 5,387,416 to White et al. , 7,025,066 to Lawson et al. ; 7,798,153 to Lawrence, Jr. and 8,186,360 to Marshall et al. ; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Descriptions of various types of tobaccos, growing practices and harvesting practices are set forth in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999 ), which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Nicotiana species from which suitable tobacco materials can be obtained can be derived using genetic-modification or crossbreeding techniques (e.g., tobacco plants can be genetically engineered or crossbred to increase or decrease production of components, characteristics or attributes). See, for example, the types of genetic modifications of plants set forth in US Pat. Nos. 5,539,093 to Fitzmaurice et al. ; 5,668,295 to Wahab et al. ; 5,705,624 to Fitzmaurice et al. ; 5,844,119 to Weigl ; 6,730,832 to Dominguez et al. ; 7,173,170 to Liu et al. ; 7,208,659 to Colliver et al.
• genetic-modification or crossbreeding techniques e.g., tobacco plants can be genetically engineered or crossbred to increase or decrease production of components, characteristics or attributes. See, for example, the types of genetic modifications of plants set forth in US Pat. Nos. 5,
• the plant of the Nicotiana species can be included within a composition as disclosed herein.
• virtually all of the plant e.g., the whole plant
• various parts or pieces of the plant can be harvested or separated for further use after harvest.
• the flower, leaves, stem, stalk, roots, seeds, and various combinations thereof, can be isolated for further use or treatment.
• the tobacco material comprises tobacco leaf (lamina).
• composition disclosed herein can include processed tobacco parts or pieces, cured and aged tobacco in essentially natural lamina and/or stem form, a tobacco extract, extracted tobacco pulp (e.g., using water as a solvent), or a mixture of the foregoing (e.g., a mixture that combines extracted tobacco pulp with granulated cured and aged natural tobacco lamina).
• the tobacco material comprises solid tobacco material selected from the group consisting of lamina and stems.
• the tobacco that is used for the composition typically includes tobacco lamina, or a tobacco lamina and stem mixture (of which at least a portion is smoke-treated). Portions of the tobaccos within the composition may have processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled stems, cut-rolled-expanded stems or cut-puffed stems), or volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET)). See, for example, the tobacco expansion processes set forth in US Pat. Nos. 4,340,073 to de la Burde et al. ; 5,259,403 to Guy et al.
• DIET dry ice expanded tobacco
• composition optionally may incorporate tobacco that has been fermented. See, also, the types of tobacco processing techniques set forth in PCT WO2005/063060 to Atchley et al. , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• the tobacco material is typically used in a form that can be described as particulate (i.e., shredded, ground, granulated, or powder form).
• the manner by which the tobacco material is provided in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary.
• Plant parts or pieces are typically comminuted, ground or pulverized into a particulate form using equipment and techniques for grinding, milling, or the like.
• the plant material is typically relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the like.
• tobacco parts or pieces may be ground or milled when the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 weight percent or less than about 5 weight percent.
• the tobacco material is sometimes employed in the form of parts or pieces that have an average particle size between 1.4 millimeters and 250 microns.
• the tobacco particles may be sized to pass through a screen mesh to obtain the particle size range required.
• air classification equipment may be used to ensure that small sized tobacco particles of the desired sizes, or range of sizes, may be collected.
• differently sized pieces of granulated tobacco may be mixed together.
• tobacco materials that can be employed include flue-cured or Virginia (e.g., K326), burley, sun-cured (e.g., Indian Kurnool and Oriental tobaccos, including Katerini, Prelip, Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos), Maryland, dark, dark-fired, dark air cured (e.g., Madole, Passanda, Cubano, Jatin and Bezuki tobaccos), light air cured (e.g., North Wisconsin and Galpao tobaccos), Indian air cured, Red Russian and Rustica tobaccos, as well as various other rare or specialty tobaccos and various blends of any of the foregoing tobaccos.
• flue-cured or Virginia e.g., K326)
• burley sun-cured
• Indian Kurnool and Oriental tobaccos including Katerini, Prelip, Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos
• Maryland dark, dark-fired, dark air cured (e.g., Madole, Passand
• Tobacco materials used in the present disclosure can be subjected to, for example, fermentation, bleaching, and the like.
• the tobacco materials can be, for example, irradiated, pasteurized, or otherwise subjected to controlled heat treatment.
• controlled heat treatment processes are detailed, for example, in US Pat. No. 8,061,362 to Mua et al. , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• tobacco materials can be treated with water and an additive capable of inhibiting reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide upon heating of the tobacco material (e.g., an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, cysteine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, compositions incorporating di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, certain non-reducing saccharides, certain reducing agents, phenolic compounds, certain compounds having at least one free thiol group or functionality, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, natural plant extracts (e.g., rosemary extract), and combinations thereof.
• an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, cysteine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, compositions incorporating di
• the type of tobacco material is selected such that it is initially visually lighter in color than other tobacco materials to some degree (e.g., whitened or bleached).
