WO2022219573A2 - Microencapsulation wall material, suspension core capsule, edible capsule with electronics, methods and a production system for producing the same - Google Patents

Microencapsulation wall material, suspension core capsule, edible capsule with electronics, methods and a production system for producing the same Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022219573A2
WO2022219573A2 PCT/IB2022/053504 IB2022053504W WO2022219573A2 WO 2022219573 A2 WO2022219573 A2 WO 2022219573A2 IB 2022053504 W IB2022053504 W IB 2022053504W WO 2022219573 A2 WO2022219573 A2 WO 2022219573A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wall
capsule
core
microencapsulation
layer
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Application number
PCT/IB2022/053504
Other languages
French (fr)
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WO2022219573A3 (en
Inventor
Leonard TAN WEE LIAT
Original Assignee
Rolling Pastures Pte. Ltd.
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Publication date
Application filed by Rolling Pastures Pte. Ltd. filed Critical Rolling Pastures Pte. Ltd.
Publication of WO2022219573A2 publication Critical patent/WO2022219573A2/en
Publication of WO2022219573A3 publication Critical patent/WO2022219573A3/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5089Processes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23LFOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L2/00Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Their preparation
    • A23L2/52Adding ingredients
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23LFOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L33/00Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L33/10Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof using additives
    • A23L33/16Inorganic salts, minerals or trace elements
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23PSHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS
    • A23P10/00Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the products
    • A23P10/30Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K33/00Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
    • A61K33/24Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
    • A61K33/26Iron; Compounds thereof
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5005Wall or coating material
    • A61K9/5015Organic compounds, e.g. fats, sugars
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5005Wall or coating material
    • A61K9/5021Organic macromolecular compounds
    • A61K9/5036Polysaccharides, e.g. gums, alginate; Cyclodextrin
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5005Wall or coating material
    • A61K9/5021Organic macromolecular compounds
    • A61K9/5052Proteins, e.g. albumin
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5094Microcapsules containing magnetic carrier material, e.g. ferrite for drug targeting
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61KPREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/48Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
    • A61K9/50Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals
    • A61K9/5073Microcapsules having a gas, liquid or semi-solid filling; Solid microparticles or pellets surrounded by a distinct coating layer, e.g. coated microspheres, coated drug crystals having two or more different coatings optionally including drug-containing subcoatings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a microencapsulation wall ma terial of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, a suspension core capsule, a method for producing a microencapsulation wall material, a method for producing a suspension core capsule, a production system for producing a suspension core capsule, and an edible capsule with electron ics.
  • Food supplements are used to supplement the diet with vita mins, minerals, and other substances, such as long-chain fatty acids, amino acids, fiber, or plant substances. They contain the nutrients in a concentrated and dosed form and are offered as capsules, powder sachets, or in similar dosage forms.
  • the application relates to a reusable personalized device using parts biodegradable and edible electronics and parts inorganic material.
  • Dietary supplements can contain a single nutrient or a combi nation of different nutrients, so-called combination products.
  • the above mentioned supplements comprise sensitive matter that must be stored and handled with care which poses complex problems to manufacturers of dietary supplements who want to be able to preserve nutritional states so as to pro vide fresh and healthy vitamins and nutrients to the consum- ers.
  • nutrition composition for food and beverage in cluding capsules
  • They are inefficiently stored and thus subject to rapid oxidation.
  • Several known techniques have been used to store fresh produce and preserve nutritional states over time.
  • Refrigeration lowers ambient temperature to slow the decay of produce like berries, spinach and potatoes.
  • leafy greens like spinach lose essential nutri ents like folate and vitamin C.
  • the half-life of highly vola tile nutrients in the deterioration phases of such produce is estimated to be at around 3 to 5 days.
  • the freezing process pre-freezing treatments, freezing, frozen storage, and thawing
  • the freezing process is generally regarded as the best method of long-term food preservation when judged on the basis of retention of sensory attributes and nutrients.
  • the freezing process is, however, not perfect, as is apparent from the fact that substantial amounts of the more labile nu trients can be lost.
  • Vitamin losses during freezing preserva tion vary greatly depending on the food, the package, and the conditions of processing and storage. Losses of nutrients can result from physical separation (e.g., peeling and trimming during the pre-freezing period, or exudate loss during thaw ing), leaching (especially during blanching), or chemical deg radation. The seriousness of these losses depends on the nu trient (whether it is abundant or meagre in the average diet), and on the particular food item (whether it generally supplies a major or a minor amount of the nutrient in question). It is estimated on average, that the half-life of nutrients in fro zen food is around 14 days.
  • Another technique for preserving foods is canning which in volves exposing foods to pressure, chemical additives, and heat.
  • the initial encounter with heat makes the food lose nu tritional value, but since cans do not have oxygen, the nutri ents tend to stay where they are until the can is opened.
  • the cooking process causes further nutrient deteriora tion.
  • the nu trients are not exposed to sunlight as it adds oxidative stress to such ingredients. Exposure to sunlight (in addition to extreme heat) is likely to impact vitamin degradation such as vitamin A, B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12 and folic acid. In ad dition, increasing temperatures from exposure to direct heat sources like the sun harms the potency and effectiveness of a variety of vitamins and other nutrients. Degradation generally starts to occur in foods or beverages exposed to temperatures of greater than 120 °F (48 degrees Celsius). Additionally, most nutrient capsules lack the proper mechanisms to provide adequate drug releasability from the carrier. Further in prior art, in vitro devices are known that are used for administering food and drugs.
  • implantable and wearable electronics are implemented as a means to monitor and administer treatment to targeted regions of interest within contact.
  • devices are generally accepted as high performing monitoring and functional tools, they are often characterized by costly and invasive implantation procedures with the need for constant long-term maintenance.
  • cheaper, less invasive systems are known that can be worn externally.
  • these external systems suffer from poor actuating and monitoring capability on organs due to electrical resistance of exposed and interstitial epidermal layers and lipids.
  • an object of the present invention is overcome the above described problems related to in-vitro and externally worn electronics and, in particular, to provide an improved means for administering and monitoring foods and drugs.
  • an object of the present invention is based on providing an improved and efficient way to administer and store a health supplement which further enables a timed release mechanism for releasing nutrients from an encapsula tion.
  • a further object of the present invention is to overcome the above described problems related to in-vitro and externally worn electronics and, in particular, to provide an improved means for administering and monitoring foods and drugs.
  • a microencapsulation wall mate rial of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules wherein the microencapsulation wall material com prises a hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species, a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagen, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch and biopoly mers, and a second mixture, wherein the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of lecithin, cy clodextrin and whey surfactant base mixture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion.
  • An emulsion is a finely divided mixture of two normally immis proficient liquids without visible segregation.
  • Materials of the first mixture can form particles in an emulsifier of the sec ond mixture.
  • the first mixture can be a Wl-Phase.
  • the second mixture can be the emulsifier.
  • the second mixture can further be a W2-Phase.
  • the emulsion can be a double emulsion with a type W1/0/W2.
  • the first mixture and the second mixture can form an emulsion through emulsification.
  • microencapsulation wall material which has improved diffusion characteristics and is edible for animals and humans.
  • the molecules of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic poly meric species are capable of being hyper-polarized through the application of (weakly) static and/or dynamic electromagnetic (EM) field gradients by a re-orientation of molecular dipole spins moment.
  • EM dynamic electromagnetic
  • An amphiphilic molecule is a value obtained by dividing a weight percentage of the hydrophilic part by five. There is a balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic parts of am phiphilic molecules. This is expressed as the hydrophilic-lip ophilic balance (HLB).
  • HLB hydrophilic-lip ophilic balance
  • the HLB value is an empirical scale as a measure of the HLB values of surfactants. With this, it is possible to determine an optimum range for each surface-active substance effect.
  • a surfactant with a lower HLB has a lipo philic character.
  • Spans which are sorbitan esters, have lipo philic properties and low HLB values (1.8-8.6).
  • Tweens which are polyoxymethylene derivatives of spans, are hydrophilic and have high HLB values (9.6-16.7).
  • an emulsifier or emulsifier mixture having an HLB value equal to the HLB value of the oil phase should be used.
  • This sol a mi croencapsulation wall material is provided, which has lipo philic properties.
  • the molecules of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species pro vided in the wall material have been processed so as to be hy per-polarized.
  • the wall cytoplasm - being polarized accordingly, is capable of two important functions: 1) filtering harmful wavelengths of light which may pass through the polynucleated, mononucle- ated and matrix fill suspension, that degrade the core nutri ents - encapsulated by the microencapsulated and / or nanoen- capsulated shell. 2) Holding the nutrients core in place within the shell by the electrostatic binding forces of the charge distorted electron cloud induced by magnetic forces.
  • the magnetic forces inducing the charge distorted electron cloud are created by an externally applied polarized magnet to an internal nutrient core containing a ferrous epicentre mix ture; including iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc ions.
  • a suspension core capsule wherein the suspension core capsule comprises a wall compris ing microencapsulation wall material as described above and a core comprising nutrients.
  • the wall can border the core.
  • a suspension core capsule which has specific properties to absorb the nutrients.
  • the wall controls the absorption of the nutrients.
  • the suspension core capsule is provided with a hyper- polarizable polymeric species at the wall material, thus lev eraging on a low cost and efficient mechanism of orientating the dipole spins moment, in the presence of an electromagnetic field gradient to provide superior retention of the nutrient within the encapsulated core by attraction of the nutrient to the oppositely-charged polymeric species at the inner wall of the bilayer shell. It also provides superior nutrient preser vation methodologies by creating polarizing effects to sun light - especially UV rays.
  • this solution provides an efficient mechanism for supe rior nutrient releasability from the carrier by the applica tion of a reverse electromagnetic field gradient.
  • the deliber ate release function allows for efficient (instantaneous) timed release of nutrients to be mixed with outer food and beverage suspensions for consumption.
  • the dipole spins moment of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species is realigned in the opposite direction causing a repulsion of the nutrient core to the shell.
  • the repulsive forces between the nutrient core and the like-charged polymeric species stresses the shell surface of the micro-encapsulated and / or nano-encapsulated bi-layer to cause raptures to the wall sur face.
  • the wall is a bilayer wall, com prising an inner wall comprising microencapsulation wall mate rial as described above, and an outer wall comprising microen capsulation wall material as described above.
  • This solution provides a wall, which has a cascaded wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall have different ab sorption properties. This allows to adjust the absorption more accurate and depending of the nutrients.
  • an outside of the inner wall and an inside of the outer wall are touching each other.
  • the inner wall can rest on the outer wall over its entire surface.
  • an inner wall and an outer wall is provided, which are controlling the absorption.
  • the inner wall and the outer wall form a double-walled wall, which combines the absorption properties of the inner wall and the outer wall.
  • the inner wall and the outer wall have a predefined thickness.
  • the inner wall has a predefined thickness.
  • the outer wall has a predefined thickness. The thickness of the inner wall can defer from the thickness of the outer wall.
  • an inner wall and an outer wall are provided, which have cascaded properties. Depending on the thickness of each wall the absorption properties can be ad- justed.
  • the wall comprises a timed release mechanism to release nutrients.
  • This solution provides a wall, which absorbs the nutrients over time. This improves the intake of the nutrients of the human body. This allows the delivery of the nutrients in a course of time.
  • the capsule comprises a ferrous nutrient core.
  • the ferrous nutrient core is positively charged.
  • the ferrous nutrient core comprises iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc ions.
  • the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species is arranged radi ally inside and outside the inner wall.
  • the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species is arranged radi ally at the outer wall.
  • the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species molecules have been treated so as to be hyper- polarized.
