Enclosing materials in natural transport systems

Abstract

A manufactured system for storage and delivery of an edible or potable substance is claimed.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A manufactured system for storage and delivery of an edible or potable substance, the manufactured system comprising:
 an edible or potable substance;   a first inner membrane at least partially impermeable to the edible or potable substance, wherein the first inner membrane defines an interior volume containing the edible or potable substance, and wherein the first inner membrane is biodegradable and/or edible; and   a second outer membrane disposed about the first inner membrane, wherein the second outer membrane is more impermeable and/or has higher strength and/or is more stable than the first inner membrane.   
     
     
         45 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the first inner membrane comprises a polysaccharide polymer and/or an edible wax. 
     
     
         46 . The manufactured system of  claim 45 , wherein the polysaccharide polymer is selected from the group comprising an alginate and a gellan gum. 
     
     
         47 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the first inner membrane comprises edible particles and a charged polymer charge cross-linked by multivalent cations, including cross-linking interactions between particles and alginates via bridges formed by the multivalent cations. 
     
     
         48 . The manufactured system of  claim 47 , wherein the edible particles are food particles or particles of a pharmaceutical compound, particularly a sustained release pharmaceutical compound. 
     
     
         49 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the second outer membrane is biodegradable and/or edible. 
     
     
         50 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the second outer membrane comprises crosslinked copolymer. 
     
     
         51 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the second outer membrane comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         52 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the edible or potable substance comprises a liquid, particularly wherein the edible or potable substance comprises at least one of water, alcohol, juice, and a carbonated beverage. 
     
     
         53 . The manufactured system of  claim 44 , wherein the edible or potable substance is at least one of a gel, an emulsion, and a foam. 
     
     
         54 . A method comprising:
 coating a cooled edible or potable substance in a first inner membrane that is substantially impermeable to the edible or potable substance when at room temperature, wherein said first inner membrane is biodegradable and/or edible; and   coating the first inner membrane in a second outer membrane that is structurally stable at room temperature, wherein the second outer membrane is more impermeable and/or has higher strength and/or is more stable than the first inner membrane.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising cooling an edible or potable substance to a temperature below about 0 degrees centigrade. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein cooling the edible or potable substance comprises cooling the edible or potable substance in liquid nitrogen, particularly wherein the cooling the edible or potable substance comprises freezing an edible or potable liquid into a mold before applying liquid nitrogen to the frozen liquid. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein coating the cooled edible or potable substances in the first inner membrane comprises coating with a polysaccharide polymer. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein coating the cooled edible or potable substance in the first inner membrane in a second outer membrane that is structurally stable at room temperature comprises coating with at least one of a calcium layer and a cross-linked polymer layer. 
     
     
         59 . A manufactured system of an edible or potable substance within a module for storage and delivery of the edible or potable substance, the manufactured system comprising:
 an edible or potable substance;   a first inner membrane at least partially impermeable to the edible or potable substance, the first inner membrane defining an interior volume containing the edible or potable substance; and   a second outer membrane having different properties than the first inner membrane, the second outer membrane disposed about the first inner membrane,   wherein the first inner and second outer membranes are biodegradable and/or edible.   
     
     
         60 . The manufactured system of  claim 56  wherein the first inner membrane comprises a polysaccharide polymer and/or an edible wax. 
     
     
         61 . The manufactured system of  claim 57 , wherein the polysaccharide polymer is selected from the group comprising an alginate and a gellan gum. 
     
     
         62 . The manufactured system of  claim 56 , wherein the first inner membrane comprises edible particles and a charged polymer charge cross-linked by multivalent cations, including cross-linking interactions between particles and alginates via bridges formed by the multivalent cations. 
     
     
         63 . The manufactured system of  claim 62 , wherein the edible particles are food particles or particles of a pharmaceutical compound, particularly a sustained release pharmaceutical compound. 
     
     
         64 . The manufactured system of  claim 56 , wherein the second outer membrane comprises crosslinked copolymer. 
     
     
         65 . The manufactured system of  claim 56 , wherein the second outer membrane comprises polylactic acid. 
     
     
         66 . The manufactured system of  claim 56 , wherein the edible or potable substance comprises a liquid, particularly wherein the edible or potable substance comprises at least one of water, alcohol, juice, and a carbonated beverage. 
     
     
         67 . The manufactured system of  claim 56 , wherein the edible or potable substance is at least one of a gel, an emulsion, and a foam. 
     
     
         68 . A system of an edible or potable substance comprising:
 an edible or potable fluid;   an edible membrane comprising charged particles and a polymer and encapsulating the edible or potable fluid, the membrane being at least partially impermeable to the edible or potable fluid and defining an interior volume of between about 10 and 1,250 cubic centimeters, wherein said particles strengthen the membrane to a level sufficient to contain and transport a liquid water volume equivalent to the interior volume defined by the membrane.   
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the edible or potable fluid is at least partly frozen. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the edible or potable fluid comprises a frozen liquid, emulsion, foam, slurry or solid. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the edible or potable fluid is liquid. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein said particles comprise no more than about 12% of the membrane. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein said particles are integrated in the edible membrane. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein said particles are selected from the group consisting of chocolate particles, nuts, orange rind, caramel, almond powder, raspberry powder, mango powder, coconut powder, and blackcurrant powder. 
     
     
         75 . A system of an edible or potable substance comprising:
 a frozen edible or potable substance;   an edible membrane comprising charged particles and a polymer and encapsulating the frozen edible or potable substance, wherein the particles are integrated into the membrane and the membrane is at least partially impermeable to the edible or potable substance and defining an interior volume of between about 10 and 1,250 cubic centimeters.   
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75 , wherein the frozen edible or potable substance is a frozen liquid, emulsion, foam, slurry or solid.