• Tobacco pulp can be whitened in some embodiments according to any means known in the art.
• bleached tobacco material produced by various whitening methods using various bleaching or oxidizing agents and oxidation catalysts can be used.
• Example oxidizing agents include peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), chlorite salts, chlorate salts, perchlorate salts, hypochlorite salts, ozone, ammonia, potassium permanganate, and combinations thereof.
• Example oxidation catalysts are titanium dioxide, manganese dioxide, and combinations thereof.
• the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness of at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, or at least about 80%. In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness in the range of about 50% to about 90%, about 55% to about 75%, or about 60% to about 70%. ISO brightness can be measured according to ISO 3688:1999 or ISO 2470-1:2016.
• the whitened tobacco material can be characterized as lightened in color (e.g., "whitened") in comparison to an untreated tobacco material.
• White colors are often defined with reference to the International Commission on Illumination's (CIE's) chromaticity diagram.
• CIE's International Commission on Illumination's
• the whitened tobacco material can, in some embodiments, be characterized as closer on the chromaticity diagram to pure white than an untreated tobacco material.
• the tobacco material can be treated to extract a soluble component of the tobacco material therefrom.
• tobacco extract refers to the isolated components of a tobacco material that are extracted from solid tobacco pulp by a solvent that is brought into contact with the tobacco material in an extraction process.
• extraction techniques of tobacco materials can be used to provide a tobacco extract and tobacco solid material. See, for example, the extraction processes described in US Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2011/0247640 to Beeson et al. , which is incorporated herein by reference.
• Other example techniques for extracting components of tobacco are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,144,895 to Fiore ; 4,150,677 to Osborne, Jr. et al.
• Typical inclusion ranges for tobacco materials can vary depending on the nature and type of the tobacco material, and the intended effect on the final composition, with an example range of up to about 30% by weight (or up to about 20% by weight or up to about 10% by weight or up to about 5% by weight), based on total weight of the composition (e.g., about 0.1 to about 15% by weight).
• a tobacco material e.g., a whitened tobacco material
• is included in a relatively small amount e.g., about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight).
• additives can be included in the disclosed composition.
• the composition can be processed, blended, formulated, combined and/or mixed with other materials or ingredients.
• the additives can be artificial, or can be obtained or derived from herbal or biological sources.
• further types of additives include additional thickening or gelling agents (e.g., fish gelatin), emulsifiers, preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate and the like), zinc or magnesium salts selected to be relatively water soluble for compositions with greater water solubility (e.g., magnesium or zinc gluconate) or selected to be relatively water insoluble for compositions with reduced water solubility (e.g., magnesium or zinc oxide), disintegration aids, or combinations thereof.
• additional thickening or gelling agents e.g., fish gelatin
• emulsifiers e.g., preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate and the like)
• zinc or magnesium salts selected to be relatively water soluble for compositions with greater water solubility
• Typical inclusion ranges for such additional additives can vary depending on the nature and function of the additive and the intended effect on the final composition, with an example range of up to about 10% by weight, based on total weight of the composition (e.g., about 0.1 to about 5% by weight).
• the aforementioned additives can be employed together (e.g., as additive formulations) or separately (e.g., individual additive components can be added at different stages involved in the preparation of the final composition). Furthermore, the aforementioned types of additives may be encapsulated as provided in the final product. Example encapsulated additives are described, for example, in WO2010/132444 to Atchley , which has been previously incorporated by reference herein.
• the manner by which the various components of the composition are combined may vary.
• the components noted above, which may be in liquid or dry solid form, can be admixed in a pretreatment step prior to mixture with any remaining components of the mixture, or simply mixed together with all other liquid or dry ingredients.
• the various components of the mixture may be contacted, combined, or mixed together using any mixing technique or equipment known in the art. Any mixing method that brings the mixture ingredients into intimate contact can be used, such as a mixing apparatus featuring an impeller or other structure capable of agitation.
• mixing equipment examples include casing drums, conditioning cylinders or drums, liquid spray apparatus, conical-type blenders, ribbon blenders, mixers available as FKM130, FKM600, FKM1200, FKM2000 and FKM3000 from Littleford Day, Inc., Plough Share types of mixer cylinders, Hobart mixers, and the like. See also, for example, the types of methodologies set forth in US Pat. Nos. 4,148,325 to Solomon et al. ; 6,510,855 to Korte et al. ; and 6,834,654 to Williams , each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Manners and methods for formulating mixtures will be apparent to those skilled in the art. See, for example, the types of methodologies set forth in US Pat. No.
• the oral product is adapted to deliver components to a user through mucous membranes in the user's mouth, the user's digestive system, or both, and, in some instances, said component is an active ingredient (including, but not limited to, for example, nicotine, a stimulant, vitamin, amino acid, botanical, or a combination thereof) that can be absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth or absorbed through the digestive tract when the product is used.