  • the capsule further comprises a neutrally charged membrane arranged radially at the outer surface of the microencapsulated bilayer wall.
  • the neutrally charged membrane may comprise lipid-like chain seg ments.
  • the lipid-like chain segments may be arranged radially at the outer surface of the microencapsulated and nanoencapsu- lated bilayer wall in order to prevent the attraction and ad hesion of impurities at the microencapsulated shell surface.
  • a method for producing a microen capsulation wall material comprises in a first step providing a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagen, chitosan, silk fi broin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers and in a further step providing a second mixture, wherein the sec ond mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of lecithin, cyclodextrin, and whey surfactant base mixture, and forming an emulsion with the first mixture and the second mixture, wherein the wall material comprises a hyper-polariza ble hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species.
  • the method can be per formed in a single flow.
  • the above method can be used for efficiently protecting vola tile nutrient compounds such as vitamins, minerals, anti-ox- idents, amino acids, sericin and fibroin extracts from the ef fects of oxidation by exposure to direct and indirect sun light.
  • the protection mechanism relies on the reversible ori entation of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species dipole spins moment, in the presence of an electromagnetic field grah. This creates two effects. 1) An attraction of the nu trient core to the inner wall material of the micro-/nano-cap- sule and 2) creating a polarizing effect to filter out par tially or completely, the full wavelengths of sunlight.
  • the above method may also be used for the delib erate release of volatile nutrient compounds entrapped within the microencapsulated and / or nanoencapsulated wall material to be mixed with the outer food and beverage multi-nucleated core suspension for consumption.
  • the deliberate release func tion relies on the reversible orientation of the hyper-polar izable polymeric species dipole spins moment, in the presence of an reverse electromagnetic field gradient to create two ef fects.
  • the inventive method enables the crea tion of efficient storage and timed release mechanisms of multi-nucleated suspension cores for fresh and optimally ther apeutic consumption of vitamins and nutrients at efficient re sources and low costs.
  • the method is further comprising a step of atomizing the emulsion into vapor microparticles.
  • the vapor microparticles can be vapor nanoparticles.
  • the method is further comprising a step of providing a homogenizer.
  • a method is provided, which homogenizes the particles.
  • the wall material can be produced with more uniform properties.
  • the above-described embodiments of the method are particularly suitable to produce a wall material according to one of the above-described embodiments of the wall material.
  • a method for producing a suspen sion core capsule comprising the method steps of the method described above and further comprising the method steps of providing a core comprising nutrients, providing a microencap sulated wall material, and encapsulating the microencapsulated wall material around the core.
  • the above-described embodiment of the method is particularly suitable to produce a suspension core capsule according to one of the above-described embodiments of the suspension core cap sule.
  • the method further comprises a step of applying a static and/or dynamic electromagnetic field gradients to the suspension core capsule, in particular, ap plying a magnetic north polarity to the suspension core cap sule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall material, thereby in ducing a dipole moment in the molecules or atoms of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric species.
  • a static and/or dynamic electromagnetic field gradients to the suspension core capsule, in particular, ap plying a magnetic north polarity to the suspension core cap sule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall material, thereby in ducing a dipole moment in the molecules or atoms of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric species.
  • the method further comprising a step of applying a reversed magnetic south polarity to the suspension core capsule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall ma terial, thereby causing the molecules or atoms of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric species to reverse the orientation of their dipole spins moment.
  • a production system for producing a suspension core capsule comprises a ho- mogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray noz zle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dis persion system, and an encapsulation machine, wherein the sys tem is configured to carry out a method as described above.
  • the above-described embodiment of the production system is particularly suitable to carry out a method for producing a microencapsulation wall material and a method for producing a suspension core capsule as described above.
  • the above-described embodiment of the production system is further particularly suitable to produce a microencapsulation wall material and a suspension core capsule as described above.
  • an edible cap sule comprising a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material accord ing to the invention described above, forming a core, and an electronic component included in the core, wherein the wall is a bilayer wall, comprising an inner wall comprising microen capsulation wall material according to claim 1 to 4, and an outer wall comprising microencapsulation wall material accord ing to the invention described above.
  • the electronic component may be comprised of biodegradable, edible parts.
  • the electronic component may be located on the surface of the inner wall.
  • the electronic component comprises a wire less sensor for sensing data and a wireless transceiver and for communicating the sensed data to a receiver.
  • a low powered computer processing unit (CPU) chip may also be embedded.
  • the capsule further comprises an electrolytic power source charging circuit and a magnetic po larity inducer for charging potentials of electrolytic power sources embedded within the edible capsule.
  • the electrolytic power source may be embedded at the outer wall of the core.
  • the electronic component of the edible capsule may serve for at least one of product tagging, quality control, targeted re lease mechanisms, GI tract physiological monitoring, nutrient therapeutics, pharmaceutical drug administration.
  • the invention further provides a method of producing an edible capsule as described above, comprising
  • the topmost first layer being a biodegradable predominant hy drophobic imprinting substrate for receiving electrical cir cuitry of the electrical component
  • the second layer beneath the first layer being a hydrophilic sacrificial layer, which is adapted to dissolve in contact with water
  • the third layer beneath the second layer being a porous hydro- phobic water insolvent substrate, which is adapted to act as a flat stable backing for laminating and circuitry imprinting, forming organic field effect transistors through vapour depo sition through atomization nozzle, forming, on the first layer, a metal ion strip connected to the organic field effect transistors, placing, onto the first layer, a silicon dioxide food grade substrate comprising organic solar cells formed by spin coat ing onto the silicon substrate, stacking on top of the metal ion strip and the solar cells a further organic layer to form an additional electric circuit imprinting substrate, vapour-depositing further electronic circuitry onto the fur ther organic layer, thus
  • the laminating layer may be ionically or covalently bonded to the inner surface of the inner wall.
  • the invention further provides a non-biodegradable capsule suspension housing comprising electronic circuitry being fab ricated with embedded non-organic electronics, the circuitry being adapted to act as a magnetic power source for power transference to charge an (organic) electrolyte bat tery supply when the capsule as described above is docked into the housing.
  • Fig. 1 shows a section view of a suspension core capsule that contains a multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core
  • Fig. 2a shows a section view of a suspension core capsule with multi-nucleated nutrient core in a liquid meta-core suspen sion
  • Fig. 2b shows a section view of a suspension core capsule with multi-nucleated nutrient core in a solid meta-core suspension
  • Fig. 3 shows a flow chart for manufacturing a suspension core capsule
  • Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a finished suspen sion core capsule under the influence of an external magnetic field
  • Fig. 5 schematically shows the finished suspension core cap sule under the influence of a reverse external magnetic field
  • Fig. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a finished suspension core capsule
  • Fig. 7 shows a conceptualized finished edible electronics mi cro / nano encapsulation wall material product
  • Fig. 8 shows a conceptualized process for laminating edible circuitry onto the exposed inner surface of the bi-layered mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core encapsulation wall.
  • Fig. 1 shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1 that contains a multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core 21.
  • the multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core 21 is also called multi-nucleates nutrient core 21.
  • the suspension core capsule 1 comprises a microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 can be single or dou ble-walled. In case the microencapsulation wall 10 is double- walled and outside of the inner wall and an inside of the outer wall are touching each other, over a whole surface.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 includes or comprises a meta core suspension 20.
  • the meta-core suspension 20 can be liquid or solid.
  • the multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 can comprise an additional wall.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 can be single or double-walled.
  • the microencapsulation wall material, the microencapsulation wall 10 is made, is composed of a large galantine mix.
  • the galantine mix serves to protect the multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 and the meta-core suspension 20 from the process of oxidation. It can be single-walled and can contain a matrix of suspended solids.
  • the multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 is the highly volatile microencapsulated and/or nanoencapsulated vitamin and nutrient core. Multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 delivers nutraceuticals and flavonoids to the consumer upon consumption of the suspen sion core capsule 1.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 provides for the protection of degradation and reaction with the outer food and beverage core extract 21 within the suspension core capsule 1.
  • the microen capsulation wall 10 can be single or double walled and pro tects against UV oxidation.
  • the multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 in the meta-core suspen sion 20 can contain reactants and/or adjuvants to accelerate and assist in the nutrient delivery process and timed mecha nisms of vitamin absorption.
  • the meta-core suspension 20 provides a medium of suspending single and multi-nucleated nutrient core particles 21 in a liquid and/or emulsifying matrix.
  • the emulsifying matrix will react with either temperature, pressure, or dilution upon breakage of the microencapsulation wall material to produce a water-based liquid slurry in oil or vice versa.
  • the microen capsulation wall material is palatable for the consumption of a healthy, food and/or beverage product. Food and/or beverage product are filled with nutrients and added vitamins and min erals to promote convenient and healthy diets.
  • Fig. 2a shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1, as described in Fig. 1, with multi-nucleated nutrient core 21 in a liquid meta-core suspension 20.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 can comprise an inner wall and an outer wall.
  • the inner wall can comprise an inner wall ma trix 11.
  • the microencapsulation inner wall material of the suspension core capsule 1 can be a double layer matrix that is immersible with each other.
  • the double layer matrix acts as barriers to external reactants and diffusers.
  • the meta-core suspension 20 of the suspension core capsule 1 can be a liq uid.
  • Fig. 2b shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1, as shown in Fig. 2a, with multi-nucleated nutrient core 21 in a solid meta-core suspension 20.
  • the suspension core capsule 1 comprises a solid meta-core sus pension 20 instead of a liquid meta-core suspension 20, as shown in Fig. 2a.
  • Fig. 3 shows a flow chart for manufacturing a suspension core capsule 1.
  • the system process for manufacturing the suspension core cap sule 1 can be a single flow process from the filling of active ingredients to the encapsulation of the multi-nucleated core 21.
  • the system process starts with the active ingredients packed into canisters for filling into a feed composite mixture.
  • the active ingredients may be contained in the canisters as pow dered, liquid, or hybrid material phases.
  • the feed material is dispensed into a filler in a method step SI.
  • the filler sepa rates the feed material and controls the rate at which the ac tive ingredients are dispensed to the feeder in a method step S2a.
  • the active ingredients are environmentally measured, maintained, and stored in holding containments in preparation for the next step of processing.
  • an intelligent feeder collects mixtures of the active ingredients and prepares them for homogenization in a method step S3a.
  • impurities and concentrations are tested to verify and ensure that correct chemical balances are reached and maintained.
  • the feeder provides a feedback loop through a collection of sensor and machine data to inform the filler of the necessary control parameters to tune when dispensing the active ingredi ents in a method step S2b.
  • These parameters may include the rate of active ingredient dispense, flow, temperature, humidity, etc.
  • the next step is where ingredients are homogenized by batches in classes. Different classes of homogenization from the feed ingredients are stored in the apparatus in this step.
  • the homogenizer actuates the homogenization process through a variety of methods, e.g., high pressure, energy dispersion, turbulent dissipation, cavitation, etc. It also contains an intelligent feedback system to control the feeder operating parameters in real-time in a method step S3b.
  • the next step is the emulsifier which adds in the surfactants and the core multi-nucleated nutrient/vitamin of the product in a method step S4a.
  • the emulsification is per formed through the effect of high energy homogenization on the active ingredients, the core capsule suspension 20, and the emulsifying agents.
  • This step also includes an intelligent feedback sensor to the feeder in a method step S4b.
  • an atomizer atomizes the completed emulsion from the previous steps into vapor nanoparticles and micropar ticles of similar sizes in a method step S5a.
  • the atomizer contains an intelligent feedback loop to the homogenizer based on sensor and machinery data to control, the operational be havior and parameters of the homogenizer during and before the emulsification process in a method step S5b.
