EP4337021A1

EP4337021A1 - Composition in the form of a supramolecular arrangement including hydrophilic molecules which is stabilized by mineral particles in a lipid phase

Info

Publication number: EP4337021A1
Application number: EP22730952.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Abdeslam El Harrak; Clara JIMENEZ SAELICES; Célia MOUSTIES; César Adrien Claude René CRETEL
Original assignee: Huddle Corp
Current assignee: Huddle Corp
Priority date: 2021-05-12
Filing date: 2022-05-12
Publication date: 2024-03-20
Also published as: US20240251816A1; FR3122874A1; CA3219365A1; WO2022238662A1

Abstract

Lipid composition comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6, antioxidants and phyllosilicate particles, wherein the phyllosilicate particles are clusters of sheets, wherein said antioxidants comprise water-soluble antioxidants dissolved in the water adsorbed in the phyllosilicate sheets and wherein the phyllosilicate sheets are dispersed in the composition by an amphiphilic dispersant adsorbed on the surface of the phyllosilicate particles.

Description

Composition in the form of a supramolecular organization including hydrophilic molecules stabilized by mineral particles in a lipid phase

Field of invention

The present invention relates to compositions comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6. It particularly relates to a composition whose resistance to oxidation is reinforced, for direct use or as entering into formulations requiring more lipids stable to oxidation during the transformation process or during storage.

State of the art

[0002] Lipids constitute the fat of living beings. They are hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules - hydrophobic molecules possessing a hydrophilic domain - very diversified, which can be saturated or unsaturated, including among others fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, mono-, di- and triglycerides, or more phospholipids.

[0003] They play a role both as an energy reserve, as the main constituent of the membranes of the cells of living beings, and as communication between cells by lipid signaling mechanisms and thus constitute a very important part of the human diet. and animal.

[0004] Unsaturated lipids are molecules that are sensitive to oxidation. The main factors are temperature, oxygen and light. Lipid oxidation can be initiated by a reaction between reactive oxygen species and an unsaturated fatty acid. This oxidation mechanism is then followed by a propagation and termination step.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the oxidation mechanism of an unsaturated fatty acid.

The first step which activates lipids (LH) leads to a lipid radical L-:

[0007] LH + OH ® H20 + L

[0008] Lipid free radicals react with oxygen to generate peroxyl radicals:

1 [0009] L +0 ₂ ® LOO

[0010] In the propagation phase, the peroxyl radicals, for their part, react with other unsaturated fatty acids to form hydroperoxides and a new reactive lipid radical:

[0011] LOO +L'H ® LOOH + L'

[0012] Then, in the termination phase, the hydroperoxides decompose via a radical route or a non-radical route. The main secondary compounds formed are aldehydes, carbonyls, alcohols and hydrocarbons.

[0013] Among these secondary compounds, there is malondialdehyde (MD A), which is a marker for the oxidation of polyunsaturated lipids containing more than two double bonds. Once the oxidation mechanism has been initiated, and following the formation of hydroperoxide, the latter will potentially decompose into MD A and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE).

[0014] The oxidation of lipids can thus be monitored by assaying the hydroperoxides.

[0015] It has been demonstrated that the oxidation of lipids, and in particular of unsaturated fatty acids such as omega 3 and omega 6, can cause irreversible damage from a metabolic point of view.

[0016] In food matrices, there are two possibilities for introducing lipids. The first is to place them inside the matrix in order to limit the access of UV radiation and oxygen. The second possibility is to place them outside as a “coating” when the food manufacturing process involves high temperatures, in order to limit the consequences of high temperatures for the implementation of lipids.

[0017] Despite everything in these two scenarios, the lipids are exposed to potential oxidation, whether during the process or during storage. In food formulation processes, high temperatures are often used, especially in the manufacture of food pellets by extrusion. Furthermore, the storage conditions allowing the stability over time of sensitive nutrients to be improved, such as the atmospheric conditions modified during packaging (vacuum packaging or under a non-oxidizing atmosphere) are little or not used at all, the products are therefore exposed to oxygen.

[0018]There is therefore a growing need for systems making it possible to protect and delay the oxidation of lipids, while simplifying the implementation of lipid intakes in foods, whether inside or outside. exterior of food matrices.

2 Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a lipid composition comprising a system making it possible to protect and delay the oxidation of unsaturated lipids, whether inside or outside food matrices.

The subject of the invention is a lipid composition comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6, antioxidants, an amphiphilic dispersing agent and phyllosilicate particles, characterized in that the phyllosilicate particles are clusters of sheets in which water is adsorbed, in that said antioxidants comprise water-soluble antioxidants dissolved in said water adsorbed in said phyllosilicate sheets at an antioxidant content greater than 0.01% by weight relative to the weight of the lipids of the composition , and in that the phyllosilicate sheets are dispersed and exfoliated in the composition by said amphiphilic dispersing agent adsorbed on the surface of said phyllosilicate sheets.

In other words, the invention relates to a lipid composition comprising a lipid phase comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6, an amphiphilic dispersing agent and phyllosilicate particles dispersed and exfoliated in said lipid phase characterized in that the phyllosilicates are in the form of sheets in which water and water-soluble antioxidants are adsorbed.

[0022] In other words, the lipid composition does not include any water other than the water adsorbed in the phyllosilicate sheets.

In other words, the composition comprises exfoliated phyllosilicates, that is to say phyllosilicates whose sheets have been separated by exfoliation.

In the context of the present invention, the term "exfoliated" means the phyllosilicates having undergone exfoliation, that is to say a more or less complete separation of its individual layers. The exfoliation process usually includes three phases:

- (1) The swelling of the phyllosilicate sheets by water,

- (2) The adsorption of a hydrophobic molecule on the surface of the phyllosilicate particles, to make it compatible with the lipid dispersion phase, for example lecithin, and

- (3) The supply of shear energy to separate the phyllosilicate particles in the lipid phase.

3 The phyllosilicates thus serve as a vehicle for the water-soluble antioxidants which can thus be dispersed in the lipid phase, in a homogeneous manner.

In the context of the invention, the term “clay” or “mineral particles” is used interchangeably to designate and describe phyllosilicates.

[0027] The water-soluble antioxidants of the composition dissolved in the swelling and exfoliating water of the phyllosilicates are dispersed and stabilized in the lipid phase by the phyllosilicate particles. The dispersing or amphiphilic surface agent makes it possible to render the outer surface of the clusters of sheets partially hydrophobic and thus enables the dispersion and stabilization of these clusters of sheets in the lipid phase. The dispersion of water-soluble antioxidant molecules is thus obtained by the clusters of phyllosilicate sheets, by the water adsorbed in the sheets and by the dispersing or surface agent adsorbed on the surface of the sheets which together constitute a supramolecular structure. The minimum content of water-soluble antioxidants indicated is such that below, their effectiveness becomes insufficient. This content corresponds substantially to an equivalent of water-soluble vitamin relative to vitamin E, naturally present in oils.

Advantageously, the water-soluble antioxidant content is between 0.125% and 50% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicate particles, and preferably between 0.375% and 35% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicate particles.

[0029] Beyond this value of 50%, it becomes difficult to dissolve them in the swelling water of the phyllosilicates. Indeed, phyllosilicates are swollen by water promoting their exfoliation, but also constituting the solubilization medium for water-soluble antioxidants. The water thus present in the phyllosilicates advantageously represents up to 200% of the weight of phyllosilicates of the lipid phase (described below). Vitamin C being a water-soluble antioxidant, effective for the protection of lipids, has a water solubility constant of 330 mg/ml, cannot represent more than 66% of the weight of phyllosilicates. Taking into account the water adsorbed on the surface (not available), it is preferable to limit the quantity of vitamin C to 50% of the weight of the phyllosilicates, i.e. 25mg/ml.

[0030] The water-soluble antioxidant can be chosen from the group of reducing salts, reducing enzymes, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives and water-soluble vitamins and their combinations. Preferably, the antioxidant of the composition is vitamin C.

4 Advantageously, the amphiphilic dispersing agent is chosen from the group of ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE), cationic surfactants based on arginine with 16 carbons and more, phospholipids and combinations thereof.

Preferably, the amphiphilic dispersing or surface agent is a phosphoglyceride and very preferably a phosphatidyl choline and very very preferably lecithin.

Advantageously, the phyllosilicate sheets are smectite sheets and very preferably mostly montmorillonite sheets.

Preferably, the content of dispersant or surface agent in the composition is between 10% and 400% and very preferably between 20% and 200% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicates.

Preferably, the water content of the lipid composition is between 10% and 300% and very preferably between 20% and 200% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicates.

[0036] Preferably, the lipid composition does not comprise any water other than the water adsorbed in the sheets of phyllosilicates.

Preferably, the content of phyllosilicates in the lipid composition ranges from 0.005 to 20% by weight.

Preferably, the content of phyllosilicates in the lipid composition ranges from 0.5 to 20% by weight, preferably from 1 to 20% by weight.

Preferably, the content of phyllosilicates in the lipid composition ranges from 0.005 to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.005 to 2% by weight.