• an active ingredient including, but not limited to, for example, nicotine, a stimulant, vitamin, amino acid, botanical, or a combination thereof
• dissolvable all or a portion of the oral products of the present disclosure may be dissolvable.
• dissolve refers to products having aqueous-soluble components that interact with moisture in the oral cavity and enter into solution, thereby causing gradual consumption of the product.
• the dissolvable composition is capable of lasting in the user's mouth for a given period of time until it completely dissolves. Dissolution rates can vary over a wide range, from about 1 minute or less to about 60 minutes.
• fast release products typically dissolve and/or release the desired component(s) (e.g., active ingredient, flavor, and the like) in about 2 minutes or less, often about 1 minute or less (e.g., about 50 seconds or less, about 40 seconds or less, about 30 seconds or less, or about 20 seconds or less).
• Dissolution can occur by any means, such as melting, mechanical disruption (e.g., chewing), enzymatic or other chemical degradation, or by disruption of the interaction between the components of the product.
• the products do not dissolve during the product's residence in the user's mouth.
• the composition of the present disclosure is disposed within a moisture-permeable container (e.g., a water-permeable pouch).
• a moisture-permeable container e.g., a water-permeable pouch
• the composition enclosed in the pouch may be in any desired form.
• the composition is in granular or particulate form.
• Such compositions in the water-permeable pouch format are typically used by placing one pouch containing the composition in the mouth of a human subject/user. Generally, the pouch is placed somewhere in the oral cavity of the user, for example under the lips, in the same way as moist snuff products are generally used.
• the pouch typically is not chewed or swallowed unless the pouch composition or materials are ingestible (e.g., dissolvable or dispersible) as described herein below.
• the components of the composition therein e.g., flavoring agents and/or nicotine
• the pouch may be removed from the mouth of the human subject for disposal.
• the composition as disclosed herein and any other components noted above are combined within a moisture-permeable packet or pouch that acts as a container for use of the composition to provide a pouched product configured for oral use.
• a moisture-permeable packet or pouch that acts as a container for use of the composition to provide a pouched product configured for oral use.
• the compositions of the present disclosure can be characterized based on the release rate of nicotine from a pouched product made using the composition.
• the percentage of nicotine released normalized to pouch nicotine is about 20% or higher after ten minutes, or about 30% or higher after ten minutes.
• Nicotine release rates can be determined using the nicotine dissolution procedure set forth in the Experimental section below. As noted above, it was surprisingly discovered that pouched products containing nicotine and the non-tobacco plant fiber material or powdered cellulose material described herein exhibit similar nicotine release rates as compared to a pouched product containing only MCC as the sole filler component.
• the pouches can be formed from a fleece material, e.g., fibrous nonwoven webs.
• a "fleece material" as used herein may be formed from various types of fibers (e.g., cellulosic fibers, such as viscose fibers, regenerated cellulose fibers, cellulose fibers, and wood pulps; cotton fibers; other natural fibers; or polymer/synthetic-type fibers; or combinations thereof) capable of being formed into a traditional fleece fabrics or other traditional pouch materials.
• fleece materials may be provided in the form of a woven or nonwoven fabric. Suitable types of fleece materials, for example, are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,931,493 to Sebastian et al. ; US Patent App. Pub. No. 2016/0000140 to Sebastian et al. ; and US Patent App. Pub. No. 2016/0073689 to Sebastian et al. ; which are all incorporated herein by reference.
• nonwoven is used herein in reference to fibrous materials, webs, mats, batts, or sheets in which fibers are aligned in an undefined or random orientation.
• the nonwoven fibers are initially presented as unbound fibers or filaments.
• An important step in the manufacturing of nonwovens involves binding the various fibers or filaments together.
• the manner in which the fibers or filaments are bound can vary, and include thermal, mechanical and chemical techniques that are selected in part based on the desired characteristics of the final product, as discussed in more detail below.
• the fibers within the fleece material may include, but are not limited to, a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate adipate, and copolymers thereof.
• the fibers within the fleece material may be selected from the groups consisting of wool, cotton, fibers made of cellulosic material, such as regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, protein fibers, and the like. See also, the fiber types set forth in US Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2014/0083438 to Sebastian et al. , which is incorporated by reference herein.
• the pouch material can include a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof.
• Regenerated cellulose fibers can be particularly advantageous, and are typically prepared by extracting non-cellulosic compounds from wood, contacting the extracted wood with caustic soda, followed by carbon disulfide and then by sodium hydroxide, giving a viscous solution. The solution is subsequently forced through spinneret heads to create viscous threads of regenerated fibers.
• Example methods for the preparation of regenerated cellulose are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,274 to Leoni et al ; U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,666 to Baldini et al ; U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,766 to Baldini et al.
• the manner in which the regenerated cellulose is made is not limiting, and can include, for example, both the rayon and the TENCEL processes.
• Various suppliers of regenerated cellulose are known, including Lenzing (Austria), Cordenka (Germany), Aditya Birla (India), and Daicel (Japan).