  • the double and singled walled matrix mi crocapsules and nanoparticles produced from the spray dryer process are collected via a canonical cyclone drum. They are loaded into the food and beverage suspension via a vibrational sifter in a method step S6a.
  • the spray dryer includes an in telligent feedback system that feeds sensor and machine data back to the emulsification module to automate the control of the spray dryer operational parameters in a method step S6b.
  • a homogenization process takes place in a method step S7.
  • nanoparticles and microparticles from different spray drying processes containing different nu trient and/or vitamin core multi-nucleates 21 are loaded into the baseline food and beverage liquid / semi-liquid core.
  • the process at this step involves low energy dissipation agitative components to homogenize the meta-core suspension 20.
  • the meta-core suspension 20 is then loaded into the hopper of a standard soft/hard gel encapsulation machine in a method step S8a.
  • the standard mixture will include the feed and a galantine-based call coating which is weaved into the die-cut- ting rollers of the machine.
  • the encapsulation contains an in telligent sensing feedback loop that automates control of the spray dryer for operational parameterization in a method step S8b.
  • the product as described in Fig. 1 is then produced from this highly structured, systemic manufacturing process in a method step S9.
  • the microencapsulation wall material borders a core and protects the core against UV oxidation.
  • the microencapsulation wall 10 has an ellip soid, spherocylindrical, spherical, oval, oblong, and/or tubu lar shape.
  • Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a finished suspen sion core capsule 1 under the influence of an external mag netic field.
  • the finished hyper-polarizable mi- cro-/nanoencapsulation wall material forming the microencapsu lation wall is shown with a distorted electron cloud 22 under the influence of an external magnetic field.
  • the configuration of the suspension core capsule 1 corresponds to the one shown in Fig. 1, with a single or double-layered wall 10, surrounding a multi-nucleates multi-nutrient core 21 in a meta-core suspension 20 that can be liquid or solid.
  • One of the nucleates is represented at larger scale. Namely, as can be seen in the enlarged detail of a nucleate from the multi nutrient core 21, the nucleate also is enclosed by a microen capsulation wall 10 which may be single or double-walled, as described with respect to Fig. 1.
  • the reference numeral 23 indicates an ex ternally applied magnetic north polarity N on the capsule 1 at opposing ends of the circular profile of the wall material of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the applied magnetic polarity N causes the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polariza ble polymeric species comprised in the microencapsulation wall 10 to reorient their dipole spins moment to the distorted electron cloud 22.
  • the distorted electron cloud 22 is formed with the positive polarity of the polymeric species arranged radially at the outer surface 24 of the inner bilayer wall 25 and correspondingly with the negative polarity of the poly meric species arranged radially at the inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • a positively charged ferrous nutrient core 27 is arranged, wherein which, the posi tive charges are attracted to the negative radially charged inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the interface 28 between the positively charged ferrous nutri ent core 27 and the negatively charged inner bilayer capsule wall surface 26 creates an interstitial adhesion between the nutrient core 27 and the polymeric species inner bilayer wall 25. This electrostatic adhesion at the interface 28 will be able to hold the nutrient core 27 in place.
  • the polymeric species will have a net orientation indicated by the double arrows, reference numeral 29, by means of which it serves as a radially polarizing filter to block out one or two planes of vibration from electromagnetic light sources (e.g. sunlight).
  • electromagnetic light sources e.g. sunlight
  • Fig. 4 the incident non-polarized light, indicated by ref erence numeral 30, is conceptualized to have been reflected at a 90-degree scattering angle, wherein the reflected light is indicated by reference numeral 31, to completely filter out light incident to the ferrous nutrient core 27 to produce the polarized light 31 that is reflected away from the outer sur face 32 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • Fig. 5 schematically shows the finished suspension core cap sule 1 under the influence of a reverse external magnetic field.
  • Fig. 5 shows the finished product com prising the hyper-polarizable micro-/nanoencapsulation wall material 10 and a distorted electron cloud 22 under the influ ence of a reverse external magnetic field 23'.
  • the reference numeral 23 now indicates the externally applied reversed magnetic south polarity S on the capsule 1 at oppos ing ends of the circular profile of the wall material 10.
  • the applied magnetic polarity 23 causes the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species to reverse the ori entation 29 of their dipole spins moment to the distorted electron cloud 22.
  • the distorted electron cloud 22 is formed with the negative polarity of the polymeric species arranged radially at the outer surface 24 of the inner bilayer wall 25 and correspondingly with the positive polarity of the poly meric species arranged radially at the inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the material of the microencapsulation wall 10 retains a posi tively charged ferrous nutrient core 27, wherein which the positive charges are repelled from the positively radially charged inner wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the interface 28 between the positively charged ferrous nutrient core 27 and the positively charged inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 creates an interstitial repulsion be tween the positively charged ferrous nutrient core 27 and the polymeric species comprised in the inner bilayer wall 25.
  • This electrostatic repulsive force at the interface 28 will cause dynamic exogenous stresses to the microencapsulation wall 10, eventually resulting in lesions and / or ruptures to the sur face 32 of the shell or microencapsulation wall 10.
  • the polymeric species will have a net orientation indicated by the double arrows in dicated by reference numeral 29 wherein which it serves as a radially de-polarizing filter to allow all planes of vibration from electromagnetic light sources (e.g. sunlight).
  • electromagnetic light sources e.g. sunlight
  • the incident unpolarised light indicated by refer ence numeral 30 is conceptualized to have been reflected at an angle of 180-degree (0 radians) scattering angle to completely pass through incident to the ferrous nutrient core 27 to pro prise the polarized light 34.
  • Fig. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a finished suspension core capsule 1 with two enlarged details of the mi croencapsulation wall 10 surrounding the multi-nucleates multi-nutrients core 21.
  • the wall coating of the macrocapsule 1 may be double layered to provide for an additional protection mechanism similar as the one provided to the microencapsulated volatile nutrients and vitamins against UV oxidation and degradation.
  • the wall material of the microencapsulation wall 10 of the macrocapsules may be provided as a double layer comprising the hyper-polarizable polymeric species which is immersible with each other and act as an optical barrier to sunlight due to the polarizing effects described with respect to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 and as a mechanical and chemical barrier with respect to impurities.
  • the inner core matrix of the macrocapsules may be a solid suspension, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2b.
  • microencapsulation wall material of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules wherein the microen capsulation wall material comprises
  • the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers, and
  • the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion.
  • suspension core capsule comprises a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material comprising
  • the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers, and
  • the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, wherein the first mixture and the second mix ture form an emulsion and a core comprising nutrients.
  • a method for producing a mi croencapsulation wall material comprising the following steps:
  • the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers,
  • the second mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, and
  • a method for producing a suspension core capsule comprising the method steps of the method outlined above is provided, and further comprising the method steps of:
  • a production system for producing a suspension core capsule comprising a homogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray nozzle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dispersion system, and an encapsula tion machine, wherein the system is configured to carry out a method outlined above.
  • the production system comprises a homogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray nozzle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dispersion system, and an encapsula tion machine, wherein the system is configured to carry out a method outlined above.
  • the above described capsule bi-layer wall surface material, encapsulating the polarized micro encapsulated suspension core is fabricated with micro and / or nano scale organic field effect transistors, (or ganic) diodes, (organic) capacitors, (organic) inductors, (or ganic) electrodes and (organic) resistors which are connected together through printed etches of vapour deposits of charged organic (metal) ions as path of least resistances for electri cal discharge between a potential difference from an organic energy source like the electrolyte batteries, organic capaci tors and / or inductors.
  • Our invention utilizes the sheet like surface-engineered substrate (e.g.
  • An electrical circuit of configuration A coupled with edible sensors and (edible) low frequency transceivers (including passive wire antennas) enable the accurate tracking, identifi cation and quality / degradation monitoring of micro encapsu lated food and beverages described above during preparation, delivery and stocking - without having to expose the internal contents from external wrapping and sealants.
  • this electrical circuit configuration may be reversed (configuration B), with the electrical circuit form ing two coils around a connected reluctance within the bi layer surface of the encapsulation membrane to induce a weak magnetic field for locale specific release of nutrients and drugs to administer non-invasive biomedical and nutrient ther- apy at targeted physiological regions within the body (primar ily from the GI tract).
  • the controlled release of micronutri ents, drugs and medicine (as alternative medical applications) encapsulated within the microcapsules of the suspended core will occur via the same mechanisms as detailed under the in fluence of an applied EM field gradient.
  • an ethylcellulose layer may be fabricated and printed with micro and / or nano circuitry containing organic electronic components (e.g. Organic FETs, diodes, capacitors, inductors, electrodes, etc.) and transferred via wet press drying onto the surface of the wall material containing the microencapsulated suspension core.
  • organic electronic components e.g. Organic FETs, diodes, capacitors, inductors, electrodes, etc.
  • the same ethylcellulose layer may also be used and press dried onto the "sandwiched" bi-layer surface of the double walled microcapsules.
  • the first category of application addresses clinical tasks within the biomedical and pharmaceutical arena.
  • elec tronic circuitry of configuration A and a combination of bio degradable and biocompatible polymers (e.g. cellulose-based parkesine celluloid, cellophane, casein delivered galalith bi oplastics, etc.).
  • Our invention fulfils the need for health status monitoring of at-risk individuals from within the GI tract.
  • a significant number of critical biomedical tasks also fall under this application purview - ranging from diagnostics and point of care testing to therapy and controlled drug de livery.
  • Our invention allows intelligent electronics to be consumed in the form of a "smart pill" which addresses the need for digital monitoring of medicine intake in the context of chronically treated conditions.
  • edible electronics devices can be adapted for rapid and precise detection of gastrointestinal bleeding or diagnostics of steatorrhea through monitoring of fat acids in the lower GI tracts.
  • a range of pathologies and disorders of the GI system can also be monitored by sensing the essential physical and chemical parameters of GI environments like pH, temperature, or peristalsis.
  • Electronics with novel and unique capability of being safely ingested and metabolized can be consumed by patients on a daily base, along with pills or even food. Eliminating the need of device recollection and, conse quently, hospitalization, data on the patients' health would be transmitted in real time to healthcare professionals.
  • the second category of application tackles nutraceuticals, nu trient delivery and therapy in the food and beverage industry. Particularly, when dealing with the category of the devices operating outside the body.
  • identification (ID) "smart" edible electronics labels integrated with the mi cro foods and beverage capsules can represent a sensing solu tion against fraud and counterfeit nutrient enriched consuma ble products or provide the control of the vitamin and miner als exposure to harmful external conditions like UV, tempera ture, and humidity.
  • the concept of edible electronics implies that the ID "smart" label can be consumed along with the nutraceutical / nutrient enriched food and beverage capsule without the need to be removed before administration. The electronics then degrades into harmless composites during inreading, after a temporal operational time window within the human body. Additionally, our invention enables monitoring and tracking of quality of microencapsulated food and beverages (especially perishable cases) along the distribution chain.
  • the spec trum of food and beverage monitoring systems is potentially wide ranging, from relatively simple and qualitative tempera ture-time indicators to sophisticated and quantitative sensors controlled by lightweight CPU chipsets for detection of pesti cides, antibiotics, bacteria, and biogenic amines.
  • the inventive concept of ingestible electronics embedded into the microcapsule suspension bi-layered wall surface focuses on innovative circuit design by exploiting electro-chemical prop erties of novel bio-degradable packaging systems described above for sensing and telecommunication applications.
  • Ingesti ble electronics trade non-invasive functionalities (e.g. food, drug and nutrient therapeutic administration, sensing and com munication) for temporal contact time windows with the body - providing for efficient electronic operations at the gastroin testinal (GI) digestive tract level during this period.
