Whey protein vehicle for active agent delivery

1. Protein micelle aggregates of denatured whey proteins having a molecular size smaller than 1 micron and containing an active agent, with the whey proteins arranged so that hydrophilic parts of the proteins are oriented towards outer parts of the aggregates and hydrophobic parts of the proteins are oriented towards the inner portions of the micelles, wherein the aggregates are obtainable by a method which comprises:

adjusting the pH of a demineralised native whey protein solution to a value between 5.8 and 6.0, and heating the solution to a temperature of 80° C. to 98° C. for 10 seconds to 2 hours to obtain negatively charged whey protein micelles;

dispersing the negatively charged whey protein micelles and the active agent in a solvent, and

evaporating the solvent,

wherein the whey protein in the micelles is denatured.

2. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, organic solvents, ethanol, glycerol, and oils.

3. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein the active agent is in a dried form prior to dispersion in the solvent.

4. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein the active agent is in a liquid form prior to dispersion in the solvent.

5. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 4 , wherein the active agent is sprayed onto the whey protein micelles before dispersing in the solvent.

6. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein the evaporation is carried out by spray-drying.

7. Protein micelle aggregates of denatured whey proteins having a molecular size of 100 to 900 nm and containing an active agent, with the whey proteins arranged so that hydrophilic parts of the proteins are oriented towards outer parts of the aggregates and hydrophobic parts of the proteins are oriented towards the inner portions of the micelles, wherein the aggregates are obtainable by a method which comprises:

dispersing native whey protein and an active agent in an aqueous solution having a divalent cation content that is less than 0.2% of the solution,

denaturing the whey protein to negatively charged whey protein micelles by adjusting the pH of the aqueous solution to a value of between 5.8 and 6.0 and heating the solution to a temperature of 80° C. to 98° C. for 10 seconds to 2 hours, and

forming an aggregate of the negatively charged whey protein micelles and the active agent,

wherein the whey protein in the micelles is denatured.

8. Protein micelle aggregates of denatured whey proteins having a molecular size smaller than 1 micron containing an active agent, with the whey proteins arranged so that hydrophilic parts of the proteins are oriented towards outer parts of the aggregates and hydrophobic parts of the proteins are oriented towards the inner portions of the micelles, wherein the aggregates are obtainable by a method which comprises:

(a) adjusting the pH of a demineralised native whey protein solution to a value of between 5.8 and 6.0 and heating the solution to a temperature of 80° C. to 98° C. for 10 seconds to 2 hours to obtain negatively charged whey protein micelles, and

(b) mixing a whey protein micelle powder obtainable from the negatively charged whey protein micelles obtained in step (a) with an active agent,

wherein the whey protein in the micelles is denatured.

9. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the active agent is in a solvent prior to mixing.

10. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 9 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent, ethanol, glycerol, and an oil.

11. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the whey protein micelle powder has a binding capacity of at least 30% for the solvent.

12. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 7 , wherein the whey protein micelle powder comprises at least 50% micelles.

13. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, poly-unsaturated fatty acids, peptides, plant extracts, protein hydrolysates, bioactives, aroma, sweeteners, sugars, polysaccharides, sucrose, supplements, pharmaceuticals, drugs, cosmetic components, polyphenols, lycopene, carotenoids, caffeine, hesperidins, soluble or non-soluble salts, probiotic bacteria, stains, maltodextrins, fats, emulsifiers, ligands and any mixtures thereof.

14. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the active agent is selected from components sensitive to heat, UV radiation, light, oxygen, metals, humidity, or temperature.

15. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the proportion of micelles to active agent is between 1:1 to 1:1000 and the aggregates have a molecular size of 100-700 nm.

16. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , in the form of a whey protein micelle matrix with at least one active agent incorporated in the matrix.

17. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 16 , wherein the matrix forms an amorphous polymer.

18. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 , wherein the active agent is comprised in the aggregate in an amount of 0.1 to 50% and the aggregates have a molecular size of 100-700 nm.

19. A food or cosmetic product comprising the protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 .

20. A food or cosmetic product comprising the protein micelle aggregates according to claim 7 .

21. A food or cosmetic product comprising the protein micelle aggregates according to claim 8 .

22. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein more than 80% micelles having dimensions between 100-700 nm.

23. The protein micelle aggregates according to claim 1 , wherein the whey proteins do not undergo any hydrolysis prior to micelle formation.