Microparticles comprising a probiotic, cross-linkable reagent, a denatured protein, polyol plasticiser and trehalose
The present invention relates to microparticles, methods of producing microparticles and microparticle precursor compositions. In particular, it relates to microparticles comprising a protective matrix and a protective matrix precursor composition comprising a blend of a denatured protein, a polyol plasticizer, trehalose and a carrier.
1. A microparticle precursor composition comprising a blend of a probiotic, a cross-linkable reagent, a denatured protein, a polyol plasticizer, trehalose and a carrier, wherein the blend does not contain a cross-linking reagent.
2. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 1 , wherein the denatured protein comprises whey protein isolate.
3. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 1 , wherein the denatured protein comprises pea protein.
4. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polyol plasticizer is glycerol.
5. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 1 , wherein the blend further comprises an emulsion comprising a hydrophobic active.
6. A method of producing a microparticle precursor composition comprising:
blending together a denatured protein, a polyol plasticizer, trehalose and a carrier to produce a protective matrix precursor composition; and
blending together a probiotic, the protective matrix precursor composition and a cross-linkable reagent to form a blend,
wherein the blend does not contain a cross-linking reagent.
7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising: blending the probiotic with the protective matrix precursor composition to form a probiotic-containing matrix precursor; blending an emulsion comprising a hydrophobic active with the probiotic-containing matrix precursor to form a probiotic-containing emulsion; and blending the probiotic-containing emulsion with a cross-linkable reagent.
8. A method of producing microparticles comprising: providing the microparticle precursor composition of claim 1 in a finely divided state; and exposing the finely divided microparticle precursor composition to a cross-linking reagent that reacts with the cross-linkable reagent of the microparticle precursor composition to form microparticles.
9. Microparticles produced according to the method of claim 8 .
10. A microparticle precursor composition comprising a blend of a probiotic, a cross-linkable reagent, a denatured protein, a polyol plasticizer, trehalose and a carrier, wherein the blend does not contain a cross-linking reagent, and wherein the microparticle precursor composition is capable of forming microparticles that have a cross-linked matrix provided by reacting a cross-linking reagent with the cross-linkable reagent, said cross-linked matrix being intermingled with a protective matrix comprising the denatured protein, polyol plasticizer and trehalose.
11. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 10 , wherein the denatured protein comprises whey protein isolate.
12. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 10 , wherein the denatured protein comprises pea protein.
13. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 10 , wherein the polyol plasticizer is glycerol.
14. The microparticle precursor composition according to claim 10 , wherein the blend further comprises an emulsion comprising a hydrophobic active.