  • GI gastroin testinal
  • the materials as described above are used as packaging mate rial for imprinting circuit and electronics to provide for au tonomous and semi-autonomous monitoring, treatment and admin istration of nutrients in the GI tract.
  • functionally designed and im printed electro-static potentials as fundamental electronic building blocks to more sophisticated electrical circuits are maintained and switched in vitro from charged ions within the bio-degradable capsule as it travels down the GI tract during ingestion.
  • This embodiment of the invention covers possible applications from unsupervised administration as over the counter medicine and nutraceuticals to the smart tagging of food and beverages for nutrient therapy while outweighing risks over benefits of micro foods and beverages consumption.
  • Fig. 7 shows a conceptualized finished edible electronics mi cro / nano encapsulation wall material product and various circuit configurations for different food, beverage, nutraceu ticals, pharmaceuticals and medical applications.
  • x denotes the part reusable non biodegradable micro and nano capsule suspension housing that is designed and fabricated with embedded non-organic electronics (e.g. silicon).
  • a denotes the battery
  • b, ⁇ , g, d are the capacitor, inductor, transistor and resistor respectively
  • h denotes the high switching voltage regulator
  • e denotes the electro-magnetic transformer substrate from "n” turns ⁇ inductor coils
  • m de notes the alternating magnetic field induced electrical coil with "m” turns.
  • This circuit configuration acts as a hard wired alternating magnetic power source for power transference to a receiver for the purposes of charging an (organic) electrolyte battery sup ply when the microcapsule suspension core is docked into the housing.
  • Config A (configuration A) of edible electronics is the first pre-conceived configuration for a wireless transceiver for smart sensor data. It functions to address requirements for food and beverage tagging, physiological monitoring, quality control and controlled release of nutrients, drugs and medica tion for targeted therapeutic and medical purposes.
  • Config A p denotes the wireless antenna, t denotes the di ode, n denotes the (ultra-high) speed switching diode at the transceiver end.
  • W denotes the electro lytic sensor, Q denotes the sensing frequency switch.
  • Config B (configuration B) of edible electronics is the second pre-conceived configuration for a wireless electrolytic power source charging circuit and a magnetic polarity inducer.
  • It functions to wireless charge the potentials of the electro lyte power sources embedded within the micro and / or nano capsule suspension at the outer walls of the core encapsula tion. It is designed so that charging takes place when the capsule is adequately docked into the hard cased housing x.
  • Config B u denotes the AC to DC voltage regulator, the di odes (t), in the circuit form a full-wave bridge rectifier and A denotes the electrolyte power source.
  • Y denotes the organic ferrite (metal ion - e.g. Fe+ ions) coil winding core.
  • Fig. 8 shows a conceptualized process for laminating edible circuitry onto the exposed inner surface of the bi-layered mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core encapsulation wall.
  • step A the layers are first fabricated and stacked on top of one another.
  • the topmost layer b is the biodegradable pre dominant hydrophobic imprinting substrate (e.g. ethyl-cellu lose) for the electrical circuitry.
  • the second layer g be neath b is the hydrophilic sacrificial layer (e.g. starch and / or dextrin polynucleated species) which dissolves in contact with water.
  • the third layer d, beneath g is a porous hydropho bic water insolvent substrate (e.g. filtered paper) which acts as a flat stable backing for laminating and circuit imprinting activities.
  • Step B details a series of sequential stages wherein which the biodegradable circuitry, forming the intelligent edible elec tronics is being fabricated and laminated onto the inner bi layer wall surface of the micro / nano encapsulation suspen sion core capsule.
  • x is the metal ion strip connected to organic field effect transistors (OFETs) which are formed through vapor deposition through atomization nozzle e.
  • OFETs organic field effect transistors
  • F denotes the organic solar cells (OSCs) which are spin coated onto a silicon dioxide (Si0 2) food grade substrate.
  • Y denotes the fourth organic layer which will be stacked on top of the vapour deposited electronic components to form an additional electric circuit imprinting substrate.
  • G denotes another electronic component (e.g. gating circuitry) which is vapour deposited onto Y.
  • l is the final n-layered laminating substrate of imprinted edible circuitry which is ready for laminating onto the capsule inner bi-layer wall surface.
  • the layers are inverted to orient the circuitry facing downwards - in di rect contact with the capsule wall surface.
  • water drop lets (Q) are dripped onto d. Due to the porosity of the hy drophobic layer d, water seeps through this layer without be ing absorbed or reacted upon down onto layer g, which is a predominantly hydrophilic species.
  • layer g Upon contact with water, layer g dissolves and bio-degrades into harmless derivates which are safe for consumption. As layer g dissolves, leaving the interstitial directly facing surfaces of d and b exposed to a nano columned layer of air, layer d slides off easily, leaving layers b to l with the imprinted embedded electronic circuitry in direct contact with the inner surface of the mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi-layered shell wall. Layer l, may be ionically or covalently bonded to the inner surface of the micro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi- layered shell wall. The laminated circuitry from layers b to l are then further covered over by m, of the outer micro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi-layered shell wall.
  • the current patent specification targets food and beverage microencapsulation with edible electronics for intel ligent automated functions like product tagging, quality con trol, targeted release mechanisms, GI tract physiological mon- itoring, nutrient therapeutics, etc.
  • the same embodiment can also be used for instances of microencapsulated medical de vices, their intended applications and microencapsulated phar maceutical drug administration.
  • the proposed edi ble electronics and biodegradable circuitry are arbitrary de- signs and do not cover the full extent of any other holistic electrical or intelligent function or use by other circuit de signs - which may be the basis framework (e.g. RF filters, counters, signal encoders, CPU / GPU and / or DSP chipsets, etc.) for imprinting onto the biodegradable hydrophobic food grade substrate to provide the intended utility of such cir cuits' intelligent functions.

Abstract

Microencapsulation wall material of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, wherein the microencapsulation wall material comprises a hyper-polarizable hydrophilic polymer species and/or a hydrophobic polymer species, a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagen, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch and biopolymers, and a second mixture, wherein the second mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mixture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion, and edible capsule, comprising a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material and an electronic component included in the core.

Description

Microencapsulation wall material, suspension core capsule, ed ible capsule with electronics, methods and a production system for producing the same
The present invention relates to a microencapsulation wall ma terial of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, a suspension core capsule, a method for producing a microencapsulation wall material, a method for producing a suspension core capsule, a production system for producing a suspension core capsule, and an edible capsule with electron ics.
Food supplements are used to supplement the diet with vita mins, minerals, and other substances, such as long-chain fatty acids, amino acids, fiber, or plant substances. They contain the nutrients in a concentrated and dosed form and are offered as capsules, powder sachets, or in similar dosage forms.
Further, the application relates to a reusable personalized device using parts biodegradable and edible electronics and parts inorganic material.
Dietary supplements can contain a single nutrient or a combi nation of different nutrients, so-called combination products.
Usually, the above mentioned supplements comprise sensitive matter that must be stored and handled with care which poses complex problems to manufacturers of dietary supplements who want to be able to preserve nutritional states so as to pro vide fresh and healthy vitamins and nutrients to the consum- ers. Currently, nutrition composition for food and beverage (in cluding capsules) is kept in open air and exposure to environ mental conditions and sunlight. They are inefficiently stored and thus subject to rapid oxidation. Several known techniques have been used to store fresh produce and preserve nutritional states over time.
Refrigeration lowers ambient temperature to slow the decay of produce like berries, spinach and potatoes. However, with each passing day, leafy greens like spinach lose essential nutri ents like folate and vitamin C. The half-life of highly vola tile nutrients in the deterioration phases of such produce is estimated to be at around 3 to 5 days.
As already mentioned above, the handling, storage, and preser vation of food and supplements often involves changes in nu tritive value, most of which are undesirable. The freezing process (pre-freezing treatments, freezing, frozen storage, and thawing), if properly conducted, is generally regarded as the best method of long-term food preservation when judged on the basis of retention of sensory attributes and nutrients.
The freezing process is, however, not perfect, as is apparent from the fact that substantial amounts of the more labile nu trients can be lost. Vitamin losses during freezing preserva tion vary greatly depending on the food, the package, and the conditions of processing and storage. Losses of nutrients can result from physical separation (e.g., peeling and trimming during the pre-freezing period, or exudate loss during thaw ing), leaching (especially during blanching), or chemical deg radation. The seriousness of these losses depends on the nu trient (whether it is abundant or meagre in the average diet), and on the particular food item (whether it generally supplies a major or a minor amount of the nutrient in question). It is estimated on average, that the half-life of nutrients in fro zen food is around 14 days.
Another technique for preserving foods is canning which in volves exposing foods to pressure, chemical additives, and heat. The initial encounter with heat makes the food lose nu tritional value, but since cans do not have oxygen, the nutri ents tend to stay where they are until the can is opened. The cooking process, however, causes further nutrient deteriora tion.
When drying foods for preserving them, this procedure may con centrate the fiber in plant foods to eliminate water content which can cause water-induced oxidation, reduced potency and thus, accelerate the decay of fresh produce over time. Alt hough dried foods last longer, the process of dehydration it self, removes a great deal of vitamins, minerals, and antioxi dants.
In most preservation techniques known from prior art, the nu trients are not exposed to sunlight as it adds oxidative stress to such ingredients. Exposure to sunlight (in addition to extreme heat) is likely to impact vitamin degradation such as vitamin A, B2 (riboflavin), B6, B12 and folic acid. In ad dition, increasing temperatures from exposure to direct heat sources like the sun harms the potency and effectiveness of a variety of vitamins and other nutrients. Degradation generally starts to occur in foods or beverages exposed to temperatures of greater than 120 °F (48 degrees Celsius). Additionally, most nutrient capsules lack the proper mechanisms to provide adequate drug releasability from the carrier. Further in prior art, in vitro devices are known that are used for administering food and drugs. Thereby, implantable and wearable electronics are implemented as a means to monitor and administer treatment to targeted regions of interest within contact. Although such devices are generally accepted as high performing monitoring and functional tools, they are often characterized by costly and invasive implantation procedures with the need for constant long-term maintenance. On the other hand, cheaper, less invasive systems are known that can be worn externally. However, these external systems suffer from poor actuating and monitoring capability on organs due to electrical resistance of exposed and interstitial epidermal layers and lipids.
Furthermore, current in-vitro electronics are often derived from hazardous chemical reagents, solvents and adjuvants which are non-biodegradable and contribute to waste generation in its product life cycle. As a physio-chemical product, wastes are generated and accumulated across each stage of the product life cycle, including its design, manufacture, use and ulti mate disposal.
Considering the above, an object of the present invention is overcome the above described problems related to in-vitro and externally worn electronics and, in particular, to provide an improved means for administering and monitoring foods and drugs.
Considering the above, an object of the present invention is based on providing an improved and efficient way to administer and store a health supplement which further enables a timed release mechanism for releasing nutrients from an encapsula tion. A further object of the present invention is to overcome the above described problems related to in-vitro and externally worn electronics and, in particular, to provide an improved means for administering and monitoring foods and drugs.
According to a first aspect, a microencapsulation wall mate rial of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, wherein the microencapsulation wall material com prises a hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species, a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagen, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch and biopoly mers, and a second mixture, wherein the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of lecithin, cy clodextrin and whey surfactant base mixture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion.
An emulsion is a finely divided mixture of two normally immis cible liquids without visible segregation. Materials of the first mixture can form particles in an emulsifier of the sec ond mixture. The first mixture can be a Wl-Phase. The second mixture can be the emulsifier. The second mixture can further be a W2-Phase. The emulsion can be a double emulsion with a type W1/0/W2. The first mixture and the second mixture can form an emulsion through emulsification.
