Cereal beta glucan compositions, methods of preparation and uses thereof

Abstract

Cereal β(1→3) β(1→3) glucan is used as a film or coating agent to produce clear, edible, biodegradable, delivery, lubricating, and protecting agents. Cereal β(1→3) β(1→4) glucans are distinctive polymers of glucose differentiated from other polymers by not only their source but also their physicochemical properties. The β(1→3) β(1→4) forms a matrix to sequester other materials, such as pharmaceutical, medical and therapeutic agents, flavours, fragrances. The technology has applications to essential oils and non-aqueous materials that are rendered deliverable by the β(1→3) β(1→4) glucan. The β(1→3) β(1→4) glucan films described may be consumed whereby they dissolve in the mouth in a controlled manner and may be used for the delivery of pharmaceutical, medical or confectionery products.

1 . A film comprising: 
 a β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan, and    an effective amount of one, or more than one compound of interest.    
     
     
         2 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 5 to about 50 wt % of the β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan.  
     
     
         3 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 10 to about 35 wt % of the β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan.  
     
     
         4 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 15 to about 25 wt % of the β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan.  
     
     
         5 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 0.001 to about 50 wt % of said one, or more than one compound of interest.  
     
     
         6 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 5 to about 35 wt % of said one, or more than one compound of interest.  
     
     
         7 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises about 10 to about 25 wt % of said one, or more than one compound of interest.  
     
     
         8 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the glucan is derived from a cereal grain or a part of a cereal grain.  
     
     
         9 . The film of  claim 8 , wherein the cereal is selected from the group consisting of a cultivar of barley, a cultivar of oat, a cultivar of wheat, a cultivar of rye, a cultivar of sorghum, a cultivar of millet, a cultivar of corn, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically active agent, an antimicrobial agent, a flavouring agent, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is a pharmaceutically active agent.  
     
     
         12 . The film of  claim 11 , wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an anti-tussive, a decongestant, an anti-histamine, an expectorant, an anti-diarrheal, an H2-antagonist, a nonselective central nervous system depressant, a nonselective central nervous system stimulant, an agent that selectively modifies central nervous system function, a drug for treating Parkinson's disease, a narcotic-analgesic, an analgesic-antipyretic, a psychopharmacological agent, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is an antimicrobial agent.  
     
     
         14 . The film of  claim 13 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of triclosan, cetyl pyridinium chloride, sanguinarine, domiphen bromide, a quaternary ammonium salt, a zinc compound, a fluoride, alexidine, octonideine, EDTA, silver nitrate, thymol, methyl salicylate, eucalyptol, menthol, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is a flavouring agent.  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a film or an article coated with a film, comprising: 
 i) mixing an aqueous solution of a β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan with one, or more than one compound of interest to form a composition;    ii) drying said composition to form the film, or    iii) applying said composition to an article and drying the applied composition to produce the article coated with the film.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after said glucan and said one, or more than one compound of interest are mixed they are left undisturbed for a period of time sufficient to form a homogeneous composition.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said composition is an emulsion.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said emulsion is formed in the absence of an emulsifying agent.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said aqueous solution is formed using a glucan having a purity in the range of from about 65% to about 100%.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said aqueous solution is formed using a glucan having a purity in the range of from about 75% to about 100%.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said aqueous solution is formed using a glucan having a purity in the range of from about 85% to about 100%.  
     
     
         23 . An article coated with one, or more than one layers of the film of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutical agent, an antimicrobial agent, a flavouring agent, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein the article is a pharmaceutical formulation in the form of a tablet or capsule.  
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein said one, or more than one compound of interest is a flavouring agent.  
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein each one of said one, or more than one layers comprises a separate flavouring agent.  
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein the article is a stent.  
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein the article is a tissue paper.  
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 23 , wherein the article is dental floss.  
     
     
         31 . A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the film of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         32 . The formulation of  claim 31 , wherein the formulation is in the form of a patch suitable for delivery of one, or more than one compound of interest.  
     
     
         33 . A sweetener composition comprising: 
 a β(1-3) β(1-4) glucan, and    an effective amount of a sweetener.    
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , wherein the sweetener is effective in producing a favourable stimulatory response in the absence of other sweeteners.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 34 , wherein the sweetener is Acesulfame-K.