[0040] Even advantageously, the content of phyllosilicates in the lipid composition ranges from 0.5 and 35% by weight and preferably from 0.5 to 15% by weight, relative to the weight of the lipid composition.

The invention also relates to an emulsion with an aqueous phase and a lipid phase, in which the lipid phase corresponds to the lipid composition as previously described.

5 [0042] In this composition in the form of an emulsion, the phyllosilicate particles have a dual role: providing support and fine dispersion of the water-soluble antioxidants in the lipid phase, but also the role of mineral emulsifying particles that can be used either for the stabilization of direct (O/W) or inverse (W/O) emulsions as well as double emulsions (W/O/W).

According to one embodiment, the emulsion is a direct emulsion and the overall phyllosilicate content, that is to say the weight of phyllosilicates, in the lipid phase is greater than 0.5% by weight relative to the weight of said lipid phase, and preferably between 1% and 20% by weight.

In this embodiment, the viscosity of the lipid phase increases with in particular the level of phyllosilicates and this is favorable to obtaining a direct emulsion.

According to another embodiment, the emulsion is an inverse emulsion, and the overall phyllosilicate content in said lipid phase is less than 5% by weight relative to the weight of said lipid phase, and preferably between 0.005 % and 2% by weight.

In this embodiment, the viscosity of the lipid phase decreases with the decrease in the level of phyllosilicates and this is favorable to obtaining an inverse emulsion.

The invention also relates to foods, premixes or food supplements in the form of modular stacked objects allowing protection against oxidation and controlled release of nutritive and/or physiologically active substances for monogastric species, with a aqueous phase and a lipid phase with liposoluble active components, such that the aqueous phase and the lipid phase form an emulsion as previously described.

According to a first embodiment, the foods, premixes or food supplements are such that the emulsion is a direct emulsion and such that the drops of the lipid phase, or lipid particles, dispersed have a biopolymer coating, preferentially chosen from the group of chitosan, polylisine and hyaluronic acid.

According to a second embodiment, the foods, premixes or food supplements comprise a core and a coating of the core and are such that the core comprises the aqueous phase and the lipid phase and such that the aqueous phase comprises water-soluble active substances .

6 [0050] In this embodiment, the aqueous phase can be dispersed in the continuous lipid phase. The lipid phase can also be dispersed in the continuous aqueous phase, in the latter case, the aqueous phase is advantageously gelled.

The lipid composition as described above can advantageously also be incorporated or impregnated in an extradited food.

The invention also relates to the use of phyllosilicates as agents for stabilizing lipid emulsions.

These lipid emulsions comprise an aqueous phase and a lipid phase and the phyllosilicate particles introduced and dispersed in the lipid phase make it possible to stabilize these various and inverse emulsions.

The preceding elements or products have the advantage of comprising dispersed in the lipid phase hydrophilic antioxidants dispersed and stabilized by phyllosilicate particles. These antioxidants can reduce the deleterious effects of oxidation of unsaturated fats. Antioxidants are in fact more quickly attacked by reactive oxygen species, while remaining stable once oxidized, which allows lipids not to be affected, or to delay the start of this oxidation, excess antioxidants not consumed in the protection mechanism constitute interesting nutritional contributions, with a delayed release in the digestive tract, this is an additional benefit to the proposed model of lipid stability implemented here.

The invention also relates to a process for dispersing and exfoliating phyllosilicates in a lipid phase.

The process comprises the following steps: a) Preparation of an aqueous solution of water-soluble antioxidant(s) b) Addition of the amphiphilic dispersing agent c) Stirring in order to obtain a homogeneous mixture d) Addition of clay and agitation of the mixture obtained e) Addition of a lipid phase and supply of shear energy.

[0057] In embodiments, the mixture is left to stand after step d) and then stirred again.

7 [0058] In embodiments, the mixture is left to stand for 5 to 30 min, preferably 10 to 20 min, preferably 15 min.

In embodiments, the lipid phase comprises lipids, in particular one or more oils such as sunflower or cod liver oil.

[0060] In embodiments, lipids different from the lipids added in step e) are added after the stirring step e) and the mixture is stirred again.

[0061] In embodiments, shear energy is supplied to the mixture by applying shear forces in an air gap positioned between a rotor and stator.

In some embodiments, the mixture from step a) is stirred with a spatula.

In some embodiments, the mixture from step c) is stirred with a spatula.

In embodiments, in step d), the mixture is stirred under shear to swell the phyllosilicate sheets in water, and adsorb the dispersing agent on the surface of the phyllosilicate particles, for the make it compatible with the lipid phase;

In some embodiments, the mixture from step d) is stirred in a blade disperser, preferably at 3500 rpm.

During step d), the water and the water-soluble antioxidant(s) are placed between the sheets of clay and swell it. During this same step, the dispersing agent is placed on the surface of the sheets, which will make it possible on the one hand to make the clays "hydrophobic" and therefore help their dispersion in the oil, and, on the other hand to allow, by intercalation of the dispersing agent between the clay sheets, to facilitate the exfoliation and thus the dispersion of the clays in the oil.

[0067] In embodiments, in step e), shear energy is supplied to the composition obtained to disperse/exfoliate the clay sheets in the lipid phase.

[0068] The shearing in step e) can be achieved by shearing applied in batch by means, for example, of a Silverson (rotor-stator shearing), an additional treatment by ultrasound or using a high pressure to reduce particle size.

Description of Figures

The invention is described below with the aid of Figures 1 to 19, given solely by way of illustration:

8 Figure 1 schematically shows an oxidation mechanism of an unsaturated lipid;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a mechanism for the regeneration of vitamin E by vitamin C (Guilland, 2011);

Figure 3 shows a structural diagram of a bentonite;

[0073] Figure 4 shows the formula of lecithin;

[0074] Figure 5 schematically shows the evolution of the lecithin content as a function of the specific surface of the clay and for several coverage rates;

FIG. 6 presents a diagram of the evolution of the desorption energy of particles as a function of their size;

FIG. 7 presents the phase diagram of the domains of stability of the emulsions obtained by the phyllosilicates;

FIG. 8 schematically presents the evolution of the size of the drops of the dispersed phase as a function of the size and the concentration of the mineral particles;

Figure 9 shows the size of the mineral particles for two concentrations of clay;

FIG. 10 shows the evolution of the size distribution of the clay particles dispersed in a lipid phase during an additional ultrasound treatment (US);

FIG. 11 shows the evolution of the size of the drops of the lipid phase as a function of the level of bentonite;

[0081] Figure 12 shows for two tests the size distributions of the mineral particles and of the oil drops as well as electron microscopy shots of the emulsions;

[0082] Figure 13 shows the evolution of the peroxide index measured as a function of time between compositions without and with exfoliated clay;

Figure 14 shows a diagram of a first product;

Figure 15 shows a diagram of a second product;

Figure 16 shows a diagram of a third product;

9 [0086] Figure 17 shows a diagram for measuring the contact angle between a drop of pure water and the clay surface;

Figure 18 shows the results of an evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules;

Figure 19 shows the results of oil oxidation stability at room temperature (20° C.) and high temperature (120° C.) in the presence of simple compositions and of a composition in the form of an emulsion.

Detailed description of the invention

[0089] The various constituent parts of foods or food supplements according to one of the objects of the invention will be called “object” or “element”.

The food and food supplements according to one of the objects of the invention, obtained by stacking the different objects, will be called "product".

[0091] By “gel”, we mean a material mainly consisting of liquid, but which has a behavior close to that of a solid thanks to a three-dimensional network entangled within the liquid. It is these tangles that give gels their structure and properties. The three-dimensional network of solids diluted in the liquid can be the result of chemical or physical bonds, or of small crystals or other bonds that promote organization in the dispersing liquid.

An emulsion is of the “oil in water” type, when (i) the dispersing phase is an aqueous phase and (ii) the dispersed phase is an organic phase (hydrophobic, lipidic or oily). Such an emulsion is also commonly referred to as “direct emulsion” or by the abbreviation “O/W”.

An emulsion is of the “water-in-oil” type, when (i) the dispersing phase is an organic phase (hydrophobic, lipidic or oily) and (ii) the dispersed phase is an aqueous phase. Such an emulsion is also commonly referred to as “inverse emulsion” or by the abbreviation “W/O”.

[0094] It is also possible to have so-called “double” emulsions, when an inverse emulsion is in turn dispersed in an aqueous phase. Such a double emulsion is a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion and is designated by the abbreviation “W/O/W”.

10 Supramolecular structures are structures or organizations obtained at the molecular level, these organizations are obtained by non-covalent or weak interactions between atoms within a molecule or between molecules, within a molecular assembly. . These molecular assemblies are structures of nanometric size, which can be organized on larger scales. These self-assemblies will be able to give rise to more complex structures thanks to non-covalent interactions whose shape and size are governed by physico-chemical interactions at the molecular level.

In the context of the present invention, the term “labile” molecule is understood to mean a molecule bound to a substrate by physical, ionic interactions, or non-covalent Van der Waals forces, which gives them a capacity to grip or reversible organization.