Through this solution, a microencapsulation wall material is provided, which has improved diffusion characteristics and is edible for animals and humans.
Further, the molecules of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic poly meric species are capable of being hyper-polarized through the application of (weakly) static and/or dynamic electromagnetic (EM) field gradients by a re-orientation of molecular dipole spins moment. The created distortion to the spherically sym metric arrangements of the electrons in the wall cytoplasm electron cloud - through the application of an EM field, causes the originally nonpolar species of hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric molecule or atoms to ac quire a dipole moment.
According to an embodiment, the microencapsulation wall mate rial has an HLB value within the range of <= 10.
An amphiphilic molecule is a value obtained by dividing a weight percentage of the hydrophilic part by five. There is a balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic parts of am phiphilic molecules. This is expressed as the hydrophilic-lip ophilic balance (HLB). The HLB value is an empirical scale as a measure of the HLB values of surfactants. With this, it is possible to determine an optimum range for each surface-active substance effect. A surfactant with a lower HLB has a lipo philic character. Spans, which are sorbitan esters, have lipo philic properties and low HLB values (1.8-8.6). Tweens, which are polyoxymethylene derivatives of spans, are hydrophilic and have high HLB values (9.6-16.7). To form stable emulsions, an emulsifier or emulsifier mixture having an HLB value equal to the HLB value of the oil phase should be used. This sol, a mi croencapsulation wall material is provided, which has lipo philic properties.
In an example embodiment, the microencapsulation wall material has an HLB value within the range of => 10 According to this solution, a microencapsulation wall material is provided, which has hydrophilic properties.
According to another embodiment, the molecules of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species pro vided in the wall material have been processed so as to be hy per-polarized.
The wall cytoplasm - being polarized accordingly, is capable of two important functions: 1) filtering harmful wavelengths of light which may pass through the polynucleated, mononucle- ated and matrix fill suspension, that degrade the core nutri ents - encapsulated by the microencapsulated and / or nanoen- capsulated shell. 2) Holding the nutrients core in place within the shell by the electrostatic binding forces of the charge distorted electron cloud induced by magnetic forces.
The magnetic forces inducing the charge distorted electron cloud are created by an externally applied polarized magnet to an internal nutrient core containing a ferrous epicentre mix ture; including iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc ions.
According to a second aspect, a suspension core capsule, wherein the suspension core capsule comprises a wall compris ing microencapsulation wall material as described above and a core comprising nutrients. The wall can border the core.
Through this solution, a suspension core capsule is provided, which has specific properties to absorb the nutrients. The wall controls the absorption of the nutrients. Further, the suspension core capsule is provided with a hyper- polarizable polymeric species at the wall material, thus lev eraging on a low cost and efficient mechanism of orientating the dipole spins moment, in the presence of an electromagnetic field gradient to provide superior retention of the nutrient within the encapsulated core by attraction of the nutrient to the oppositely-charged polymeric species at the inner wall of the bilayer shell. It also provides superior nutrient preser vation methodologies by creating polarizing effects to sun light - especially UV rays.
Also, this solution provides an efficient mechanism for supe rior nutrient releasability from the carrier by the applica tion of a reverse electromagnetic field gradient. The deliber ate release function allows for efficient (instantaneous) timed release of nutrients to be mixed with outer food and beverage suspensions for consumption. By this mechanism, the dipole spins moment of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species is realigned in the opposite direction causing a repulsion of the nutrient core to the shell. The repulsive forces between the nutrient core and the like-charged polymeric species stresses the shell surface of the micro-encapsulated and / or nano-encapsulated bi-layer to cause raptures to the wall sur face. Eventually, causing the core material to bleed out and diffuse into the external food and beverage multi-nucleated suspension core.
According to an embodiment, the wall is a bilayer wall, com prising an inner wall comprising microencapsulation wall mate rial as described above, and an outer wall comprising microen capsulation wall material as described above. This solution provides a wall, which has a cascaded wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall have different ab sorption properties. This allows to adjust the absorption more accurate and depending of the nutrients.
In an example embodiment, an outside of the inner wall and an inside of the outer wall are touching each other. The inner wall can rest on the outer wall over its entire surface.
According to this solution an inner wall and an outer wall is provided, which are controlling the absorption. The inner wall and the outer wall form a double-walled wall, which combines the absorption properties of the inner wall and the outer wall.
In an embodiment, the inner wall and the outer wall have a predefined thickness.
The inner wall has a predefined thickness. The outer wall has a predefined thickness. The thickness of the inner wall can defer from the thickness of the outer wall.
Through this solution, an inner wall and an outer wall are provided, which have cascaded properties. Depending on the thickness of each wall the absorption properties can be ad- justed.
According to an embodiment, the wall comprises a timed release mechanism to release nutrients.
This solution provides a wall, which absorbs the nutrients over time. This improves the intake of the nutrients of the human body. This allows the delivery of the nutrients in a course of time.
According to a further embodiment, the capsule comprises a ferrous nutrient core. Preferably, the ferrous nutrient core is positively charged.
According to another embodiment, the ferrous nutrient core comprises iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc ions.
According to still another embodiment, the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species is arranged radi ally inside and outside the inner wall.
According to an alternative embodiment, the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species is arranged radi ally at the outer wall.
Preferably, the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species molecules have been treated so as to be hyper- polarized.
According to still another embodiment, the capsule further comprises a neutrally charged membrane arranged radially at the outer surface of the microencapsulated bilayer wall. The neutrally charged membrane may comprise lipid-like chain seg ments. The lipid-like chain segments may be arranged radially at the outer surface of the microencapsulated and nanoencapsu- lated bilayer wall in order to prevent the attraction and ad hesion of impurities at the microencapsulated shell surface.
According to a third aspect, a method for producing a microen capsulation wall material comprises in a first step providing a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagen, chitosan, silk fi broin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers and in a further step providing a second mixture, wherein the sec ond mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of lecithin, cyclodextrin, and whey surfactant base mixture, and forming an emulsion with the first mixture and the second mixture, wherein the wall material comprises a hyper-polariza ble hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species.
According to one of the examples above, the method can be per formed in a single flow.
Through this solution, a method is provided, which improves the producing process of the microencapsulation wall material. This leads to cheaper and more effective production.
The above method can be used for efficiently protecting vola tile nutrient compounds such as vitamins, minerals, anti-ox- idents, amino acids, sericin and fibroin extracts from the ef fects of oxidation by exposure to direct and indirect sun light. The protection mechanism relies on the reversible ori entation of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species dipole spins moment, in the presence of an electromagnetic field gra dient. This creates two effects. 1) An attraction of the nu trient core to the inner wall material of the micro-/nano-cap- sule and 2) creating a polarizing effect to filter out par tially or completely, the full wavelengths of sunlight.
Additionally, the above method may also be used for the delib erate release of volatile nutrient compounds entrapped within the microencapsulated and / or nanoencapsulated wall material to be mixed with the outer food and beverage multi-nucleated core suspension for consumption. The deliberate release func tion relies on the reversible orientation of the hyper-polar izable polymeric species dipole spins moment, in the presence of an reverse electromagnetic field gradient to create two ef fects. 1) A repulsion of the nutrient core from the inner wall material of the micro-/nano-capsule, thereby creating lesions on the surface of the microencapsulated and/or nanoencapsu- lated shell through stress and eventually breaking or bursting the microencapsulation and/or nanoencapsulation wall struc ture. 2) creating a depolarizing effect to light waves, so that sunlight may pass through and the core becomes visible. However, this effect may be redundant since the contents of the microcapsules have already been released into and mixed with the outer multi-nucleated core suspension.
Summarizing the above, the inventive method enables the crea tion of efficient storage and timed release mechanisms of multi-nucleated suspension cores for fresh and optimally ther apeutic consumption of vitamins and nutrients at efficient re sources and low costs.
According to an embodiment, the method is further comprising a step of atomizing the emulsion into vapor microparticles. The vapor microparticles can be vapor nanoparticles.
Through this solution, a method is provided to produce vapor microparticles, which further improve the properties of the wall material and simplify the production process.
According to an embodiment, the method is further comprising a step of providing a homogenizer. Through this solution, a method is provided, which homogenizes the particles. Related to the homogenization the wall material can be produced with more uniform properties.
The above-described embodiments of the method are particularly suitable to produce a wall material according to one of the above-described embodiments of the wall material.
According to a fourth aspect, a method for producing a suspen sion core capsule comprising the method steps of the method described above and further comprising the method steps of providing a core comprising nutrients, providing a microencap sulated wall material, and encapsulating the microencapsulated wall material around the core.
The above-described embodiment of the method is particularly suitable to produce a suspension core capsule according to one of the above-described embodiments of the suspension core cap sule.
Through this solution, a method for producing a suspension core capsule is provided, which improves and simplifies the production process of the suspension core capsule. This solu tion reduces the production costs and increases the production efficiency.
According to an embodiment, the method further comprises a step of applying a static and/or dynamic electromagnetic field gradients to the suspension core capsule, in particular, ap plying a magnetic north polarity to the suspension core cap sule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall material, thereby in ducing a dipole moment in the molecules or atoms of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric species.
According to a further embodiment, the method further compris ing a step of applying a reversed magnetic south polarity to the suspension core capsule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall ma terial, thereby causing the molecules or atoms of the hyper- polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymeric species to reverse the orientation of their dipole spins moment.
According to a fifth aspect, a production system for producing a suspension core capsule, as described above, comprises a ho- mogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray noz zle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dis persion system, and an encapsulation machine, wherein the sys tem is configured to carry out a method as described above. Through this solution, is provided, which is
The above-described embodiment of the production system is particularly suitable to carry out a method for producing a microencapsulation wall material and a method for producing a suspension core capsule as described above.
The above-described embodiment of the production system is further particularly suitable to produce a microencapsulation wall material and a suspension core capsule as described above.
Through this solution, a production system is provided, which reduces the costs and improves reliability. According to a further embodiment provided is an edible cap sule, comprising a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material accord ing to the invention described above, forming a core, and an electronic component included in the core, wherein the wall is a bilayer wall, comprising an inner wall comprising microen capsulation wall material according to claim 1 to 4, and an outer wall comprising microencapsulation wall material accord ing to the invention described above.
The electronic component may be comprised of biodegradable, edible parts.
Hereby, the electronic component may be located on the surface of the inner wall.
In one alternative, the electronic component comprises a wire less sensor for sensing data and a wireless transceiver and for communicating the sensed data to a receiver. For complex computational tasks, a low powered computer processing unit (CPU) chip may also be embedded.
In a further alternative, the capsule further comprises an electrolytic power source charging circuit and a magnetic po larity inducer for charging potentials of electrolytic power sources embedded within the edible capsule.
The electrolytic power source may be embedded at the outer wall of the core. The electronic component of the edible capsule may serve for at least one of product tagging, quality control, targeted re lease mechanisms, GI tract physiological monitoring, nutrient therapeutics, pharmaceutical drug administration.
