Method for manufacturing edible film
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a process for making an edible film having a substantially uniform distribution of components, which includes the steps of combining a water-based film polymer solution and a slurry-type mixture comprising a water-active component and a solvent; mixing the polymer solution and slurry-type mixture for about 10 minutes or less; dispensing the mixed solution and slurry-type mixture to form a film; and drying the film to evaporate the water and solvent. Films made by the process are also provided.
1. A process for making an edible film having a substantially uniform distribution of components, comprising the steps of: a. combining a water-based film polymer solution and a slurry mixture, wherein said slurry mixture comprises a water-active component and a solvent, said slurry mixture having no water-based materials added; b. mixing the polymer solution and slurry mixture for about 10 minutes or less; c. dispensing the mixed solution and slurry mixture to form a film; and d. rapidly removing said solvent from said film.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said water-active component is a pharmaceutically active agent.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein said water-active component is a taste masking agent.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein said steps of combining and mixing are performed using a meter-mix-dispense system.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein said steps of combining and mixing are performed using a continuous metered flow through a static mixer.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein said steps of combining and mixing are performed using a continuous metered flow through a dynamic mixer.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein said steps of combining and mixing are performed using a small volume inline mixer, charged with aliquots of solution and slurry mixture, mixed and discharged.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said polymer solution and slurry mixture are mixed for 60 seconds or less.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein said step of rapidly removing said solvent results in the film forming a visco-elastic structure.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are extruded to form said film.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are cast into a film.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are dispensed into a reservoir.
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are coated onto a substrate.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein said edible film comprises a polymer and an active, wherein said active is at least partially coated with a water-soluble or partially water-soluble coating and wherein said coating is substantially insoluble in organic solvent.
15. A method for reducing the interaction between a water-active component and water-based film polymer solution during formation of an edible film, comprising the steps of: a. combining a water-based film polymer solution and a slurry mixture, wherein said slurry mixture comprises a water-active component and a solvent, said slurry mixture having no water-based materials added; b. mixing the polymer solution and slurry mixture for about 10 minutes or less; c. dispensing the mixed solution and slurry mixture to form a film; and d. rapidly removing said solvent from said film.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said water-active component is a pharmaceutically active agent.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said water-active component is a taste masking agent.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said steps of adding a water-based film polymer solution into a mixer, simultaneously adding a slurry mixture into said mixer, mixing the polymer solution and slurry mixture for 10 minutes or less, and wherein dispensing said mixed solution and slurry mixture is performed using a meter-mix-dispense system.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said polymer solution and slurry mixture are mixed for 60 seconds or less.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said step of rapidly removing said solvent results in the film forming a visco-elastic structure.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are extruded to form said film.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are cast into a film.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are dispensed into a reservoir.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are coated onto a substrate.
25. The process of claim 15 , wherein said edible film comprises a polymer and an active, wherein said active is at least partially coated with a water-soluble or partially water-soluble coating and wherein said coating is substantially insoluble in organic solvent.
26. A method of substantially limiting interaction of a pharmaceutical agent with a water-based solvent during the formation of an edible film, comprising the steps of: a. simultaneously adding a water-based film polymer solution and a slurry mixture into a mixer, wherein said slurry mixture comprises a pharmaceutical agent and a solvent, said slurry mixture having no water-based materials added; b. mixing said polymer solution and slurry mixture for about 10 minutes or less; c. dispensing the mixed solution and slurry mixture to form a film; and d. rapidly removing said solvent from said film.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein said steps of combining and mixing are performed using a meter-mix-dispense system.
28. The method of claim 26 , wherein said polymer solution and slurry mixture are mixed for 60 seconds or less.
29. The method of claim 26 , wherein said step of rapidly removing said solvent results in the film forming a visco-elastic structure.
30. The method of claim 26 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are extruded to form said film.
31. The method of claim 26 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are cast into a film.
32. The method of claim 26 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are dispensed into a reservoir.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein said mixed polymer solution and slurry mixture are coated onto a substrate.
34. The process of claim 26 , wherein said edible film comprises a polymer and an active, wherein said active is at least partially coated with a water-soluble or partially water-soluble coating and wherein said coating is substantially insoluble in organic solvent.