Method of producing microparticles of the type having a crosslinked, aggregated protein matrix by spray drying

1. A method of producing microparticles by spray drying, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a food-grade spray-drying feedstock solution comprising water, a volatile divalent metal salt, a weak acid, 5-15% dairy or vegetable protein (w/v) and an active agent, the feedstock solution having a pH at which the volatile divalent metal salt is substantially insoluble;

spray drying the feedstock solution at an elevated temperature to provide atomised droplets whereby the volatile divalent metal salt disassociates at the elevated temperature to release divalent metal ions which crosslink and aggregate the protein in the atomised droplets to produce microparticles having a crosslinked aggregated protein matrix and the active agent dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the active agent is a cellular active agent, the spray-drying feedstock comprises 1-20% of the active agent (w/v), and the solids content of the feedstock is 40-70%.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which the spray-drying feedstock comprises 1-10% hydrocolloid (w/v).

3. The method according to claim 1 in which the spray-drying feedstock comprises 1-3% hydrocolloid (w/v).

4. The method according to claim 2 in which the hydrocolloid is selected from the group consisting of fructooligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, carrageenan and guar gum.

5. The method according to claim 4 in which the spray-drying feedstock comprises 1-3% fructooligosaccharide (w/v).

6. The method according to claim 1 in which the volatile divalent metal salt is selected from the group consisting of a divalent metal ion carbonate, a divalent metal ion chloride, a divalent metal ion phosphate, a divalent metal ion citrate, a divalent metal ion ascorbate, a divalent metal ion HMB, and a mixture thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1 in which the weak acid is ascorbic acid or succinic acid or a mixture thereof.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the protein is a dairy protein selected from the group consisting of UHT milk, milk protein, skim milk powder, and a mixture thereof.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the protein is a vegetable protein selected from the group consisting of pea protein, rice protein, wheat protein, and a mixture thereof.

10. A preparation of spray-dried microparticles prepared according to the method of claim 1 .

11. A method of producing microparticles by spray drying, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a food-grade spray-drying feedstock solution comprising water, a volatile divalent metal salt, a weak acid, 5-15% dairy or vegetable protein (w/v), and an active agent, the feedstock solution having a pH at which the volatile divalent metal salt is substantially insoluble;

spray drying the feedstock solution at an elevated temperature to provide atomised droplets whereby the volatile divalent metal salt disassociates at the elevated temperature to release divalent metal ions which crosslink and aggregate the protein in the atomised droplets to produce microparticles having a crosslinked aggregated protein matrix and the active agent dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the active agent is a compound and the spray-drying feedstock comprises 30-60% of the active agent (w/v).

12. The method according to claim 11 in which the solids content of the feedstock is 50-80%.

13. A method of producing microparticles by spray drying, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a food-grade spray-drying feedstock solution comprising water, a volatile divalent metal salt, a weak acid, 5-15% dairy or vegetable protein (w/v), and an active agent, the feedstock solution having a pH at which the volatile divalent metal salt is substantially insoluble;

spray drying the feedstock solution at an elevated temperature to provide atomised droplets whereby the volatile divalent metal salt disassociates at the elevated temperature to release divalent metal ions which crosslink and aggregate the protein in the atomised droplets to produce microparticles having a crosslinked aggregated protein matrix and the active agent dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the spray-drying feedstock solution is prepared by the steps of:

preparing an aqueous solution of the weak acid;

preparing an aqueous dispersion of the volatile divalent metal salt;

mixing the aqueous solution and the aqueous dispersion to provide a weak acid/volatile divalent metal salt dispersion and adjusting the pH such that the volatile divalent metal salt is substantially insoluble in the dispersion;

preparing an aqueous dispersion of the protein;

admixing the active agent with the aqueous dispersion of the protein to provide an active agent/protein dispersion; and

admixing the active agent/protein dispersion and the weak acid/volatile divalent metal salt dispersion at a ratio of 1.0:1.5 to 1.5:1.0 to form the spray-drying feedstock solution.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the spray drying feedstock solution further comprises a hydrocolloid, wherein a dispersion of the hydrocolloid is added to the aqueous solution of the weak acid or added to the active agent/protein dispersion.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the aqueous solution of the weak acid has a weak acid concentration of 0.2 M-2.2 M.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the aqueous dispersion of the volatile divalent metal salt has a volatile divalent metal salt concentration of 0.2 M-2.2 M.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the aqueous dispersion of the protein has a protein concentration of 4.0-15.0 (w/v).