The invention further provides a method of producing an edible capsule as described above, comprising
Stacking several predetermined layers on top of one another, the topmost first layer being a biodegradable predominant hy drophobic imprinting substrate for receiving electrical cir cuitry of the electrical component, the second layer beneath the first layer being a hydrophilic sacrificial layer, which is adapted to dissolve in contact with water, the third layer beneath the second layer being a porous hydro- phobic water insolvent substrate, which is adapted to act as a flat stable backing for laminating and circuitry imprinting, forming organic field effect transistors through vapour depo sition through atomization nozzle, forming, on the first layer, a metal ion strip connected to the organic field effect transistors, placing, onto the first layer, a silicon dioxide food grade substrate comprising organic solar cells formed by spin coat ing onto the silicon substrate, stacking on top of the metal ion strip and the solar cells a further organic layer to form an additional electric circuit imprinting substrate, vapour-depositing further electronic circuitry onto the fur ther organic layer, thus obtaining a laminating substrate, inverting the layer laminating substrate to orient the cir cuitry facing downwards and bringing the inverted laminating layer in direct contact with the capsule wall surface, dripping water droplets onto the third layer, the third layer letting the droplets pass to the second layer, thus dissolving and bio-degrading the hydrophilic second layer into edible derivates which are safe for consumption, sliding off the third layer, and bringing the laminating sub strate including the first layer with the imprinted embedded electronic circuitry in direct contact with the inner wall of the encapsulated suspension core capsule produced with the method as described above, covering the circuitry by the outer wall produced with the method of as described above.
The laminating layer may be ionically or covalently bonded to the inner surface of the inner wall.
The invention further provides a non-biodegradable capsule suspension housing comprising electronic circuitry being fab ricated with embedded non-organic electronics, the circuitry being adapted to act as a magnetic power source for power transference to charge an (organic) electrolyte bat tery supply when the capsule as described above is docked into the housing.
Embodiments of the application will now be described with ref erence to the attached drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a section view of a suspension core capsule that contains a multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core,
Fig. 2a shows a section view of a suspension core capsule with multi-nucleated nutrient core in a liquid meta-core suspen sion, Fig. 2b shows a section view of a suspension core capsule with multi-nucleated nutrient core in a solid meta-core suspension,
Fig. 3 shows a flow chart for manufacturing a suspension core capsule,
Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a finished suspen sion core capsule under the influence of an external magnetic field,
Fig. 5 schematically shows the finished suspension core cap sule under the influence of a reverse external magnetic field,
Fig. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a finished suspension core capsule,
Fig. 7 shows a conceptualized finished edible electronics mi cro / nano encapsulation wall material product, and
Fig. 8 shows a conceptualized process for laminating edible circuitry onto the exposed inner surface of the bi-layered mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core encapsulation wall.
Fig. 1 shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1 that contains a multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core 21. The multi-nucleated food and beverage extract core 21 is also called multi-nucleates nutrient core 21.
The suspension core capsule 1 comprises a microencapsulation wall 10. The microencapsulation wall 10 can be single or dou ble-walled. In case the microencapsulation wall 10 is double- walled and outside of the inner wall and an inside of the outer wall are touching each other, over a whole surface.
The microencapsulation wall 10 includes or comprises a meta core suspension 20. The meta-core suspension 20 can be liquid or solid.
In the meta-core suspension 20 are multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 arranged. The multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 can comprise an additional wall. The microencapsulation wall 10 can be single or double-walled.
The microencapsulation wall material, the microencapsulation wall 10 is made, is composed of a large galantine mix. The galantine mix serves to protect the multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 and the meta-core suspension 20 from the process of oxidation. It can be single-walled and can contain a matrix of suspended solids.
The multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 is the highly volatile microencapsulated and/or nanoencapsulated vitamin and nutrient core. Multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 delivers nutraceuticals and flavonoids to the consumer upon consumption of the suspen sion core capsule 1.
The microencapsulation wall 10 provides for the protection of degradation and reaction with the outer food and beverage core extract 21 within the suspension core capsule 1. The microen capsulation wall 10 can be single or double walled and pro tects against UV oxidation.
The multi-nucleates nutrient core 21 in the meta-core suspen sion 20 can contain reactants and/or adjuvants to accelerate and assist in the nutrient delivery process and timed mecha nisms of vitamin absorption.
The meta-core suspension 20 provides a medium of suspending single and multi-nucleated nutrient core particles 21 in a liquid and/or emulsifying matrix. The emulsifying matrix will react with either temperature, pressure, or dilution upon breakage of the microencapsulation wall material to produce a water-based liquid slurry in oil or vice versa. The microen capsulation wall material is palatable for the consumption of a healthy, food and/or beverage product. Food and/or beverage product are filled with nutrients and added vitamins and min erals to promote convenient and healthy diets.
Fig. 2a shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1, as described in Fig. 1, with multi-nucleated nutrient core 21 in a liquid meta-core suspension 20.
The microencapsulation wall 10 can comprise an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall can comprise an inner wall ma trix 11.
The microencapsulation inner wall material of the suspension core capsule 1 can be a double layer matrix that is immersible with each other. The double layer matrix acts as barriers to external reactants and diffusers. Furthermore, the meta-core suspension 20 of the suspension core capsule 1 can be a liq uid.
Fig. 2b shows a section view of a suspension core capsule 1, as shown in Fig. 2a, with multi-nucleated nutrient core 21 in a solid meta-core suspension 20. The suspension core capsule 1 comprises a solid meta-core sus pension 20 instead of a liquid meta-core suspension 20, as shown in Fig. 2a.
Fig. 3 shows a flow chart for manufacturing a suspension core capsule 1.
The system process for manufacturing the suspension core cap sule 1 can be a single flow process from the filling of active ingredients to the encapsulation of the multi-nucleated core 21.
The system process starts with the active ingredients packed into canisters for filling into a feed composite mixture. The active ingredients may be contained in the canisters as pow dered, liquid, or hybrid material phases.
From the active ingredient canisters, the feed material is dispensed into a filler in a method step SI. The filler sepa rates the feed material and controls the rate at which the ac tive ingredients are dispensed to the feeder in a method step S2a. In this step, the active ingredients are environmentally measured, maintained, and stored in holding containments in preparation for the next step of processing.
In the next step, an intelligent feeder collects mixtures of the active ingredients and prepares them for homogenization in a method step S3a. At this step, impurities and concentrations are tested to verify and ensure that correct chemical balances are reached and maintained.
The feeder provides a feedback loop through a collection of sensor and machine data to inform the filler of the necessary control parameters to tune when dispensing the active ingredi ents in a method step S2b.
These parameters may include the rate of active ingredient dispense, flow, temperature, humidity, etc.
The next step is where ingredients are homogenized by batches in classes. Different classes of homogenization from the feed ingredients are stored in the apparatus in this step.
The homogenizer actuates the homogenization process through a variety of methods, e.g., high pressure, energy dispersion, turbulent dissipation, cavitation, etc. It also contains an intelligent feedback system to control the feeder operating parameters in real-time in a method step S3b.
The next step is the emulsifier which adds in the surfactants and the core multi-nucleated nutrient/vitamin of the product in a method step S4a. In this step, the emulsification is per formed through the effect of high energy homogenization on the active ingredients, the core capsule suspension 20, and the emulsifying agents. This step also includes an intelligent feedback sensor to the feeder in a method step S4b.
In the next step, an atomizer atomizes the completed emulsion from the previous steps into vapor nanoparticles and micropar ticles of similar sizes in a method step S5a. The atomizer contains an intelligent feedback loop to the homogenizer based on sensor and machinery data to control, the operational be havior and parameters of the homogenizer during and before the emulsification process in a method step S5b. After spray drying, the double and singled walled matrix mi crocapsules and nanoparticles produced from the spray dryer process are collected via a canonical cyclone drum. They are loaded into the food and beverage suspension via a vibrational sifter in a method step S6a. The spray dryer includes an in telligent feedback system that feeds sensor and machine data back to the emulsification module to automate the control of the spray dryer operational parameters in a method step S6b.
As a next step, a homogenization process takes place in a method step S7. In this step, nanoparticles and microparticles from different spray drying processes containing different nu trient and/or vitamin core multi-nucleates 21 are loaded into the baseline food and beverage liquid / semi-liquid core. The process at this step involves low energy dissipation agitative components to homogenize the meta-core suspension 20.
The meta-core suspension 20 is then loaded into the hopper of a standard soft/hard gel encapsulation machine in a method step S8a. The standard mixture will include the feed and a galantine-based call coating which is weaved into the die-cut- ting rollers of the machine. The encapsulation contains an in telligent sensing feedback loop that automates control of the spray dryer for operational parameterization in a method step S8b. The product as described in Fig. 1 is then produced from this highly structured, systemic manufacturing process in a method step S9.
In an embodiment, the microencapsulation wall material borders a core and protects the core against UV oxidation. In an embodiment, the microencapsulation wall 10 has an ellip soid, spherocylindrical, spherical, oval, oblong, and/or tubu lar shape.
Fig. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of a finished suspen sion core capsule 1 under the influence of an external mag netic field. In particular, the finished hyper-polarizable mi- cro-/nanoencapsulation wall material forming the microencapsu lation wall is shown with a distorted electron cloud 22 under the influence of an external magnetic field. Basically, the configuration of the suspension core capsule 1 corresponds to the one shown in Fig. 1, with a single or double-layered wall 10, surrounding a multi-nucleates multi-nutrient core 21 in a meta-core suspension 20 that can be liquid or solid. One of the nucleates is represented at larger scale. Namely, as can be seen in the enlarged detail of a nucleate from the multi nutrient core 21, the nucleate also is enclosed by a microen capsulation wall 10 which may be single or double-walled, as described with respect to Fig. 1.
As can be seen here, the reference numeral 23 indicates an ex ternally applied magnetic north polarity N on the capsule 1 at opposing ends of the circular profile of the wall material of the microencapsulation wall 10.
The applied magnetic polarity N, indicated by reference nu meral 23, causes the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polariza ble polymeric species comprised in the microencapsulation wall 10 to reorient their dipole spins moment to the distorted electron cloud 22. The distorted electron cloud 22 is formed with the positive polarity of the polymeric species arranged radially at the outer surface 24 of the inner bilayer wall 25 and correspondingly with the negative polarity of the poly meric species arranged radially at the inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
Inside the microencapsulation wall 10, a positively charged ferrous nutrient core 27 is arranged, wherein which, the posi tive charges are attracted to the negative radially charged inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
The interface 28 between the positively charged ferrous nutri ent core 27 and the negatively charged inner bilayer capsule wall surface 26 creates an interstitial adhesion between the nutrient core 27 and the polymeric species inner bilayer wall 25. This electrostatic adhesion at the interface 28 will be able to hold the nutrient core 27 in place.
Due to the distorted electron cloud indicated by reference nu meral 22, the polymeric species will have a net orientation indicated by the double arrows, reference numeral 29, by means of which it serves as a radially polarizing filter to block out one or two planes of vibration from electromagnetic light sources (e.g. sunlight).
In Fig. 4, the incident non-polarized light, indicated by ref erence numeral 30, is conceptualized to have been reflected at a 90-degree scattering angle, wherein the reflected light is indicated by reference numeral 31, to completely filter out light incident to the ferrous nutrient core 27 to produce the polarized light 31 that is reflected away from the outer sur face 32 of the microencapsulation wall 10. Fig. 5 schematically shows the finished suspension core cap sule 1 under the influence of a reverse external magnetic field. In particular, Fig. 5 shows the finished product com prising the hyper-polarizable micro-/nanoencapsulation wall material 10 and a distorted electron cloud 22 under the influ ence of a reverse external magnetic field 23'.
The reference numeral 23 now indicates the externally applied reversed magnetic south polarity S on the capsule 1 at oppos ing ends of the circular profile of the wall material 10.
The applied magnetic polarity 23 causes the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polarizable polymeric species to reverse the ori entation 29 of their dipole spins moment to the distorted electron cloud 22. The distorted electron cloud 22 is formed with the negative polarity of the polymeric species arranged radially at the outer surface 24 of the inner bilayer wall 25 and correspondingly with the positive polarity of the poly meric species arranged radially at the inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
The material of the microencapsulation wall 10 retains a posi tively charged ferrous nutrient core 27, wherein which the positive charges are repelled from the positively radially charged inner wall 25 of the microencapsulation wall 10.