In what follows, the D50 by volume of a sample of particles represents the size of the particles for which 50% of the volume of the particles of the sample have a particle size less than this value (or greater).

Preferably, the size of the dispersed and exfoliated phyllosilicate particles ranges from 10 and 1000 nm, preferentially from 15 to 900 nm, preferably from 20 to 500 nm, more preferentially from 30 to 200 nm, more preferentially from 40 to 100nm.

Composition according to the invention

The present invention thus relates to a lipid composition comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6 and antioxidants. This composition is such that the antioxidants comprise water-soluble antioxidants stabilized by a supramolecular structure. The supramolecular structure comprises water and a self-organized amphiphilic dispersant adsorbed on the surface of clay sheets dispersed in the lipid composition.

[00100] The supramolecular structure thus comprises the clay sheets, the water adsorbed or physisorbed between the sheets and the amphiphilic dispersing agent bound to the surface of the clusters of sheets by ionic interaction, or Van der Waals bonds.

[00101] In other words, the supramolecular structure and water-soluble antioxidants are dispersed in lipids.

Lipids

[00102] The lipids of the composition, either hydrophobic, or oily, or organic, are chosen according to the applications envisaged from among vegetable oils, mineral oils, oils of

11 synthesis, hydrophobic organic solvents and hydrophobic liquid polymers. The composition advantageously comprises unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants, essential oils.

[00103] In the examples, sunflower oil is used with or without cod liver oil.

Antioxidants

[00104] The antioxidants of the composition according to one of the subjects of the invention comprise water-soluble antioxidants. These water-soluble antioxidants or protective molecules are preferably chosen from the group of reducing salts, such as Fe++, Cu+, etc., reducing enzymes, such as dismutases, oxidoreductases (such as laccases), flavonoids, phenolic derivatives ( such as quercitins, isoflavones, anthocyanins, catechins, tannins, coumarins...) and water-soluble vitamins. A preferentially used antioxidant is vitamin C. Water-soluble protective molecules play a dual role: a protective role vis-à-vis lipids, but also as a beneficial nutritional contribution in the daily ration of food. The water-soluble antioxidant agent will be chosen to preferentially play the role of lipid protection agent. This is the case of vitamin C, which will be consumed (sacrificial molecule) in the presence of reactive oxygen, to delay the action of this oxygen on the unsaturations of lipids.

[00105] It should be noted that the oils naturally contain vitamin E at variable levels. This fat-soluble vitamin E has a protective role against unsaturated lipids. Figure 2 illustrates a mechanism for the regeneration of vitamin E by vitamin C. Vitamin E initially scavenges free radicals and forms a tocopheroxyl radical. Then vitamin C, in a second step, reduces this radical to regenerate it into a-tocopherol and generate an ascorbate radical. This is one of the plausible mechanisms of lipid protection, knowing that vitamin C also has the possibility of capturing radical reactive oxygen species, and thus reducing the probability of reaction with lipid unsaturations. In a final mechanism, vitamin C can also act as a radical transfer agent towards vitamin E, which increases the effectiveness of the protection of vitamin E from lipids, and reduces the presence of peroxide radicals on the lipids, and therefore limits the propagation phase.

12 [00106] In particular embodiments, the water-soluble antioxidant is chosen from vitamin C, pomegranate or a pomegranate peel extract, a grape extract, flavonoids, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and a mixture thereof. this.

[00107] In particular embodiments, the pomegranate extract comprises punicalagins and ellagic acid.

[00108] In particular embodiments, the grape extract comprises resveratrol.

The water-soluble antioxidants according to the invention have the advantage of being of natural origin. They are not harmful to the human body once ingested. Thus, when an excess of these molecules is present in the body, it is easily eliminated in the urine. On the contrary, hydrophobic antioxidants, such as vitamin E, are bioaccumulated in the fat cells of the body. Vitamin E is thus used in excess in weaning products for young animals or for humans to protect vitamin A and provide a minimum of intake to the products. However, an excess of molecules such as vitamin A can have a negative physiological impact if it is overconsumed.

[00110] In addition, the hydrophilic antioxidant molecules according to the invention are abundant natural resources, easy to access and low cost compared to hydrophobic antioxidants; with prices up to 100 times cheaper than vitamin E for example.

[00111] These hydrophilic antioxidants are not, however, soluble in a hydrophobic medium such as oils. This problem is solved by the use of phyllosilicate sheets with water adsorbed in these sheets as a vehicle to provide effective hydrophilic antioxidants for the protection of lipids sensitive to oxidation.

Phyllosilicates/clays

[00112] Phyllosilicates are clay minerals of the group of silicates built by stacking tetrahedral layers ("T") where the tetrahedra share three vertices out of four ("basal" oxygens), the fourth vertex ("apical" oxygen ) being connected to an octahedral (“O”) layer occupied by different cations (Al, Mg, Fe, Ti, Li, etc.). Figure 3 shows an example of a phyllosilicate structure. These stacked structures form organized sheets (as described in detail below) whose surface charge is negative over a wide pH range (4<pH<9), which are stabilized by cationic counterions. These counter-ions are monovalent, or divalent, which gives the clay the ability to be swollen in water more or less strongly, by inserting water molecules between the layers.

13 [00113] Smectites are a group of clay minerals, and therefore silicates, more precisely phyllosilicates.

[00114] Their typical composition is A0 D2-T4O10Z2 /? H2O, where A represents an interlayer cation (alkaline or alkaline-earth element), D an octahedral cation, T a tetrahedral cation, O oxygen and Z a monovalent anion (generally OH-).

[00115] They crystallize in the monoclinic system.

[00116] These are phyllosilicates of TOT (or 2:1) structure, that is to say made up of sheets comprising two tetrahedral layers head to tail, bonded together by octahedral cations. The sheets are bound together by the interfoliar cations.

A distinction is made between dioctahedral (beïdellite, montmorillonite, nontronite, etc.) and trioctahedral (hectorite, saponite, etc.) smectites.

Montmorillonite is a 2/1 type clay, also called TOT (for tetrahedron/octahedron/tetrahedron). This means that a montmorillonite sheet is made up of three layers:

[00119] - an octahedral layer Al(OH)sO: 7 atoms for 6 vertices + aluminum in the centre. The OH- and oxygen being shared between the different octahedra that make up the layer.

[00120] - and two tetrahedral layers which cover the octahedral layer at its base on each side; S1O4: 5 atoms for 4 vertices + silicon in the middle. The oxygens being shared between the different tetrahedrons that make up the layer.

The imperfections in the crystal are compensated by interfoliar cations, generally monovalent or divalent, which ensure the electrical neutrality of the mineral.

[00122] All phyllosilicates can be used, but smectites and particularly montmorillonites have the advantage, due to their lamellar structure with a spacing between the layers greater than the other phyllosilicates, of being able to be swollen by small molecules such as water molecules which will improve the exfoliation of the clay platelets and thus facilitate their dispersion in the composition. Other phyllosilicates, but also micas and talcs can also be exfoliated in this way, but the energy that would be needed to disperse the lamellar layers in the lipid phase would be much higher.

In the examples, bentonite is used as phyllosilicate. Bentonites are clays mainly composed of montmorillonite, whose interlayer cations are

14 usually either calcium or sodium, potassium, their combination or other metal ions.

[00124] Bentonite is negatively charged on the surface (on the length) and positively on the sides (width) which allows it to interact with other charged molecules.

[00125] Clays are hydrophilic and smectites, including bentonite, have a swelling capacity. This particularity makes it possible to adsorb water-soluble molecules in the interfoliar space of clays via an aqueous phase. The water is said to be physisorbed on the surface of the clay sheets via the silanol groups.

In the description, the term “clay” or “mineral particle(s)” will also be used to refer to phyllosilicates.

Dispersing or surfactant

[00127] A molecule with a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part is usually used as dispersing or surface agent. The adhesion of this dispersing agent by physical interaction to the mineral particles makes it possible to make the clay sheets hydrophobic and to obtain a good dispersion of these clay sheets in a lipid phase.

[00128] It is advantageous to use a dispersing agent having a cationic polar head and a hydrophobic chain, soluble in the lipid phase, such as phospholipids having cationic polar functions such as for serine, ethanolamine or even choline, we thus obtain phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, or even phosphatidylcholine, better known as “lecithin”. It is a lipid of the class of phosphoglycerides. Arginine grafted on a long alkyl chain (Cl 6 and more) can also play this role of dispersing agent. You can also use ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE).

[00129] All these dispersing agents are labile because they bind to the surface of the clusters of phyllosilicate sheets by non-covalent interactions, which gives them a capacity for adhesion or reversible organization.

[00130] Phosphatidylcholine has (Figure 4):

[00131] - a hydrophilic pole: choline (1) and the phosphate group (2);

[00132] - a hydrophobic tail: fatty acid residues (here, palmitic (5) and oleic (4) acid residues); and

15 [00133] - glycerol (3) connects these two hydrophilic and hydrophobic poles.

[00134] The phosphate group is negatively charged, while choline is positively charged. Phosphatidylcholine is therefore zwitterionic.