• An example pouch may be manufactured from materials, and in such a manner, such that during use by the user, the pouch undergoes a controlled dispersion or dissolution.
• Such pouch materials may have the form of a mesh, screen, perforated paper, permeable fabric, or the like.
• pouch material manufactured from a mesh-like form of rice paper, or perforated rice paper may dissolve in the mouth of the user.
• the pouch and composition each may undergo complete dispersion within the mouth of the user during normal conditions of use, and hence the pouch and composition both may be ingested by the user.
• pouch materials may be manufactured using water dispersible film forming materials (e.g., binding agents such as alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, pullulan, and the like), as well as those materials in combination with materials such as ground cellulosics (e.g., fine particle size wood pulp).
• Example pouch materials though water dispersible or dissolvable, may be designed and manufactured such that under conditions of normal use, a significant amount of the composition contents permeate through the pouch material prior to the time that the pouch undergoes loss of its physical integrity. If desired, flavoring ingredients, disintegration aids, and other desired components, may be incorporated within, or applied to, the pouch material.
• each product unit for example, a pouch
• the weight of the composition within each pouch is at least about 50 mg, for example, from about 50 mg to about 1 gram, from about 100 to 800 about mg, or from about 200 to about 700 mg. In some smaller embodiments, the weight of the composition within each pouch may be from about 100 to about 300 mg. For a larger embodiment, the weight of the composition within each pouch may be from about 300 mg to about 700 mg.
• other components can be contained within each pouch. For example, at least one flavored strip, piece or sheet of flavored water dispersible or water soluble material (e.g., a breath-freshening edible film type of material) may be disposed within each pouch along with or without at least one capsule.
• Such strips or sheets may be folded or crumpled in order to be readily incorporated within the pouch. See, for example, the types of materials and technologies set forth in US Pat. Nos. 6,887,307 to Scott et al. and 6,923,981 to Leung et al. ; and The EFSA Journal (2004) 85, 1-32 ; which are incorporated herein by reference.
• a pouched product as described herein can be packaged within any suitable packaging materials. See also, for example, the various types of containers set forth in US Pat. Nos. 7,014,039 to Henson et al. ; 7,537,110 to Kutsch et al. ; 7,584,843 to Kutsch et al. ; 8,397,945 to Gelardi et al. , D592,956 to Thiellier ; D594,154 to Patel et al. ; and D625,178 to Bailey et al. ; US Pat. Pub. Nos. 2008/0173317 to Robinson et al. ; 2009/0014343 to Clark et al.
• Pouched samples (1 pouch for each replicate) were accurately weighed and added to a dissolution vessel containing 500 ml of dissolution medium (12 mM ammonium phosphate, pH 7.4) at 37°C. The dissolution vessel was transferred to the dissolution apparatus and samples collected according to the parameters in Table 2.
• Nicotine content of the samples was determined via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis using Waters Acquity H-class system (or equivalent) with UV detection. HPLC conditions and program are listed in Tables 3 and 4. The experimental sample response was plotted against a linear calibration curve generated with standards of known concentration to accurately determine the nicotine content in the samples. Table 2.
• HPLC Conditions Mobile Phase A 60/40 Phosphate Buffer (25mM pH 7.2) / MeOH Mobile Phase B MeOH Wavelength (UV) 259 nm Column Set Point Temperature 35 ⁇ 1°C Autosampler Temperature 6 ⁇ 4°C Flow Rate 0.75 mL/min Injection Volume 10 ⁇ L HPLC Mode Gradient (see Table 5) Run Time 7.0 min Table 4. HPLC Program Time (min) Flow Rate (ml/min) %A %B Initial 0.75 100 0 2.1 0.75 100 0 2.5 0.75 0 100 4.5 0.75 0 100 5.0 0.75 100 0 7.0 0.75 100 0
• a series of pouches were made with a cellulosic fleece and the composition listed in the tables below.
• Each pouch filling material was prepared by mixing the dry ingredients followed by addition of the liquid ingredients and further mixing. Thereafter, the pouch filling material was placed in a fleece pouch and oversprayed with water.
• Each pouch contained different cellulosic filler materials, or combinations of such materials.
• Each of the pouches containing at least one cellulosic fiber material other than microcrystalline cellulose achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to Pouch 1A, the control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• the pouches were formed using a pouching machine manufactured by MERZmaschinen GmbH.
• Cellulosic fiber materials having a smaller average fiber size were easier to pouch using the machine (e.g., 1D; 1E; and 1F), suggesting that smaller-sized materials can be used to entirely replace microcrystalline cellulose in the composition.
• Materials having large average fiber size e.g., 1B and 1C were more difficult to pouch using the machine, suggesting that machine modification may be needed for commercial-scale production of pouches with such materials used as the sole filler material.
• larger fiber materials can be used in smaller amounts within the composition and in combination with microcrystalline cellulose. Table 5.
