Granted Patent B2

US 12,491,250 · App. 16/707,164 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Inventors: Anthony Richard Gerardi (Winston-Salem, NC); Andries Don Sebastian (Winston-Salem, NC); Ronald K. Hutchens (East Bend, NC); Christopher Keller (Advance, NC); Thomas H. Poole (Winston-Salem, NC); Dwayne William Beeson (Kernersville, NC); Frank Kelley St. Charles (Bowling Green, KY)

Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED

A61K47/38A24B13/00A24B15/16A61K9/06A61K9/122A61K9/7007A61K31/465A61K36/185A61K47/10

Abstract

Claims (13)

1 . A composition configured for oral use and enclosed within a water-permeable pouch, the composition comprising cellulose nanocrystals having a diameter and length, wherein the diameter is from about 5 to about 20 nm, and the length is from about 50 to about 400 nanometers, wherein the cellulose nanocrystals have been chemically modified with acetic anhydride, hexamethyl disilazane, or hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and wherein:

at least one active ingredient is adsorbed in the cellulose nanocrystals, the at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of botanical materials, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, nicotine components, cannabinoids, pharmaceutical agents, nutraceuticals and combinations thereof, and

the water-permeable pouch comprises a nonwoven fabric and nanocellulose fibers, the nanocellulose fibers having a flavoring agent adsorbed therein.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the nanocellulose fibers comprise cellulose nanofibrils having a diameter and length, wherein the diameter is from about 1 to about 100 nm, and the length is from about 1 to about 10 micrometers.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose nanocrystals, the nanocellulose fibers, or both comprise bacterial cellulose.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the cellulose nanocrystals are present in an amount of about 10% by weight or higher, the active agent is present in an amount of about 0.1% by weight or higher, and the composition further comprises water in an amount of about 5% by weight or higher, each of the foregoing weights being based on the total weight of the composition.

5 . The composition of claim 4 , further comprising one or more salts, one or more organic acids, one or more sweeteners, one or more binding agents, one or more humectants, one or more gums, a tobacco material, or combinations thereof.

6 . A fleece material comprising a nonwoven fabric and nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose has been chemically modified with acetic anhydride, hexamethyl disilazane, or hydroxyethylmethacrylate,

wherein a flavoring agent is adsorbed in the nanocellulose, and wherein an active ingredient is adsorbed in the nonwoven fabric, the active ingredient selected from the group consisting of botanical materials, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, nicotine components, cannabinoids, pharmaceutical agents, nutraceuticals, and combinations thereof.

7 . The fleece material of claim 6 , comprising about 10% by weight or higher of the nanocellulose.

8 . The fleece material of claim 6 , wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanofibrils having a diameter and length, wherein the diameter is from about 1 to about 100 nm, and the length is from about 1 to about 10 micrometers.

9 . The fleece material of claim 6 , wherein the nanocellulose comprises cellulose nanocrystals having a diameter and length, wherein the diameter is from about 5 to about 20 nm, and the length is from about 50 to about 400 nanometers.

10 . The fleece material of claim 6 , wherein the nanocellulose comprises bacterial cellulose.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (183)