[00135] It is both hydrophilic and lipophilic, and its hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) can vary between 2 and 9.5 depending on the fatty acid residues of the hydrophobic tail.

Dispersion/exfoliation of clay, especially bcntonitc, in oil

The objective of this step is to obtain the composition according to one of the objects of the invention.

[00137] The invention also relates to a process for dispersing and exfoliating phyllosilicates in the lipid phase.

[00138] To combine two systems that originally have no affinity, one apolar (lipids) and the other polar (aqueous phase + clay + water-soluble antioxidants), we will:

[00139] (1) Dissolving the water-soluble antioxidant(s);

[00140] (2) Add the dispersing agent and obtain a homogeneous mixture;

[00141] (3) Add the clay and shear the composition obtained to swell the phyllosilicate sheets by swelling in water, and adsorb the dispersing agent on the surface of the phyllosilicate particles, to make it compatible with the phase lipid;

[00142] (4) Add the lipids;

[00143] (5) Bring shear energy to the composition obtained to disperse/exfoliate the clay sheets in the lipid phase.

[00144] Steps (1) and (2) are obtained by adding water in sufficient quantity to dissolve the antioxidants and impregnate the clay sheets. It is advantageous to use between 1% and 40% by weight of water relative to the weight of the complete lipid phase, and preferably between 4 and 25%.

[00145] Clays are known for their water adsorbing properties, and they can swell depending on their chemical and structural composition between 2 times their mass in water, up to 20 times their mass in water. The clays thus swollen form a gel whose more or less swollen and more or less exfoliated sheets incorporate the entire volume of water. It is not necessary to saturate the entire water adsorption capacity of the clays to obtain a satisfactory dispersion of the clay in the lipid phase, which is why we limit the water supply to

16 300% by weight relative to clay. Conversely, clays need to be at least impregnated with water to promote their dispersion. Exfoliable clays are usually stored at a humidity level of 10%. It is essential not to drop below the 5% threshold to avoid the collapse of the phyllosilicate layers, leading to a structure that loses its ability to exfoliate.

[00146] An insufficient water content does not allow the solubilization of the molecules of interest.

[00147] When the water content is too high, the clay sheets are easier to exfoliate but they are impregnated with water and they have less capacity to adsorb lecithin molecules. There is no possibility of formation of a supramolecular structure necessary for the effectiveness of the protection.

[00148] Step (3) is obtained by the use of a dispersing agent, such as lecithin as dispersing agent/exfo binder. This will be adsorbed on the surface of the clay sheets by ionic interaction between the polar head of lecithin and the silanol groups of the clays. The lecithin is pre-dissolved in the water from step (1) to facilitate its incorporation. The amount of lecithin can vary from 5% to 100% clay surface coverage. This coverage rate is calculated according to the total outer surface of clay after exfoliation, and the number of anionic charges at the surface of the sheets (usually there are about five silanol functions per nanometer squared, 5 /nm ² ) accessible by lecithin (most swollen layers (spread apart by water)). It therefore depends on the specific surface of the clay accessible by the dispersing agent.

[00149] It is therefore necessary to work on different levels of dispersing agent, depending on the clays used, which will have quantities of silanols sufficiently accessible to lecithin molecules. It is necessary to aim for optimal coverage rates between 20% and 60% of the surface silanols of the particles depending on the particle size and the desired hydrophobation. Thus different types of particles can be prepared to stabilize direct or inverse emulsions.

[00150] Advantageously, the clay exfoliation step is carried out at a pH ranging from 5 to 10, preferably from 7 to 9. Exfoliation in this pH range allows optimum swelling of the clay.

[00151] Figure 5 schematically shows the evolution of the necessary content of lecithin by weight relative to the content by weight of clay as a function of the specific surface of the

17 exfoliated clays for several levels of coverage of the silanols of the clay sheets by lecithin.

This figure shows that the optimum lecithin content for obtaining good exfoliation followed by stable direct or reverse emulsification is between 13% and 129% by mass relative to the mass of the clay for a coverage rate of 20% and respectively a specific clay surface of 100 m ² /g and 1000 m ² /g. For a coverage rate of 60%, the optimal lecithin content is between 39% and 387% by mass relative to the mass of the clay and respectively a specific clay surface of 100 m ² /g and 1000 m ² / g.

[00153] When the content of dispersing agent such as lecithin is insufficient, the hydrophobic nature of the clay particles is insufficient.

[00154] When the amount of dispersing agent such as lecithin makes it possible to cover the surface silanols of the particles, the dispersion of the clays in the lipid phase is promoted. At coverage rates close to 100%, the hydrophilic character is lost, which gives excellent stability of clay particles in lipids.

[00155] There is competition between the dispersing agent such as lecithin and the water molecules for physisorption or adsorption on the surface of the clays, so an excess of lecithin will be unfavorable to the quantity of adsorbable water and consequently to the quantity of antioxidant molecules stabilized at the clay-lipid interface in the composition.

[00156] For the bentonite used, with a specific surface of the order of 300 m ² /g, one must therefore have an optimum lecithin content of the order of 30 to 130% by weight relative to the mass of the clay with a coverage rate of between 20 and 60% of the surface silanols of the clay.

[00157] Step (5) can be obtained by shearing applied in batch by means for example of a Silverson (rotor-stator shearing), an additional treatment by ultrasound or using a high pressure homogenizer is also possible to reduce particle size.

By shearing of a liquid composition is meant the application of shearing forces in an air gap positioned between a rotor and a stator. This air gap can be between 0.1 mm and 2 mm depending on the equipment. This shear force in the air gap is expressed in the form of a shear gradient, which will be all the stronger as the speed of rotation of the rotor is high, as the diameter of the rotor is large, and as the air gap is weak. In

18 commercial equipment, the speed of the rotor can vary between a few rpm up to 12000 rpm. To translate the parameters into universal values that can be used on any type of equipment, the speed at the end of the rotor is determined, which must be of the order of 2.5 m/s, for an air gap of 150 pm on the M5 equipment from Silverson.

[00159] It is important to apply the right speed, to provide the right level of energy which makes it possible to fracture the emulsion droplets to the right size, while the treatment time makes it possible to obtain good treatment homogeneity. volume to be emulsified.

[00160] A speed variation (shear gradient) makes it possible to modulate the size of the emulsions, which will vary between 1 μm at 10,000 rpm, and 70 μm at 1,000 rpm. The processing time is determined for this equipment for maximum emulsion volumes of 3 L.

The invention also relates to a lipid composition obtained by this process of dispersion and exfoliation.

Process for obtaining an emulsion

[00162] To stabilize the emulsions, one approach consists in using so-called “emulsifying” or “emulsifying” compounds.

These emulsifying compounds are most often emulsifying surfactants (also called “surfactants”) which, thanks to their amphiphilic structure, are placed at the oil/water interface and stabilize the dispersed droplets.

[00164] However, emulsifying compounds of this type do not always offer the desired stability over time, with a permanent balance of surfactants between the interface to be stabilized and the micelles in solution. In addition, synthetic surfactants often have disadvantages from an ecological or food point of view, since they disrupt biological systems through a strong interaction with cell membranes.

These emulsifying/emulsifying compounds can also consist of solid particles, which make it possible to obtain so-called “Pickering emulsions”.

[00166] Pickering emulsions are emulsions which are stabilized by particles in colloidal suspension in the aqueous phase which become anchored at the oil/water interface, interpreted as a wetting effect at the interface of the two phases, with a strong stability.

19 [00167] Unlike surfactants which adsorb and desorb continuously under the effect of thermal agitation, the particles in colloidal suspension are strongly adsorbed at the interfaces and the desorption energy of the particles as illustrated in the figure 6 becomes high enough to make the phenomenon irreversible.

[00168] The phyllosilicate particles thus have an emulsifying role to stabilize the emulsions according to an object of the invention. These emulsions are thus Pickering emulsions.

The objective of this step is to obtain a stable emulsion with a dispersed phase in the form of drops in a continuous phase. The lipid phase comprises the dispersion of phyllosilicates in oil previously described. The aqueous phase is composed of water which can be supplemented with a monovalent salt, with a concentration between 0 and 100 mM in water, advantageously with NaCl at a concentration of less than 50 mM and very advantageously at 25 mM. This ionic strength was chosen to limit the electrostatic repulsions due to the surface charges of the clay particles. To disperse the two immiscible phases, we will provide shear energy applied in batch, at room temperature, with for example a rotor / stator device with an air gap of 150 micrometers with a mobile of 30 mm, at a speed of 2000 to 5000 rpm for 3 to 30 min, preferably 4000 rpm for 5 min, even more preferably at 4500 rpm for 4 min.

To obtain an emulsion according to one of the objects of the invention, a lipid phase is always used in which clay particles are dispersed and stabilized with a dispersing or surface agent in the presence of water as previously describe.

[00171] The direct or inverse nature of the emulsion obtained is mainly a function of the relative viscosities of the continuous phase and of the dispersed phase, of the proportion of dispersed phase (less than 30% by weight) relative to the continuous phase at the start of the emulsification, knowing that the dispersed phase can then be added drop by drop to increase the proportion, it is thus possible to produce emulsions with more than 65% by weight of dispersed phase.