• POUCH 1B Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 49.70% Sodium Chloride 2.13% Water 7.41% 12% nicotine solution 8.41% Propylene Glycol 1.00% Xylitol 1.63% Sucralose 0.28% ALBAFIBER ® B-200 (bamboo fiber) 5.57% Flavor 1.62% Water Overspray 14.85% Fleece 6.76% 100.00% Table 6. POUCH 1B Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 37% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.0 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.9 Table 7.
• POUCH 1C Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 2.90% Sodium Chloride 2.41% 25% nicotine solution 5.84% Propylene Glycol 1.13% Xylitol 1.85% Sucralose 0.31% ALBAFIBER ® B-200 (bamboo fiber) 50.76% Flavor 1.84% Water Overspray 23.08% Fleece 9.87% 100.00% Table 8.
• POUCH 1E Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Unicell ® WF75 (wheat fiber) 52.57% Sodium Chloride 2.03% Water 5.15% 12% nicotine solution 10.23% Propylene Glycol 0.95% Xylitol 1.56% Sucralose 0.27% Flavor 1.55% Water Overspray 16.00% Fleece 9.68% 100.00% Table 12. POUCH 1E Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 36% Flavor (mg, pouch) 6.0 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 4.8 Table 13.
• POUCH 1F Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Unicell ® OF75 (oat fiber) 52.78% Sodium Chloride 2.04% Water 5.17% 12% nicotine solution 10.27% Propylene Glycol 0.96% Xylitol 1.56% Sucralose 0.27% Flavor 1.55% Water Overspray 16.00% Fleece 9.40% 100.00% Table 14. POUCH 1F Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt.
• a series of pouches were made with a cellulosic fleece and the composition listed in the tables below.
• Each pouch filling material was prepared by mixing the dry ingredients followed by addition of the liquid ingredients and further mixing. Thereafter, the pouch filling material was placed in a fleece pouch and oversprayed with water.
• Each pouch contained different cellulosic filler materials, or combinations of such materials.
• Each of the pouches contained at least one cellulosic fiber material (in an amount of about 9% of filler or more as a percentage of total filler content) other than microcrystalline cellulose and achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to Pouch 2A, the control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• the long fiber length of the softwood fiber (2B) made it difficult to mix with the remaining composition ingredients, and so the inclusion amount was limited to only about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the pouch.
• the pouches were formed using a pouching machine manufactured by MERZmaschinen GmbH.
• the cellulosic fiber materials used in this example were relatively large in terms of average fiber size, and therefore were combined with microcrystalline cellulose to improve pouching using the machine.
• Table 17. POUCH 2A Composition (Control) Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 58.51% Sodium Chloride 2.26% Water 7.74% 12% nicotine solution 8.90% Propylene Glycol 1.06% Xylitol 1.73% Sucralose 0.29% Flavor 1.71% Water Overspray 10.89% Fleece 6.80% 100.00% Table 18.
• POUCH 2A Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt.
• POUCH 2C Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 46.44% Sodium Chloride 2.15% Water 7.48% 12% nicotine solution 8.49% Propylene Glycol 1.01% Xylitol 1.64% Sucralose 0.28% JELUCEL ® BF200 bamboo fiber 10.11% Flavor 1.64% Water Overspray 14.35% Fleece 6.41% 100.00% Table 22.
• POUCH 2C Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 36% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.6 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 6.0 Table 23.
• POUCH 2D Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 46.68% Sodium Chloride 2.20% Water 7.64% 12% nicotine solution 8.68% Propylene Glycol 1.03% Xylitol 1.68% Sucralose 0.29% Unicell ® WF500 wheat fiber 10.34% Flavor 1.67% Water Overspray 12.75% Fleece 7.03% 100.00% Table 24. POUCH 2D Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 35% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.0 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.6 Table 25.
• POUCH 2E Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 43.08% Sodium Chloride 2.06% Water 7.17% 12% nicotine solution 8.14% Propylene Glycol 0.97% Xylitol 1.58% Sucralose 0.27% UNICEL ® BF500 bamboo fiber 9.70% Flavor 1.57% Water Overspray 17.63% Fleece 7.11% 100.00% Table 26.
• POUCH 2E Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 38% Flavor (mg, pouch) 8.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.2 Table 27.
• POUCH 2F Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 42.95% Sodium Chloride 2.02% Water 7.03% 12% nicotine solution 7.98% Propylene Glycol 0.95% Xylitol 1.55% Sucralose 0.26% Unicell ® OF500 oat fiber 9.50% Flavor 1.54% Water Overspray 19.26% Fleece 6.96% 100.00% Table 28.
• POUCH 2F Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 39% Flavor (mg, pouch) 8.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.2 Table 29.
• POUCH 2G Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 48.47% Sodium Chloride 2.12% Calcium Lactate Pentahydrate 2.38% Calcium Gluconate Anhydrous 3.32% Water 7.39% 12% nicotine solution 8.39% Propylene Glycol 1.00% Xylitol 1.63% Sucralose 0.28% TCI X0078 Xylan from corn core 1.00% Flavor 1.62% Water Overspray 16.00% Fleece 6.41% 100.00% Table 30. POUCH 2G Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 36% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.5 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.9 Table 31.