The interface 28 between the positively charged ferrous nutri ent core 27 and the positively charged inner surface 26 of the inner bilayer wall 25 creates an interstitial repulsion be tween the positively charged ferrous nutrient core 27 and the polymeric species comprised in the inner bilayer wall 25. This electrostatic repulsive force at the interface 28 will cause dynamic exogenous stresses to the microencapsulation wall 10, eventually resulting in lesions and / or ruptures to the sur face 32 of the shell or microencapsulation wall 10.
Due to the distorted electron cloud 22, the polymeric species will have a net orientation indicated by the double arrows in dicated by reference numeral 29 wherein which it serves as a radially de-polarizing filter to allow all planes of vibration from electromagnetic light sources (e.g. sunlight).
In Fig. 5, the incident unpolarised light indicated by refer ence numeral 30 is conceptualized to have been reflected at an angle of 180-degree (0 radians) scattering angle to completely pass through incident to the ferrous nutrient core 27 to pro duce the polarized light 34.
Fig. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of a finished suspension core capsule 1 with two enlarged details of the mi croencapsulation wall 10 surrounding the multi-nucleates multi-nutrients core 21.
The wall coating of the macrocapsule 1 may be double layered to provide for an additional protection mechanism similar as the one provided to the microencapsulated volatile nutrients and vitamins against UV oxidation and degradation. For exam ple, the wall material of the microencapsulation wall 10 of the macrocapsules may be provided as a double layer comprising the hyper-polarizable polymeric species which is immersible with each other and act as an optical barrier to sunlight due to the polarizing effects described with respect to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 and as a mechanical and chemical barrier with respect to impurities. Furthermore, the inner core matrix of the macrocapsules may be a solid suspension, as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2b.
The following items are also comprised by the present inven tion:
A microencapsulation wall material of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, wherein the microen capsulation wall material comprises
- a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers, and
- a second mixture, wherein the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion.
According to a further item, a suspension core capsule is pro vided, wherein the suspension core capsule comprises a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material comprising
- a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers, and
- a second mixture, wherein the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, wherein the first mixture and the second mix ture form an emulsion and a core comprising nutrients.
According to a further item, a method for producing a mi croencapsulation wall material is provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- providing a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers,
- providing a second mixture, wherein the second mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, and
- forming an emulsion with the first mixture and the sec ond mixture.
According to still a further item, a method for producing a suspension core capsule comprising the method steps of the method outlined above is provided, and further comprising the method steps of:
- providing a ferrous core,
- providing a microencapsulated wall material, and encapsulating the microencapsulated wall material around the nutrient core.
According to still a further item, a production system for producing a suspension core capsule is provided, wherein the production system comprises a homogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray nozzle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dispersion system, and an encapsula tion machine, wherein the system is configured to carry out a method outlined above. In a yet further embodiment of the invention, described in connection with Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the above described capsule bi-layer wall surface material, encapsulating the polarized micro encapsulated suspension core is fabricated with micro and / or nano scale organic field effect transistors, (or ganic) diodes, (organic) capacitors, (organic) inductors, (or ganic) electrodes and (organic) resistors which are connected together through printed etches of vapour deposits of charged organic (metal) ions as path of least resistances for electri cal discharge between a potential difference from an organic energy source like the electrolyte batteries, organic capaci tors and / or inductors. Our invention utilizes the sheet like surface-engineered substrate (e.g. alginate, chitosan, leci thin, gelatine, gluten and protein etc.) sheet bi-layer mix ture - forming the wall material as a simple and versatile platform for the integration of soft biodegradable electronics with our food and beverage microcapsule suspensions.
An electrical circuit of configuration A, coupled with edible sensors and (edible) low frequency transceivers (including passive wire antennas) enable the accurate tracking, identifi cation and quality / degradation monitoring of micro encapsu lated food and beverages described above during preparation, delivery and stocking - without having to expose the internal contents from external wrapping and sealants.
Alternatively, this electrical circuit configuration may be reversed (configuration B), with the electrical circuit form ing two coils around a connected reluctance within the bi layer surface of the encapsulation membrane to induce a weak magnetic field for locale specific release of nutrients and drugs to administer non-invasive biomedical and nutrient ther- apy at targeted physiological regions within the body (primar ily from the GI tract). The controlled release of micronutri ents, drugs and medicine (as alternative medical applications) encapsulated within the microcapsules of the suspended core will occur via the same mechanisms as detailed under the in fluence of an applied EM field gradient.
Alternatively, an ethylcellulose layer may be fabricated and printed with micro and / or nano circuitry containing organic electronic components (e.g. Organic FETs, diodes, capacitors, inductors, electrodes, etc.) and transferred via wet press drying onto the surface of the wall material containing the microencapsulated suspension core. Additionally, for nano soft electronics, the same ethylcellulose layer may also be used and press dried onto the "sandwiched" bi-layer surface of the double walled microcapsules.
These embodiments fulfil the needs in two general categories of edible electronics applications.
The first category of application addresses clinical tasks within the biomedical and pharmaceutical arena. With elec tronic circuitry of configuration A, and a combination of bio degradable and biocompatible polymers (e.g. cellulose-based parkesine celluloid, cellophane, casein delivered galalith bi oplastics, etc.). Our invention fulfils the need for health status monitoring of at-risk individuals from within the GI tract. A significant number of critical biomedical tasks also fall under this application purview - ranging from diagnostics and point of care testing to therapy and controlled drug de livery. Our invention allows intelligent electronics to be consumed in the form of a "smart pill" which addresses the need for digital monitoring of medicine intake in the context of chronically treated conditions.
For example, edible electronics devices can be adapted for rapid and precise detection of gastrointestinal bleeding or diagnostics of steatorrhea through monitoring of fat acids in the lower GI tracts. A range of pathologies and disorders of the GI system can also be monitored by sensing the essential physical and chemical parameters of GI environments like pH, temperature, or peristalsis. Electronics with novel and unique capability of being safely ingested and metabolized can be consumed by patients on a daily base, along with pills or even food. Eliminating the need of device recollection and, conse quently, hospitalization, data on the patients' health would be transmitted in real time to healthcare professionals.
The second category of application tackles nutraceuticals, nu trient delivery and therapy in the food and beverage industry. Particularly, when dealing with the category of the devices operating outside the body. In this context, identification (ID) "smart" edible electronics labels integrated with the mi cro foods and beverage capsules can represent a sensing solu tion against fraud and counterfeit nutrient enriched consuma ble products or provide the control of the vitamin and miner als exposure to harmful external conditions like UV, tempera ture, and humidity. The concept of edible electronics implies that the ID "smart" label can be consumed along with the nutraceutical / nutrient enriched food and beverage capsule without the need to be removed before administration. The electronics then degrades into harmless composites during in gestion, after a temporal operational time window within the human body. Additionally, our invention enables monitoring and tracking of quality of microencapsulated food and beverages (especially perishable cases) along the distribution chain.
These embodiments enable cheap "smart" consumable tags to be embedded into our encapsulated bi-layer wall surface as a di rect contact mechanism with our micro food and beverage prod ucts, additionally eliminating the need for extra label pack aging. The introduction of such "smart" tags from our in ventive concepts can improve the quality control in terms of traceability, contaminants and chemicals analysis, healthiness and safety regulation, leading at the same time to a reduction of food waste and limiting the use of toxic packaging with bulky and poorly informative labels. Serving public health, our invention can also control the state of the product and communicate its condition to the user in real time. The spec trum of food and beverage monitoring systems is potentially wide ranging, from relatively simple and qualitative tempera ture-time indicators to sophisticated and quantitative sensors controlled by lightweight CPU chipsets for detection of pesti cides, antibiotics, bacteria, and biogenic amines.
Current in vitro devices considered for food and drug admin istration leverage on implantable and wearable electronics as a means to monitor and administer treatment to targeted re gions of interest within contact. Although such devices are generally accepted as high performing monitoring and func tional tools, they are often characterized by costly and inva sive implantation procedures with the need for constant long term maintenance. Additionally, cheaper, less invasive systems that can be worn externally suffer from poor actuating and monitoring capability on organs due to electrical resistance of exposed and interstitial epidermal layers and lipids. Furthermore, current in-vitro electronics are often derived from hazardous chemical reagents, solvents and adjuvants which are non-biodegradable and contribute to waste generation in its product life cycle. As a physio-chemical product, wastes are generated and accumulated across each stage of the product life cycle, including its design, manufacture, use and ulti mate disposal.
The inventive concept of ingestible electronics embedded into the microcapsule suspension bi-layered wall surface focuses on innovative circuit design by exploiting electro-chemical prop erties of novel bio-degradable packaging systems described above for sensing and telecommunication applications. Ingesti ble electronics trade non-invasive functionalities (e.g. food, drug and nutrient therapeutic administration, sensing and com munication) for temporal contact time windows with the body - providing for efficient electronic operations at the gastroin testinal (GI) digestive tract level during this period.
The materials as described above are used as packaging mate rial for imprinting circuit and electronics to provide for au tonomous and semi-autonomous monitoring, treatment and admin istration of nutrients in the GI tract. Instead of relying on rigid, impervious polymers and polycarbonates as electronic circuit imprinting substrates, functionally designed and im printed electro-static potentials as fundamental electronic building blocks to more sophisticated electrical circuits are maintained and switched in vitro from charged ions within the bio-degradable capsule as it travels down the GI tract during ingestion.
This embodiment of the invention covers possible applications from unsupervised administration as over the counter medicine and nutraceuticals to the smart tagging of food and beverages for nutrient therapy while outweighing risks over benefits of micro foods and beverages consumption.
Fig. 7 shows a conceptualized finished edible electronics mi cro / nano encapsulation wall material product and various circuit configurations for different food, beverage, nutraceu ticals, pharmaceuticals and medical applications. x denotes the part reusable non biodegradable micro and nano capsule suspension housing that is designed and fabricated with embedded non-organic electronics (e.g. silicon). a denotes the battery, b, å, g, d are the capacitor, inductor, transistor and resistor respectively, h denotes the high switching voltage regulator, e denotes the electro-magnetic transformer substrate from "n" turns å inductor coils, m de notes the alternating magnetic field induced electrical coil with "m" turns.
This circuit configuration acts as a hard wired alternating magnetic power source for power transference to a receiver for the purposes of charging an (organic) electrolyte battery sup ply when the microcapsule suspension core is docked into the housing.
The micro / nano suspension encapsulated core, F has been elaborated above and remains largely unchanged in this design, except that organic and inexpensive circuitry forming func tional edible electronics has been ingrained and embedded into a biodegradable substrate and bio-chemically fused onto the surface of the inner bi-layer capsule wall. Config A (configuration A) of edible electronics is the first pre-conceived configuration for a wireless transceiver for smart sensor data. It functions to address requirements for food and beverage tagging, physiological monitoring, quality control and controlled release of nutrients, drugs and medica tion for targeted therapeutic and medical purposes.
In Config A, p denotes the wireless antenna, t denotes the di ode, n denotes the (ultra-high) speed switching diode at the transceiver end. At the sensing end, W denotes the electro lytic sensor, Q denotes the sensing frequency switch. This configuration enables the sensor to immediately send data to the hard receiver (not drawn) in the physical non-biodegrada- ble housing for feedback displays of sensor information (e.g. temperature, humidity, PH levels, proximity, inertia, etc.)
Config B (configuration B) of edible electronics is the second pre-conceived configuration for a wireless electrolytic power source charging circuit and a magnetic polarity inducer.