FIG. 7 shows the areas in which direct and inverse emulsions are mainly obtained as a function of the concentration by weight of the clays in the lipid phase on the abscissa and of the viscosity ratio of the continuous and dispersed phases on the ordinate. Of course, this figure is only a diagram and other factors may come into play, for example the ratio of the weights of water and oil.

20 When the concentration of mineral particles in the lipid phase is low, less than 1% by weight relative to the weight of the lipid phase, the viscosity of the lipid phase decreases and the ratio of the viscosities of the two phases increases, approaches 1 and above and the conditions are favorable for obtaining inverse emulsions.

On the other hand, when the concentration of mineral particles in the lipid phase is high, greater than 5% by weight relative to the weight of the lipid phase, the viscosity of the lipid phase increases and the ratio of the viscosities of the two phases decreases. These conditions are favorable for obtaining direct emulsions.

[00175] The size of the drops of the dispersed phase obtained is a function of the size of the clay particles and of the concentration of these clay particles. Figure 8 schematically presents the changes observed.

[00176] For a given size of clay particles, the diameter of the drops decreases with the concentration; the more particles are added, the more interfaces they can stabilize and therefore drops of the dispersed phase of smaller diameters result. However, the size of the clay particles will impose a minimum droplet size; you can't make drops smaller than the stabilizing particles.

Advantageously, the size of the lipid drops in an emulsion according to the invention ranges from 5 to 100 μm, preferably from 10 to 80 μm, more preferably from 15 to 70 μm, more preferably from 20 to 60 μm.

[00178] It should be noted that the stabilization of emulsion drops by clay particles induces a stiffening of the interface with drops which lose their sphericity. In addition, the size limit of drops observed on the plateau with a high concentration of clay depends on the shear energy provided to fragment the drops.

[00179] Emulsions stabilized by phyllosilicates organized on the surface of the droplets, make it possible to have lipid droplets stabilized against coalescence by a physical barrier of dominant negative charge on the surface for a wide range of pH ranging from pH 4 and pH 10 This negative charge is provided by the surface silanolate bonds of the clay platelets. These negatively charged silanolates can interact with molecules (L-arginine, L-Lysine) or cationic polymers (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, polylysine, etc...), which makes it possible to change the surface interactions of the droplets and functionalize them or change their attractiveness for different supports. It is also possible to functionalize them by covalent bonding by condensation of silanes prepared to provide functions

21 particular. A variety of silanes which can be condensed by one or more silanes are possible. Mention may be made, by way of example, of mono, di or tri ethoxy aminopropylsilanes. Many molecules can be used to then covalently couple the amine function provided by the silanes. Simple chemistry can be used with coupling agents like isothiocyanates, N-hydroxysuccimide ester (NHS-ester), isocyanates, acyl azides, sulfonyl chlorides, aldehydes, glyoxals, epoxides, oxiranes, carbonates, aryl halides, imidoesters, carbodiimides , anhydrides, and fluorophenyl esters

[00180]

[00181] The surfaces of the particles can thus be functionalized to interact with surface antigens on the bacteria, or bacterial biofilms.

Food or food supplement with direct emulsion included in a hydrophilic matrix

[00182] Figure 14 shows schematically and in section without any respect for the respective dimensions of each phase a first example of food or food supplement obtained with a direct emulsion according to one of the objects of the invention.

[00183] This product 10 comprises a core 12 and a coating 14 of the core. The core 12 comprises a lipid phase as described previously in the form of particles

22 stabilized spherical particles 18 dispersed in a hydrophilic matrix 16 thus constituting a direct emulsion introduced into this matrix.

A first element or object of this product 10 is the presence of lipid particles 18 as described previously dispersed in the hydrophilic phase or matrix 16. These lipid particles 18 comprise mineral particles, that is to say phyllosilicates and preferentially smectites and very preferentially mainly comprise montmorillonites.

The lipid particles 18 as described previously also comprise a dispersing agent based on lipids or phospholipids with a cationic head, and preferentially choline, a preferential example of a dispersing agent is lecithin. These dispersing agents associated with water make it possible to solubilize antioxidants such as vitamin C and to form a supramolecular structure as previously described. These dispersing agents also make it possible to obtain good exfoliation and dispersion of the mineral particles in the lipid phase, prior to or simultaneously with the production of the direct oil/water emulsion. The mineral particles make it possible in particular during the production of the oil/water emulsion, to stabilize the size of the lipid particles 18 during the preparation of foods or food supplements 10, but also to greatly reduce the migrations of nutrients and physiologically active substances between the two lipid and hydrophilic phases 16, as well as the migration of pro-oxidant agents such as O2 radicals.

According to preferred embodiments, the lipid particles 18 are substantially spherical in shape and have a diameter of between 1 and 100 mhi, and preferably between 5 and 20 μm.

The lipid particles 18 can advantageously comprise polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, essential oils.

The lipid particles 18 comprise one or more vegetable or animal oils preferably chosen from oils having a high content of omega 6 and omega 3. Preferably, these lipid particles 16 comprise a high content of omega 6 and omega 3, in particular DHA and EPA types. The omega 3 content is preferably greater than 2% by weight relative to the weight of the lipid phase, i.e. lipid particles 18.

[00189] A second element or object of the product 10 is to comprise an aqueous phase 16 containing water-soluble nutrients or active substances, and gelling agents.

23 The terms “aqueous phase”, “hydrophilic matrix” and “aqueous matrix” will be used interchangeably.

[00191] Advantageously, the aqueous matrix 16 has a substantially spherical shape or not depending on the manufacturing process and has a diameter of less than 5 mm and preferably between 10 and 1000 μm.

[00192] The gelling of the aqueous phase 16 makes it possible to limit the escape of nutrients and active substances to the outside when it is immersed in an aqueous medium.

To obtain this gelation, the aqueous phase 16 can advantageously comprise a neutral or functionalized polysaccharide with at least one function chosen from the carboxylic, sulphonate, alcoholate or phosphate functions, and preferably the carboxylic function with a content of between 1 and 8% by weight, preferably between 1 and 5.5% by weight relative to the total weight of a dry extract of the aqueous phase 18.

Advantageously, the aqueous phase 16 is gelled (crosslinked) by reaction of the polysaccharide with reagents such as multivalent cations in the presence of pyrophosphate or deltagluconolactone, by release of acid protons by aqueous hydrolysis, then solubilization (release) of the multivalent cations.

[00195] Preferably, the multivalent cations are chosen from the group of calcium, magnesium, zinc cations and their combinations.

[00196] Advantageously, the multivalent cation is a calcium salt chosen from the group of carbonate, sulphate, lactate, citrate, tartrate, caseinate and stearate.

According to a preferred embodiment, the emulsion of the lipid particles 18 as described above dispersed in the aqueous phase 16 comprises specific proteins or biopolymers intended to modify the properties of the interfaces between the lipid particles 18 and the aqueous phase. 16. These properties can be permeability, surface electrostatic charges, surface tension, chemical functions, roughness...

The molecular mass and the pKi of these proteins or of these biopolymers can be selection criteria. By way of example, BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) proteins can be used, the molecular mass of which is of the order of 66 kDa and the pKi of 5.2; it is also possible to use lysozyme proteins with a molecular mass of the order of 14 kDa and a pKi equal to 11.35. Biopolymers such as chitosan, with a molecular mass that can vary from 75 kDa to

24 500kDa can also be used. These macromolecules are added to the aqueous phase 18 after the establishment of the so-called Pickering lipid emulsion.

The gelled aqueous phase 16 also optionally comprises an exfoliated mineral filler with a specific surface greater than 100 m ² /g, advantageously between 200 and 500 m ² /g,

[00200] This mineral filler can be chosen from the group of phyllosilicates, and preferably the phyllosilicate is a smectite.

Preferably, the content of the lipid phase dispersed in the aqueous matrix 16 is between 5 and 70% by volume, and preferably between 10 and 20% by volume for complete foods and between 45 and 70% for dietary supplements, relative to the total volume of the core 12.

[00202] Below 5% by volume, the volume of the lipid phase is no longer sufficient to easily introduce the liposoluble active substances and to have a good homogeneity of composition of the cores 12 of the products 10.

[00203] Beyond 70%, it becomes much more difficult to keep an oil emulsion dispersed in the aqueous phase 16 (the matrix no longer retains the drops of emulsion, because the mesh of the gel is too weak).

[00204] The gelled aqueous phase 16 may comprise hydrophilic active substances such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and combinations thereof.

[00205] Advantageously, the aqueous phase 16 also comprises an osmotic agent.

[00206] This osmotic agent can be chosen from the group of sugars, salts, water-soluble polymers, preferably with a molecular mass of less than 150 kg/mole, and combinations thereof.

[00207] A preferential choice of osmotic agent can be sorbitol with a content of less than 5% by weight relative to the weight of the aqueous solution, that is to say of the aqueous phase 18 (in its complete formulation) so as not to make the final product indigestible. A content between 0.8 and 1.5% by weight of sorbitol is optimal. You can also advantageously use Guérande salt which also provides useful mineral salts.