• POUCH 2H Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 54.17% Sodium Chloride 2.12% Water 7.39% 12% nicotine solution 8.39% Propylene Glycol 1.00% Xylitol 1.63% Sucralose 0.28% TCI X0078 Xylan from corn core 1.00% Flavor 1.62% Water Overspray 16.00% Fleece 6.41% 100.00% Table 32. POUCH 2H Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 37% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.5 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.9 Table 33.
• POUCH 2I Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 39.37% Sodium Chloride 2.12% Calcium Lactate Pentahydrate 2.37% Calcium Gluconate Anhydrous 3.31% Water 7.38% 12% nicotine solution 8.37% Propylene Glycol 0.99% Xylitol 1.62% Sucralose 0.28% Unicell ® OF500 oat fiber 9.98% Flavor 1.61% Water Overspray 16.00% Fleece 6.60% 100.00% Table 34. POUCH 2I Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 36% Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.2 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.7
• a series of pouches were made with a cellulosic fleece and the composition listed in the tables below.
• Each pouch filling material was prepared by mixing the dry ingredients followed by addition of the liquid ingredients and further mixing. Thereafter, the pouch filling material was placed in a fleece pouch and oversprayed with water.
• Each pouch contained different cellulosic filler materials, or combinations of such materials. The moisture level of each pouch was 22% by weight.
• Each of the pouches containing at least one cellulosic fiber material other than microcrystalline cellulose achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to Pouch 3A, the control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• POUCH 3B Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) JELUCEL ® BF75 bamboo fiber 61.76% Sodium Chloride 3.51% Water 5.95% 25% nicotine solution 6.68% Propylene Glycol 1.92% Sodium bicarbonate 0.20% Xylitol 2.69% Sucralose 0.46% Flavor 2.67% Water Overspray 0.04% Fleece 14.12% 100.00% Table 38.
• POUCH 3C Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) NFS SCF90 sugar cane fiber 64.00% Sodium Chloride 3.56% Water 4.65% 25% nicotine solution 6.78% Propylene Glycol 1.95% Sodium bicarbonate 0.22% Xylitol 2.73% Sucralose 0.46% Flavor 2.71% Water Overspray 0% Fleece 12.94% 100.00% Table 40.
• POUCH 3C Characteristics Flavor (mg, pouch) 7.9 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 4.9 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 41.
• POUCH 3D Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 51.75% Sodium Chloride 3.40% Water 7.49% 25% nicotine solution 6.47% Propylene Glycol 1.86% Sodium bicarbonate 0.19% Xylitol 2.60% Sucralose 0.44% JELUCEL ® BF 1500X bamboo fiber 13.01% Flavor 2.59% Water Overspray 0% Fleece 10.18% 100.00% Table 42.
• POUCH 3D Characteristics Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.6 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 6.0 pH 8.5-9.1
• a series of pouches were made similar to the pouches of Example 3, but with a higher pouch moisture level.
• the 4A pouch served as an MCC-only control, while the remaining pouches contained other cellulosic filler materials or mixtures thereof.
• the remaining ingredients of each pouch are the same as in Example 3.
• a description of each pouch is set forth in Table 43 below.
• Each of the pouches containing at least one cellulosic fiber material other than microcrystalline cellulose achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to Pouch 4A, the control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• Non-MCC filler Non-MCC filler (% of filler content) Pouch Weight Reduction Pouch Moisture Nicotine (mg, pouch) 4A NA 0% 0.0% 35% 6.0 4B JELUCEL ® BF75 bamboo fiber 100% 29.4% 35% 6.0 4C JELUCEL ® BF200 bamboo fiber 20% 9.3% 35% 6.0 4D NFS SCF90 sugar cane fiber 100% 29.6% 35% 6.0 4E JELUCEL ® BF1500X bamboo fiber 20% 24.4% 35% 6.0
• a series of pouches were made similar to the pouches of Example 3, but with a higher pouch moisture level.
• the 5A pouch served as an MCC-only control, while the remaining pouches contained other cellulosic filler materials or mixtures thereof.
• the remaining ingredients of each pouch are the same as in Example 3.
• a description of each pouch is set forth in Table 44 below.
• Each of the pouches containing at least one cellulosic fiber material other than microcrystalline cellulose achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to Pouch 5A, the control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• Non-MCC filler Non-MCC filler (% of filler content) Pouch Weight Reduction Pouch Moisture Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5A -- 0% NA 50% 6.0 5B JELUCEL ® BF75 bamboo fiber 100% 22.9% 50% 6.0 5C JELUCEL ® BF200 bamboo fiber 20% 0.8% 50% 6.0 5D NFS SCF90 sugar cane fiber 100% 23.1% 50% 6.0 5E NFS SCF500 sugar cane fiber 10% 0.8% 50% 6.0 5F JELUCEL ® BF1500X bamboo fiber 20% 17.4% 50% 6.0
• Two sensory panels (one of seven people and one of six people) evaluated samples aged under ambient conditions for three months (for a usage time period of 30 minutes) of the 5B composition as compared to the 5A control from Example 5.