It functions to wireless charge the potentials of the electro lyte power sources embedded within the micro and / or nano capsule suspension at the outer walls of the core encapsula tion. It is designed so that charging takes place when the capsule is adequately docked into the hard cased housing x.
In Config B, u denotes the AC to DC voltage regulator, the di odes (t), in the circuit form a full-wave bridge rectifier and A denotes the electrolyte power source. Y denotes the organic ferrite (metal ion - e.g. Fe+ ions) coil winding core.
All components and connecting ionic metallic strips are vapour deposited onto biodegradable substrates which are then lami- nated onto the exposed inner bi-layer wall surface of the mi cro and / or nano encapsulated suspension core capsule. Both Config A and B are fully designed and fabricated with biode gradable edible electronic components and imprinting substrate ions.
Fig. 8 shows a conceptualized process for laminating edible circuitry onto the exposed inner surface of the bi-layered mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core encapsulation wall.
In this figure, Q has been elaborated abobe and remains largely unchanged in this design. The outer wall membrane of the bi-layered encapsulation m, has been peeled back, to re veal the edible electronic circuitry a which has been lami nated onto the surface of the inner wall membrane A.
In step A, the layers are first fabricated and stacked on top of one another. The topmost layer b is the biodegradable pre dominant hydrophobic imprinting substrate (e.g. ethyl-cellu lose) for the electrical circuitry. The second layer g, be neath b is the hydrophilic sacrificial layer (e.g. starch and / or dextrin polynucleated species) which dissolves in contact with water. The third layer d, beneath g is a porous hydropho bic water insolvent substrate (e.g. filtered paper) which acts as a flat stable backing for laminating and circuit imprinting activities.
Step B details a series of sequential stages wherein which the biodegradable circuitry, forming the intelligent edible elec tronics is being fabricated and laminated onto the inner bi layer wall surface of the micro / nano encapsulation suspen sion core capsule. In this step, at the sequence of stages detailed in Figure 2, x is the metal ion strip connected to organic field effect transistors (OFETs) which are formed through vapor deposition through atomization nozzle e. F denotes the organic solar cells (OSCs) which are spin coated onto a silicon dioxide (Si02) food grade substrate. Y denotes the fourth organic layer which will be stacked on top of the vapour deposited electronic components to form an additional electric circuit imprinting substrate. G denotes another electronic component (e.g. gating circuitry) which is vapour deposited onto Y. l is the final n-layered laminating substrate of imprinted edible circuitry which is ready for laminating onto the capsule inner bi-layer wall surface. In the laminating process, the layers are inverted to orient the circuitry facing downwards - in di rect contact with the capsule wall surface. Next, water drop lets (Q), are dripped onto d. Due to the porosity of the hy drophobic layer d, water seeps through this layer without be ing absorbed or reacted upon down onto layer g, which is a predominantly hydrophilic species. Upon contact with water, layer g dissolves and bio-degrades into harmless derivates which are safe for consumption. As layer g dissolves, leaving the interstitial directly facing surfaces of d and b exposed to a nano columned layer of air, layer d slides off easily, leaving layers b to l with the imprinted embedded electronic circuitry in direct contact with the inner surface of the mi cro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi-layered shell wall. Layer l, may be ionically or covalently bonded to the inner surface of the micro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi- layered shell wall. The laminated circuitry from layers b to l are then further covered over by m, of the outer micro / nano encapsulated suspension core bi-layered shell wall. Although the current patent specification targets food and beverage microencapsulation with edible electronics for intel ligent automated functions like product tagging, quality con trol, targeted release mechanisms, GI tract physiological mon- itoring, nutrient therapeutics, etc. The same embodiment can also be used for instances of microencapsulated medical de vices, their intended applications and microencapsulated phar maceutical drug administration. Furthermore, the proposed edi ble electronics and biodegradable circuitry are arbitrary de- signs and do not cover the full extent of any other holistic electrical or intelligent function or use by other circuit de signs - which may be the basis framework (e.g. RF filters, counters, signal encoders, CPU / GPU and / or DSP chipsets, etc.) for imprinting onto the biodegradable hydrophobic food grade substrate to provide the intended utility of such cir cuits' intelligent functions.

Claims

1. Microencapsulation wall material of a microencapsulation product for food and beverage capsules, wherein the micro encapsulation wall material comprises
- a hyper-polarizable hydrophilic polymer species and/or hydrophobic polymer species,
- a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers, and
- a second mixture, wherein the second mixture com prises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture, wherein the first mixture and the second mixture form an emulsion.
2. Microencapsulation wall material according to claim 1, wherein the microencapsulation wall material has an HLB value within the range of <= 10.
3. Microencapsulation wall material according to claim 1, wherein the microencapsulation wall material has an HLB value within the range of => 10.
4. Microencapsulation wall material according to claim 4, wherein molecules of the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species have been processed so as to be hyper-polarized.
5. A suspension core capsule, wherein the suspension core cap sule comprises a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material according to one of the claims 1 to 4 and a fer rous nutrient core, in particular, a positively charged ferrous nutrient core.
6. A suspension core capsule according to claim 5, wherein the wall is a bilayer wall, comprising an inner wall comprising microencapsulation wall material according to claim 1 to 4, and an outer wall comprising microencapsulation wall mate rial according to claim 1 to 4.
7. A suspension core capsule according to claim 6, wherein an outside of the inner wall and an inside of the outer wall are touching each other.
8. A suspension core capsule according to any of the claims 6 to 7, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall have a pre defined thickness.
9. A suspension core capsule according to any of the claims 4 to 7, wherein the wall comprises a timed release mechanism to release nutrients.
10. A suspension core capsule according to claim anyone of claims 5 to 9, wherein the ferrous nutrient core comprises iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc ions.
11. A suspension core capsule according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydro- phobic polymer species molecules have been treated so as to be hyper-polarized.
12. A suspension core capsule according to any one of the pre ceding claims, wherein the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species is arranged radially inside and outside the inner wall.
13. A suspension core capsule according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydro- phobic polymer species is arranged radially at the outer wall.
14. A suspension core capsule according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein the capsule further comprises a neutrally charged membrane arranged radially at the outer surface of the microencapsulated bilayer wall, wherein the neutrally charged membrane comprising lipid-like chain segments.
15. Method for producing a microencapsulation wall material, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- providing a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of collagens, chitosan, silk fibroin, gelatin, alginate, modified starch, and biopolymers,
- providing a second mixture, wherein the second mixture comprises at least one material out of the group of a lecithin, cyclodextrin and whey surfactant base mix ture,
- forming an emulsion with the first mixture and the sec ond mixture, and
- wherein the wall material comprises a hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymer species.
16. Method for producing a microencapsulation wall material according to claim 15, further comprising a step of atomiz ing the emulsion into vapor microparticles.
17. Method for producing a microencapsulation wall material according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising a step of providing a homogenizer.
18. Method for producing a suspension core capsule comprising the method steps of the method according to the claims 15 to 16 and further comprising the method steps of:
- providing a ferrous nutrient core,
- providing a microencapsulated wall material, and
- encapsulating the microencapsulated wall material around the ferrous nutrient core.
19. Method according to claim 18, the method further compris ing a step of applying a static and/or dynamic electromag netic field gradient to the suspension core capsule, in particular, applying a magnetic north polarity to the sus pension core capsule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall material, thereby inducing a dipole moment to the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydropho bic polymeric species.
20. Method according to claim 18, the method further com prising a step of applying a reversed magnetic south polar ity to the suspension core capsule by an externally applied polarized magnet at opposing ends of a circular profile of the wall material, thereby causing the molecules or atoms of the hyper-polarizable hydrophilic or hydrophobic poly meric species to reverse the orientation of their dipole spins moment.
21. Production system for producing a suspension core capsule, wherein the production system comprises a homogenizer, an atomizer, an emulsification bath, a spray nozzle, mixer, a spray chamber, a cooker, a holding tank, a dispersion sys tem, an encapsulation machine, and a magnet, wherein the system is configured to carry out a method according to one of the claims 18 to 20.
22. An edible capsule, comprising a wall comprising microencapsulation wall material accord ing to one of claims 1 to 4 forming a core, and an elec tronic component included in the core, wherein the wall is a bilayer wall, comprising an inner wall comprising micro encapsulation wall material according to claim 1 to 4, and an outer wall comprising microencapsulation wall material according to claim 1 to 4.
23. Edible capsule according to claim 22, wherein the elec tronic component is comprised of biodegradable, edible parts.
24. Edible capsule according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the electronic component is located on the surface of the inner wall.
25. Edible capsule according to any of claim 22 to 24, wherein the electronic component comprises a wireless sensor for sensing data and a wireless transceiver and for communi cating the sensed data to a receiver.
26. Edible capsule according to any of claim 22 to 24, wherein the capsule further comprises an electrolytic power source charging circuit and a magnetic polarity inducer for charg ing potentials of electrolytic power sources embedded within the edible capsule.
27. Edible capsule according to claim 26, wherein the electro lytic power source is embedded at the outer wall of the core.
28. Edible capsule according to any of claim 22 to 27, wherein the electronic component serves for at least one of product tagging, quality control, targeted release mecha nisms, GI tract physiological monitoring, nutrient thera peutics, pharmaceutical drug administration.
29. Method of producing an edible capsule of one of claims 22 to 28, comprising:
- Stacking several predetermined layers on top of one an other, the topmost first layer (b) being a biodegradable predominant hydrophobic imprinting substrate for receiv ing electrical circuitry of the electrical component, the second layer (g) beneath the first layer (b) being a hydrophilic sacrificial layer, which is adapted to dis solve in contact with water, the third layer (d) beneath the second layer (g) being a porous hydrophobic water insolvent substrate, which is adapted to act as a flat stable backing for laminating and circuitry imprinting,
- forming organic field effect transistors through vapour deposition through atomization nozzle (e),
- forming, on the first layer (b), a metal ion strip (x) connected to the organic field effect transistors,
- placing, onto the first layer (b), a silicon dioxide food grade substrate comprising organic solar cells (F) formed by spin coating onto the silicon substrate,
- stacking on top of the metal ion strip and the solar cells a further organic layer (Y) to form an additional electric circuit imprinting substrate, - vapour-depositing further electronic circuitry (G) onto the further organic layer (Y), thus obtaining a laminating substrate (l),
- inverting the layer laminating substrate to orient the circuitry facing downwards and bringing the inverted laminating layer in direct contact with the capsule wall surface,
- dripping water droplets (Q) onto the third layer (d), the third layer (d) letting the droplets pass to the second layer (g), thus dissolving and bio-degrading the hydrophilic second layer (g) into edible derivates which are safe for consumption,
- sliding off the third layer (d), and bringing the lami nating substrate (l) including the first layer (b) with the imprinted embedded electronic circuitry in direct contact with the inner wall of the encapsulated suspen sion core capsule produced with the method of any of claim 15 to 17,
- covering the circuitry by the outer wall (m) produced with the method of any of claim 15 to 17.
30. The method according to the claim 29, wherein the laminating layer (l) is ionically or covalently bonded to the inner surface of the inner wall.
31. Non-biodegradable capsule suspension housing (x) compris ing electronic circuitry (a, b, å, g, d) being fabricated with embedded non-organic electronics, the circuitry being adapted to act as a magnetic power source for power transference to charge an (organic) elec trolyte battery supply when the capsule according to one of claims 22 to 27 is docked into the housing (x).
PCT/IB2022/053504 2021-04-15 2022-04-14 Microencapsulation wall material, suspension core capsule, edible capsule with electronics, methods and a production system for producing the same WO2022219573A2 (en)

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