[00208] The third element of this product 10 is to include a coating 14 of the core 12.

25 [00209] Advantageously, the core 12 comprises free charges on the surface, the coating 14 of the core 12 comprises n layers C of biocompatible materials M+ and M- with a digestive system, in particular of biopolymers, presenting an alternating stack of electrostatic charges positive and negative which form coacervates structured in a stack of layers, and n is at least equal to 1.

This coating 14 may comprise n layers C of M+ and M- biocompatible materials, in particular biopolymers, with an alternating stack of positive and negative electrostatic charges which form crosslinked and structured coacervates in a stack of layers, n being at least equal at 2.

[00211] This coating system 14 has the advantage of facilitating the modulation of the thickness of the coating layer 14 and the wide choice of biocompatible materials, in particular biopolymers, M+ and M- makes it possible to modulate the mesh of biocompatible materials, in particular biopolymers, M+ and M-, on the surface, which is also stiffened by more or less strong crosslinks of this mesh. The modulation of the rigidity of the coating 14 makes it possible to modulate the release of the nutritive and/or physiologically active substances: the denser the rigidification, the more the mesh of biopolymers is reduced and the more the release is slowed down. This type of coating 14 cross-linked and structured in multilayers C also makes it possible to obtain a structural stability necessary for the preservation of the food 10 until its consumption and the release of nutritive and/or physiologically active substances, and in particular necessary for its handling.

[00212] This product 10 has great potential in the effective substitution of live prey in hatcheries of marine fish species, as well as for shrimp nurseries. It is also of great interest for the supplementation of drinking water for monogastric farms such as poultry farms.

This product illustrated in Figure 14 can be made as follows. A direct O/W emulsion stabilized by the bentonite particles dispersed in the oily phase is prepared according to the process of the invention. Then, after gelation of the aqueous phase, the cores 12 can easily be obtained by mechanical cutting. It is also possible to produce a double water-in-oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by gelation of the aqueous phase and to recover the cores 12 by separation between the oil phase and the washing water, for example by centrifugation. The coating 14 is then produced.

Lipid product with particles with a rigid interface resulting from a direct emulsion

26 [00214] FIG. 15 shows a lipid product 20 which is a direct application of a lipid composition according to one of the subjects of the invention, put in the form of a direct O/W emulsion.

[00215] We see the lipid particles 28 as described above surrounded by a coating 24 and dispersed in an aqueous phase 26.

The lipid particles or drops, which comprise a supramolecular structure as previously described, are also stabilized by the dispersed phyllosilicate mineral particles. They are advantageously coated after they have been obtained. This coating is intended to make them more robust mechanically by tolerating deformation, without breaking, it also makes it possible to limit the risks of leaching of the content of the lipid drops in the aqueous phase. This coating can advantageously be chitosan, polylisin, or hyaluronic acid.

This lipid product is obtained from a direct oil/water emulsion obtained by dispersion in oil of a composition as previously described. The emulsion can be concentrated by separation of the aqueous phase, this separation can be carried out by any means, in particular by centrifugation.

The lipid particles preferably have a size of the order of 1 to 20 μm. This very small size gives them good mechanical resistance. With a coating of chitosan, these lipid particles can in particular be used to provide a lipid phase in direct use (food for zooplankton) or by incorporation into premixes of food or food supplements, even when these are obtained by a process of extrusion.

[00219] Advantageously, this emulsion can be a double emulsion to provide sensitive water-soluble nutrients such as prebiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, or peptides.

Food or food supplement with a rigid interface resulting from a double emulsion

[00220] Figure 16 shows a third food or food supplement obtained by using a composition according to one of the objects of the invention in the form of a W/O/W double emulsion.

This product 30 comprises a core 32 and a coating 34 of the core. The core 32 comprises an aqueous phase in the form of spherical (or irregular) particles 36, the

27 particles 36 are dispersed in a lipid matrix 38 as described previously. It is an inverse emulsion.

[00222] A first element or object of this third product is that it contains an optionally gelled aqueous phase containing water-soluble active substances, including in particular nutrients.

[00223] Advantageously, the size of the aqueous particles 36 is between 0.1 and 50 μm and preferably between 0.5 and 20 μm.

[00224] Advantageously, the aqueous particles 36 are stabilized by the phyllosilicates dispersed in the lipid phase as described previously.

[00225] Advantageously an optional gelation is applied to the aqueous phase which makes it possible to limit the escape of nutrients and active substances outside the particles 36. It also makes it possible to modulate the rate of release of the active substances that it contains. in the digestive phase.

[00226] Advantageously, the aqueous phase can be gelled by reaction of an anionic polysaccharide, advantageously carboxylic functionalized, with reagents such as a calcium salt as well as pyrophosphate or delta-gluconolactone.

[00227] Advantageously, the aqueous phase may additionally comprise an osmotic agent. This can be chosen from the group of sugars, salts, water-soluble polymers preferably with a molecular mass of less than 150 kg/mole and combinations thereof.

Preferably, the content of the aqueous phase dispersed in the lipid matrix 38, and thus the content of optionally gelled particles 36, is between 10 and 50% by volume, and preferably between 15 and 30% by volume. relative to the total volume of the aqueous phase and the lipid matrix 38, i.e. relative to the total volume of the core 32.

As in the case of the first food or food supplement described, the optionally gelled aqueous phase, and thus the optionally gelled particles 36, can comprise hydrophilic active substances such as amino acids, vitamins, prebiotics, enzymes, probiotics, minerals, antioxidants, and combinations thereof.

28 [00230] A second element or object of this third product 30 is that the aqueous phase, that is to say the particles 36, is dispersed in a matrix or lipid phase 38 as described previously.

[00231] Advantageously, the second object or element of the product 30, the lipid matrix 38 comprises a supramolecular structure as previously described. This lipid matrix comprises at least one vegetable or animal oil, in particular fish oil, water-soluble antioxidants, an exfoliated mineral filler, namely phyllosilicates and preferably smectites, and optionally at least one crystallizable wax. The mineral particles, i.e. phyllosilicates, dispersed in the lipid matrix allow the stabilization of the particles 26 of the aqueous phase in the inverse emulsion.

[00232] The waxes can be of animal (beeswax) or vegetable origin.

According to preferred embodiments, the lipid matrix 28 is substantially spherical in shape and thus the core 32 is substantially spherical in shape and has a diameter of between 1 and 1000 mhi and preferably between 5 and 400 mhi.

[00234] The lipid matrix 38 can advantageously comprise vitamins.

[00235] Preferably, this lipid matrix 38 comprises a high content of omega 6 and omega 3, in particular of the DH A and EPA types.

The lipid matrix 38 advantageously comprises at least 1% by weight of omega 3 of the DHA and EPA types relative to the weight of the lipid matrix 18. It also preferably comprises less than 50% by weight of omega 3 of DHA and EPA types and very preferably less than 20% by weight relative to the weight of the lipid matrix 38.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the content of the mineral filler in the lipid matrix 38 is between 0.5 and 35% by weight and preferably less than 15% by weight, that is to say comprised between 0.5% and 15% by weight, based on the weight of the lipid matrix 38.

[00238] The third element or object of this third product 30 is to include a coating 34 around the core 32, of at least one layer of chitosan. This coating can advantageously be identical to that of the first product.

The core(s) 32 are prepared from a double water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. The coating 34 is then carried out, followed by filtration or decantation. Finally, we perform

29 drying to bring the moisture content of the products to a value of less than 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the product 30. This last step is optional.

Material and methods

[00240] The clay used is bentonite: Oscoma company (Ulm, Germany); the Lecithin is from Seah International (Wimille, France); Vitamin E: Roth (Karlsruhe, Germany); Vitamin C: meszepices (Dierrey Saint Pierre, France).

Method 1: Particle size measurements of a lipid dispersion (DLS)

The size of the mineral particles obtained in a lipid medium is measured by dynamic light scattering (Dynamic Light Scattering or DLS). The experiments were performed with a Malvem Nano ZS instrument. All measurements were performed at a temperature of 20°C with a detection angle of 173°. The hydrodynamic diameter was obtained from the analysis of the correlation function using the Malvem DTS software, and by approximating a spherical shape of the particles or clusters of phyllosilicate sheets taking into account the largest dimensions. important particles. The viscosity of sunflower oil is 66 cSt.

The sample tested is brought by dilution to a concentration of 0.1% by weight of particles relative to the weight of the medium (water or oil). 1 min before the measurement, the sample tested is agitated with a vortex.

[00243] Figures 9, 10 and 12 presented give the evolution of the number of particles as a function of their size in semi-logarithmic coordinates.

Method 2: Measurements of the size of the drops of a direct or inverse emulsion (particle size analyzer)

The average individual droplet diameters were measured by laser light scattering using a Horiba LA-960 particle size distribution analyzer (Kyoto, Japan). An analysis model was used with a refractive index of 1.54 and 1.33 for oil and water, respectively. Calibration of water as a reference was carried out before each measurement. All emulsions were measured in a transmittance range of 80-90%. The measurements were systematically carried out in triplicate. The diameter was expressed as the number-average diameter.