• the panel evaluated each sample in seven categories: (1) pouch moisture feel in hand; (2) pouch plumpness in hand; (3) flavor intensity; (4) pouch dryness in mouth; (5) pouch plumpness in mouth; (6) gum irritation; and (7) throat irritation.
• the panel also assessed whether flavor off-notes were present and visually assessed pouch discoloration.
• the panel did not perceive any pouch discoloration difference between the samples and detected no aroma or flavor off-notes. Overall, the differences between the control and the 5B sample were determined to be minimal, with the main perceived difference being slightly less intense flavor and slower flavor release as compared to the control. In general, the sensory panel results indicate that the 5B composition is largely indistinguishable from the control.
• Two sensory panels performed the same evaluation comparing samples aged under ambient conditions for three months of the 5A control and the 5D composition from Example 5. The results were similar. The panel did not perceive any pouch discoloration difference between the samples and detected no aroma or flavor off-notes. Overall, the differences between the control and the 5D sample were determined to be minimal, with the main perceived difference being slightly less intense flavor and slower flavor release as compared to the control. In general, the sensory panel results indicate that the 5D composition is largely indistinguishable from the control.
• a series of pouches were made with a cellulosic fleece and the composition listed in the tables below.
• Each pouch filling material was prepared by mixing the dry ingredients followed by addition of the liquid ingredients and further mixing. Thereafter, the pouch filling material was placed in a fleece pouch and oversprayed with water.
• Each pouch contained different cellulosic filler materials, or combinations of such materials.
• Each of the pouches containing at least one cellulosic fiber material other than microcrystalline cellulose achieved a reduction in pouch weight as compared to a control pouch containing only MCC filler.
• POUCH 7A Characteristics Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.6 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 6.0 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 47.
• POUCH 7B Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Unicell ® PF75 (powdered cellulose) 42.71% Sodium Chloride 3.22% Water 8.7% 25% nicotine solution 6.13% Propylene Glycol 1.76% Sodium bicarbonate 0.18% Xylitol 2.47% Sucralose 0.42% Unicell ® PF500 (powdered cellulose) 10.68% Flavor 2.45% Water Overspray 11.63% Fleece 9.63% 100.00% Table 48.
• POUCH 7B Characteristics Flavor (mg, pouch) 9.6 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 6.0 pH 8.5-9.1
• Pouch whiteness was evaluated for a selection of pouches made in the previous examples, visually comparing pouch whiteness to an MCC-only control pouch (5A) after three months of storage under ambient conditions.
• the 1E sample containing wheat fibers and the 1F sample containing oat fibers showed noticeable yellowing.
• Samples containing bamboo fiber (5B; 5C; 5F; 1D; and 2E), sugarcane fiber (5D and 5E), or powdered cellulose (7A and 7B) did not show noticeable yellowing as compared to the MCC-only control.
• the fill value (filling capacity) for a selection of pouch compositions made in the previous examples was evaluated and compared to an MCC-only control (3A).
• the fill value was determined using the following process: (1) particulate composition sample was weighed and placed in cylinder of known height; (2) sample was leveled using a bullseye level weighing approximately 30.94 g; (3) a certified ruler was used to measure empty height of cylinder to obtain sample height without compression of the sample; and (4) Formula 1 below was used to calculate the fill value (in units of cm 3 /100 g), which can be simplified to units of cc/g.
• Filling Capacity cm 3 / 100 g Cross ⁇ sectioal area mm 2 Weight g ⁇ height mm ⁇ 100 g 1 1000 Convert mm 3 to cm 3
• Samples containing bamboo fiber (3B and 3D) or sugarcane fiber (3C) exhibited significantly greater fill value as compared to the control. Specifically, the control sample had a fill value of 5.51 cm 3 /g, bamboo fiber sample 3B had a fill value of 9.09 cm 3 /g, bamboo fiber sample 3D had a fill value of 9.03 cm 3 /g, and sugarcane fiber sample 3C had a fill value of 9.41 cm 3 /g. Accordingly, the samples containing bamboo or sugarcane fiber had significantly higher fill value than the MCC-only control, indicating a lower composition density.
• sample 3D contained a longer bamboo fiber material (JELUCEL ® BF1500X bamboo fiber) at a relatively low inclusion percentage in addition to MCC as the primary filler component, but still greatly increased fill value.
• Samples 3C (sugarcane fiber) and 3B (bamboo fiber) did not contain MCC and instead only contained either sugarcane or bamboo fiber as a filler material. Both achieved a much higher fill value than the MCC-only sample.
• a series of pouches were made with a cellulosic fleece and the composition listed in the tables below.