Method 3: Measurement of contact angles

[00245] A measurement of the contact angle between a drop of pure water and the surface of the clays at the end of step (3), that is to say before adding the lipids (4) and the shear energy (5),

30 makes it possible to check that the quantity of dispersing or surfactant is satisfactory. For the clay layers to be able to fulfill their role of mineral emulsifying particles, it is necessary for the contact angle to be between 35 and 45 degrees and preferably between 37 and 42 degrees. Beyond the values indicated, the stability of the emulsions is not sufficient. A contact angle less than 30 degrees indicates that the surface of the clays is too hydrophilic to stabilize the emulsions. An angle greater than 50 degrees indicates that the surface is too hydrophobic to stabilize the emulsions.

[00246] The clays are deposited in a thin layer using a spatula on a flat solid support. In order to limit the effects due to the irregularity (roughness) of the surface, drops of pure water of only 2 pL are deposited on the clays. The images obtained during the deposits also make it possible to consider that the wetting obeys the Wenzel model. As the roughnesses of the surfaces obtained with the different clays can be considered as relatively similar, the contact angles measured are considered to be representative of the wettability of the clays, even if the values are slightly lower than the angles which would be obtained on the same surfaces at smooth state.

[00247] When the equilibrium state is reached, the deposited drop is observed using a high magnification digital camera and the equation of the envelope of the drop is obtained by nonlinear regression assuming that the envelope of the drop follows the shape of an ellipse. The contact angle is obtained by measuring the slope of the tangent to the envelope of the drop at the point of intersection with the straight line parallel to the plane of the clay layer (see figure 17).

[00248] Each liquid is deposited at 2 different places in the clay layer, and the contact angle of each drop is measured 3 times. The absolute error on each angle measurement can be estimated at +/- 2 degrees.

[00249] The contact angle measured is 37 to 39°.

Thus, the clay particles obtained according to the process of the invention will lead to the production of stable emulsions after steps (4) and (5).

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Protocol for evaluating the antioxidant capacity of antioxidant molecules

31 [00250] Figure 18 presents an evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules.

The antioxidant power of the compounds is evaluated by the DPPH method. 2,2-Diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) is a stable radical whose absorbance decreases at a characteristic wavelength when reduced by an antioxidant.

[00252] All the samples contain 200 mΐ.

[00253] The 2,2-diphenilpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) sample is dissolved in ethanol at a concentration of 23 μg/ml

[00254] The samples of the antioxidant molecules are dissolved in ethanol at a concentration of 80 qg/ml.

Once the DPPH has been added to the samples, an absorbance measurement is carried out at 15, 30, 45, 90 and 120 minutes using a microplate spectrophotometer at 515 nm, corresponding to the maximum absorbance of the radical form of DPPH .

[00256] The calculation of the percentage inhibition for each molecule is the difference in absorbance of the DPPH and the antioxidant molecule with respect to the DPPH. An average of the percentages of inhibition was carried out to have an average value as a function of time. The DPPH inhibition results are presented in Figure 18. A high percentage inhibition represents a higher percentage of reduced DPPH and therefore a stronger antioxidant capacity.

[00257] The water-soluble antioxidants tested are pomegranate extracts which include punicalagins and ellagic acid, grape extracts which contain resveratrol and vitamin C. The liposomal antioxidants tested are vitamin E, essential oil raspberry, turmeric and cinnamon.

[00258] As demonstrated in Figure 18, the hydrophilic molecules tested are very effective as antioxidants. The most effective molecule is pomegranate (punicalagins and ellagic acid), followed by vitamin C, vitamin E and grape extract (resveratrol). Vitamin E with high antioxidant power is widely used for the protection of lipid compounds sensitive to oxidation. This is why it is found in polyunsaturated oils type W9, W6, W3 of vegetable or animal origin.

[00259] The antioxidant capacity of hydrophilic molecules is superior or comparable to conventional hydrophobic antioxidants such as vitamin E.

32 [00260] These hydrophilic molecules have the advantage of being as effective as vitamin E, while not being harmful, since the body easily eliminates excesses of these molecules in the urine.

Example 2: Preparation of a dispersion of phyllosilicates, in particular of bcntonitc, in sunflower oil

[00261] Dispersions of bentonite particles exfoliated with lecithin and water are prepared, according to the principles described above, in sunflower oil at bentonite concentrations of 0.5 to 15% by weight relatively to the weight of the lipid or oily phase as indicated above. The lecithin content is 64% by weight and the water content 120% by weight relative to the weight of bentonite in the composition. The size of the mineral particles obtained is measured as previously indicated by dynamic light scattering according to method 1.

[00262] FIG. 9 presents the result of measurements of the size of bentonite particles dispersed in the lipid phase for two mass concentrations of bentonite: 1% and 10%. At a concentration of 1%, the size distribution is monodisperse and has a maximum around 1 mhi. At a concentration of 10%, a first peak of particles is observed around 40 nm and a second around 900 nm.

[00263] Thus, the increase in concentration for a given shear energy leads to a reduction in the size of the particles which reflects an improvement in the dispersion.

[00264] Figure 10 shows the evolution of the size distribution of clay particles dispersed in a lipid phase with and without an additional dispersive ultrasound treatment. The clay content in the lipid phase is 1% by weight relative to the weight of the lipid phase.

[00265] The additional ultrasound treatment leads to the appearance of a size distribution peak of approximately 150 nm. As initially, we have a size distribution peak of about 1 pm. The additional ultrasound treatment must therefore improve the dispersion of the clay particles in the lipid phase with a very significant reduction in the size of a significant part of the particles.

Example 3: Preparation of a direct emulsion

[00266] Direct emulsions were prepared using an oily phase/aqueous phase ratio of 40/60. The emulsification was carried out by supplying shear energy applied

33 in batch, at room temperature, with a rotor/stator device with an air gap of 150 micrometers with a 30 mm spindle, at 4,500 rpm for 4 min.

[00267] The mean diameter of the lipid drops of the dispersed phase of the direct emulsions was measured for all the clay concentrations with a particle sizer as described in method 2. FIG. 11 (solid line curve) shows the results obtained.

[00268] At low concentration, the quantity of bentonite is too low to stabilize the small drops, so that they merge to create large drops, thus reducing the total interface surface of the system to be stabilized. This limited coalescence process is typical of Pickering emulsions and is characterized by a strong increase in droplet diameter at low concentrations.

[00269] At a higher concentration, the diameter of the drops stops decreasing and stabilizes around 20 mhi. In this domain, the diameter of the drops is stable while the amount of bentonite increases. This can be attributed to the leaves' ability to orient themselves cooperatively. The bentonite sheets are aligned by inducing a densification of the clay layer at the interface of the drops without variation in diameter.

The interfacial stabilization properties of the clays were evaluated by a stability test consisting of centrifugation at 10,000 rpm for 5 min (FIG. 11, dotted curve). This test accelerated the natural creaming process due to different densities (the density of oil is lower than that of water) and leads to a concentrated emulsion under tight stress conditions. Thus, the drops are in contact, forcing coalescence when the interface is unstable or when the surface coverage is insufficient. Emulsions with the lowest clay concentration are unstable, however this instability results from a lack of particles at the interface rather than inefficient adsorption. The rest of the emulsions are stable to the test.

[00271] In addition, the size of the drops was measured in order to verify their mechanical strength. No variation in size and size distribution is observed after centrifugation. Thus, the emulsions have excellent mechanical resistance to deformation and coalescence. The dotted curve in FIG. 11 is practically identical to the solid curve and thus the diameter of the drops is the same before and after the centrifugation test at 10,000 rpm.

Figure 12 illustrates the relationship between the size of bentonite particles dispersed in oil and the size of oil droplets in the dispersed phase. For a particle size of

34 bentonite of 473 nanometers, appreciated by the parameter D50 in volume, the size of the oil drops is D50 = 40 μm. The size ratio is 85. For a particle size of 164 nanometers, the size of the drops is 20 μm. The size ratio is 122. This confirms that the finer the particle size, the smaller the droplet size of the dispersed phase. A ratio between 80 and 130 is observed. This figure also shows electron microscopy pictures of the emulsions obtained.

Example 4: Oxidation Resistance Tests of the Compositions According to the Invention

[00272] Several tests were carried out to show the advantage of the above composition for reinforcing the resistance to oxidation of the lipid compositions.

Example 4a: Clay-in-oil exfoliation protocol

[00273] An exfoliated clay composition was produced according to the following protocol.

[00274] First, the vitamin C is mixed with a spatula in the distilled water until complete solubilization.

Then the lecithin is added, stirred vigorously until a homogeneous mixture is obtained (lecithin forms vesicles with the aqueous environment).

[00276] Then, the clay is added and mixed for 2 x 15 seconds in a blade disperser at 3,500 rpm. Water and vitamin C are placed between the sheets of clay and swell it. The lecithin, for its part, will be placed on the surface of the sheets, which will make it possible on the one hand to make the clays "hydrophobic" and therefore help their dispersion in the oil, and on the other hand to allow by intercalation of lecithin between the clay sheets facilitate exfoliation, ie the dispersion of the clays in the oil.

[00277] We leave 15 minutes of rest (in order to optimize the swelling phase) then we mix again for 15 seconds.

[00278] Finally, we add sunflower oil, then we mix 2 x 30 seconds with a blade mixer (at 3,500 rpm) to initiate the exfoliation of the clays in the oil. Then we add cod liver oil and vitamin E and mix 2 x 30 seconds again.

[00279] This pre-exfoliated system is then passed through a rotor/stator with an air gap of 150 micrometers and a spindle of 30 mm at 4,000 rpm for 3 min in order to maximize the exfoliation of the clays in the oil. Compositions 4 and 5 are obtained.

35 [00280] In the tests described below, the reference compositions 1, 2 and 3 without clay and without lecithin were produced according to the same protocol.

Example 4b: Protocol for the Preparation of a Composition in the Form of an Oil-in-Water Emulsion

[00281] An emulsion was produced.

[00282] First, the clay is exfoliated according to the protocol described in example 4a.

The aqueous phase of the emulsion is then prepared by diluting salt in pure water.

[00284] The clay exfoliation prepared beforehand is added to the aqueous phase.

This mixture is then passed through the rotor/stator with an air gap of 150 mhi and a spindle of 30 mm at 5000 rpm for 5 min.

[00286] Composition 6 is obtained.

Example 4c: Tests for evaluating the stability to oxidation of lipid compositions

Table 1 presents the formulations of three oily reference compositions. [00288] Table 1

[00289] Table 2 presents the formulations of three compositions comprising clay. All formulations are in mass percentage relative to the total mass of the sample. Compositions 4, 5 and 6 are structured, i.e. the clays were swollen with water in which the active molecules were dissolved and then exfoliated. Composition 6 is also a 40/60 direct oil-in-water emulsion and the components indicated for this sample correspond to the dispersed lipid phase.

[00290] Table 2

36 The samples were incubated under ambient atmospheric conditions, while remaining protected from light, but at a temperature of 37° C. for the sake of accelerating the oxidation kinetics. Samples were taken regularly for 7 weeks.

[00292] The peroxide indices were measured directly after the samples by iodometry according to standard NF EN ISO 27107 and NF EN ISO 3960.

[00293] Figure 13 shows the evolution of the oxidation kinetics (measurement of peroxide indices) for compositions 1 to 5. The abscissa shows the sample collection days and the ordinate shows the peroxide index measured in meq02 /kg of lipid phase. To facilitate reading, the kinetics of the three reference compositions are presented in the form of a curve and those of the two compositions 4 and 5 in the form of histograms.

In FIG. 13, it can be seen that after a latency period of a few days, the oxidation of the three reference compositions starts on the ^7th day and then increases more and more rapidly. All three references show similar oxidations, with a higher value for the reference comprising only vitamin E.

[00295] On the other hand, the oxidations of the two samples comprising a supramolecular structure are very markedly lower.

[00296] It can be concluded that the presence of particles of clay sheets dispersed and exfoliated in the composition makes it possible to limit the diffusion of reactive oxygen molecules by a barrier effect.

[00297] Between compositions 4 and 5, there is also a very marked difference, particularly during the first thirty days of the test. The presence of the hydrophilic antioxidant vitamin C, dispersed by adsorption on the particles of the supramolecular structure, provides a latency time of about thirty days before the development of a significant oxidation of the composition.

[00298] The peroxide index value of 15 is usually used as a limit not to be exceeded for human food products.

[00299] This index is exceeded for the three reference compositions and for composition 4 comprising only vitamin E after approximately one week. On the other hand, this index is only reached for composition 5 according to the invention comprising the molecular structure and vitamin C after 32 days. This result illustrates the great interest of the structure

37 supramolecular to serve as a vehicle for vitamin C to protect lipid compositions from oxidation.

Example 6: Evaluation of the stability to oxidation of lipid compositions at high temperature

[00300] Compositions 1, 5 and emulsion 6 obtained according to Examples 4b and 4c were heated for 80 s at 120° C. and then cooled slowly to 40° C. in 20 min. The compositions were analyzed before and after heat treatment.

[00301] The peroxide indices were measured directly after the samples by iodometry according to standard NE EN ISO 27107 and NF EN ISO 3960.

[00302] In this experiment, the secondary oxidation compounds, malondialdehyde (MDA), are also measured in order to confirm the results observed for the peroxide index and to conclude that the lipids are well preserved from oxidation. Indeed, these MDA secondary compounds result from the degradation of peroxides. A low peroxide value measurement could thus result from the formation of this secondary product and not from the preservation of lipids in oxidation.

[00303] The results of the two series of assays are shown in Figure 19.

[00304] Composition 6 in the form of an emulsion according to the invention considerably reduces the peroxide index compared to the oil alone (composition 1). Composition 5 according to the invention comprising exfoliated clay also makes it possible to effectively reduce the oxidation of lipids at high temperature. These structures effectively protect against oxidation by oxygen (process without heat) and thermal exposure (process with heat).

[00305] The MDA index values confirm that the peroxides have not degraded into secondary oxidation compounds (MDA) for composition 6, confirming that the emulsion significantly better preserves the lipids from oxidation. For this composition 6, the MDA index values are below the detection limit.

[00306] This complex assembly combines the performance of water-soluble antioxidants physisorbed in phyllosilicates, with the surface developed by the clay which will be dispersed in the oil via a surfactant such as lecithin or arginine

This original assembly system offers lipid protection never demonstrated to date, in particular during aggressive heat treatments known to rapidly degrade the unsaturations of the alkyl chains by oxidation or radical reaction.

38

Claims

1 Lipid composition comprising unsaturated lipids such as omega 3 and omega 6, antioxidants, an amphiphilic dispersing agent and phyllosilicate particles, characterized in that the phyllosilicate particles are clusters of layers in which water is adsorbed , in that said antioxidants comprise water-soluble antioxidants dissolved in said water adsorbed in said phyllosilicate sheets at a content greater than 0.01% by weight relative to the weight of the lipids of the composition, and in that the phyllosilicate sheets are dispersed and exfoliated in the composition by said amphiphilic dispersing agent adsorbed on the surface of said sheets of phyllosilicates.

2 Composition according to claim 1, in which the water-soluble antioxidant content is between 0.125% and 50% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicate particles, and preferably between 0.375% and 35% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicate particles .

3 Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said water-soluble antioxidant is chosen from the group of reducing salts, reducing enzymes, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives and water-soluble vitamins and their combinations, and preferably vitamin C .

4 Composition according to Claim 1, in which the said amphiphilic dispersing agent is chosen from the group of ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE), cationic surfactants based on arginine with 16 carbons and more, phospholipids and their combinations.

5. A composition according to claim 2, wherein said amphiphilic dispersing agent is a phosphoglyceride.

6 Composition according to Claim 3, in which the said amphiphilic dispersing agent is a phosphatidyl choline and preferentially lecithin.

7 Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the phyllosilicate sheets are smectite sheets and very preferably mostly montmorillonite sheets.

8 Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispersing agent content of the composition is between 10% and 400% and preferably between 20% and 200% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicates.

39 9 Composition according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the water content of the composition is between 10% and 300% and preferably between 20% and 200% by weight relative to the weight of the phyllosilicates.

10 Emulsion with an aqueous phase and a lipid phase, characterized in that the lipid phase is a composition according to any one of the preceding claims.

11 Emulsion according to claim 10, wherein said emulsion is a direct emulsion and wherein the overall phyllosilicate content in said lipid phase is greater than 0.5% by weight relative to the weight of said lipid phase, and preferably between 1% and 20% by weight.

12 Emulsion according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said emulsion is an inverse emulsion, and wherein the overall phyllosilicate content in said lipid phase is less than 5% by weight relative to the weight of said lipid phase, and preferably between 0.005% and 2% by weight.

13 Food, premix or food supplement (10, 20, 30) in the form of modular stacked objects allowing protection against oxidation and controlled release of nutritive and/or physiologically active substances for monogastric species, with an aqueous phase ( 16, 26, 36) and a lipid phase (18, 28, 38) with liposoluble active components, characterized in that the aqueous phase and the lipid phase are an emulsion according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

14 Food, premix or food supplement (20) according to claim 13, in which the emulsion is a direct emulsion and in which the drops of the dispersed lipid phase (28) have a coating of biopolymer (24), preferably chosen from the group of chitosan, polylisin and hyaluronic acid.

Food, premix or food supplement (10, 30) according to claim 11, comprising a core (12, 32) and a coating (14, 34) of the core (12, 32), in which said core (12, 32) comprises said aqueous phase (16, 36) and said lipid phase (18, 38) and wherein said aqueous phase comprises water-soluble active substances.

16 Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said composition is incorporated or impregnated in an extruded food.

17 Use of phyllosilicates as stabilizing agents for lipid emulsions according to any one of claims 10 to 12.

40