• Each pouch filling material was prepared by mixing the dry ingredients followed by addition of the liquid ingredients and further mixing. Thereafter, the pouch filling material was placed in a fleece pouch and oversprayed with water.
• Each pouch contained different cellulosic filler materials and included an ion pairing agent (sodium benzoate).
• the pouches were prepared at three pH levels: basic pH, neutral pH, and acidic pH.
• the pH of each pouch composition was measured by cutting about 1.5g of pouches in half and mixing the cut pouches with 30 mL of 18MOhm water. The pH of the resulting solution was measured with a pH meter (calibrated with pH 4, 7, and 10 buffer prior to analysis).
• Table 49 POUCH 10A Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 43.71% Sodium Chloride 2.11% Water 9.05% 100% nicotine 0.83% Propylene Glycol 0.83% Xylitol 1.61% Sucralose 0.28% Flavor 1.61% Water Overspray 34.59% Fleece 5.39% 100.00% Table 50.
• POUCH 10A Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 49% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 51.
• POUCH 10B Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) NFS SCF90 sugar cane fiber 39.71% Sodium Chloride 3.07% Water 6.52% 100% nicotine 1.20% Propylene Glycol 1.20% Xylitol 2.35% Sucralose 0.40% Flavor 2.34% Water Overspray 35.37% Fleece 7.83% 100.00% Table 52.
• POUCH 10B Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt.
• POUCH 10D Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 42.49% Sodium Chloride 1.17% Sodium Benzoate 3.53% Water 7.68% 100% nicotine 0.83% Propylene Glycol 0.83% Xylitol 1.61% Sucralose 0.28% Flavor 1.61% Water Overspray 34.59% Fleece 5.39% 100.00% Table 56.
• POUCH 10D Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 48% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 57.
• POUCH 10E Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) NFS SCF90 sugar cane fiber 37.57% Sodium Chloride 1.90% Sodium Benzoate 5.22% Water 5.41% 100% nicotine 1.22% Propylene Glycol 1.22% Xylitol 2.39% Sucralose 0.41% Flavor 2.38% Water Overspray 34.33% Fleece 7.96% 100.00% Table 58.
• POUCH 10E Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 47% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 59.
• POUCH 10F Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Unicell ® WF90 (wheat fiber) 37.22% Sodium Chloride 1.90% Sodium Benzoate 5.22% Water 5.77% 100% nicotine 1.22% Propylene Glycol 1.22% Xylitol 2.39% Sucralose 0.41% Flavor 2.38% Water Overspray 34.33% Fleece 7.96% 100.00% Table 60.
• POUCH 10F Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 47% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 8.5-9.1 Table 61.
• POUCH 10G Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 42.77% Sodium Chloride 1.35% Sodium Benzoate 2.80% Water 7.96% 100% nicotine 0.83% Propylene Glycol 0.83% Xylitol 1.61% Sucralose 0.28% Flavor 1.61% Water Overspray 34.59% Fleece 5.39% 100.00% Table 62.
• POUCH 10G Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 48% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 5.8-6.2 Table 63.
• POUCH 10J Composition Component % Inclusion (by weight) Microcrystalline cellulose 42.71% Sodium Chloride 1.31% Sodium Benzoate 2.94% Water 7.90% 100% nicotine 0.17% Nicotine benzoate 100% 0.66% Propylene Glycol 0.83% Xylitol 1.61% Sucralose 0.28% Flavor 1.61% Water Overspray 34.59% Fleece 5.39% 100.00% Table 68.
• POUCH 10J Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 48% Flavor (mg, pouch) 11.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 5.8 pH 7.0 Table 69.
• POUCH 10K Characteristics Calculated Oven Volatile Content - wt. % 47% Flavor (mg, pouch) 17.3 Nicotine (mg, pouch) 8.9 pH 7.0 Table 71.
• each of the above pouches were subjected to aging for 12 days under ambient conditions and then tested for whiteness.
• the whiteness testing followed the ASTM E313-73 protocol using a Konica-Minolta C-700d spectrophotometer and Spectramagic TM NX software.
• the whiteness output from the test is a percentage scale, and each pouch was tested in triplicate and an average whiteness index determined. The results are shown below in Table 73, along with the measured pH of each pouch.
• a pouched composition having a pH of about 7.0 or lower (e.g., about 4.0 to about 7.0) and/or having an ion pairing agent should exhibit a higher whiteness value after aging. Table 73.
• the water holding capacity (WHC) of a selection of fibrous materials used in the pouch compositions of the previous examples was evaluated and compared to microcrystalline cellulose.
• WHC water holding capacity
• For each WHC test about 2.5-4.5 g of fibrous material was added to a centrifuge vial. Total weight of the vial was adjusted to about 60 g by adding DI water (about 42 g of DI water) and the vial was allowed to stand for one hour. Thereafter, free water was decanted and the weight of the remaining fibrous material and water was measured. The WHC of each sample was calculated as the weight of retained water in grams per weight of fibrous material in grams (corrected to account for moisture content of fibrous material prior to test).

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