Method for preparing nanolipids with encapsulated alcohol

Abstract

A method for preparing ethanol-containing nanolipid particles, which can be used in food products, frozen desserts, or beverages. The method comprises nanolipidic vehicles in which ethanol-containing substances are encapsulated, said ethanol-containing nanolipidic vehicles can be combined with food products, desserts or beverage ingredients including those that are subsequently frozen, The food product, dessert or beverage can remain in a frozen state during consumption by an individual. A composition comprising ethanol-containing nanolipid particles, which can be used in food products, frozen desserts, or beverages.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for making nanolipid particles (NLPs) having ethanol encapsulated within said nanolipidic particles, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a precursor solution;   b) diluting said precursor solution with an ethanol solvent to produce a solvent-diluted precursor solution;   c) adding an ethanol-containing substance having an ethanol content of 0.2%-50.0% to an aqueous solvent to produce an aqueous-ethanol monophase; and   c) mixing said solvent-diluted precursor solution with said aqueous-ethanol monophase wherein said mixing produces one or more populations of ethanol-loaded NLPs or NLP assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said precursor solution is a monophasic optically-clear solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said NLP assembly has a population formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20 nm-300 nm. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.1% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent; and; wherein said NLP assembly population is formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20-300 nm; and wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%, and wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.1 to 15.0%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ethanol-containing substance is selected from the group comprising vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, grain alcohol, and liqueurs containing vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, or grain alcohol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of ethanol in a frozen food product containing ethanol-loaded NLPs is from about 0.1% to 15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with said encapsulated ethanol-containing substance is combined with ingredients suitable for consumption in a frozen food product, and the mixture is frozen at an appropriate temperature such that an ethanol-containing frozen food results. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ethanol-containing frozen food remains in the frozen state for a period of time sufficient for an individual to consume said frozen food. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio of about 1 part precursor to about 10 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded nanolipidic population to about 0.5 parts solvent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stability of said ethanol-encapsulated nanolipidic particles is such that said particles will maintain structural integrity through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said precursor solution comprises phospholipids selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising making one or more additional serial dilutions of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent, wherein said additional dilutions form distinct populations of nanolipidic particles, and wherein said nanolipidic particle populations decrease in size as ethanol concentration in precursor solution increases. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising making one or more additional dilutions of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent in order to provide a desired number of nanolipidic particles per unit volume 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said aqueous solvent further comprises an additional water-soluble passenger molecule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more lipophilic or amphipathic passenger molecules are added to said precursor solution to form a loaded nanolipidic particle population, wherein said nanolipidic particles encapsulate admixed passenger molecules. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said frozen food is a frozen beverage or dessert having a final ethanol concentration up to 0.2%-15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with said encapsulated ethanol-containing substance is in a topping for a frozen dessert, said topping having a final ethanol concentration of 0.2%-15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with encapsulated ethanol are admixed with nanolipidic particles encapsulating a pharmaceutical product, said admixture is added to ingredients suitable for a frozen food, wherein said frozen mixture is a delivery device for said pharmaceutical. 
     
     
         22 . A composition with nanolipidic particles having alcohol-encapsulated within, comprising:
 a precursor solution,   an ethanol solvent that dilutes said precursor solution and forms a solvent-diluted precursor solution;   an ethanol-containing substance having an ethanol concentration of 0.2%-50.0%;   an aqueous solvent added to the ethanol-containing substance to produce an aqueous-ethanol monophase;   alcohol encapsulated nanolipid particles formed by the mixture of said solvent-diluted precursor solution with said aqueous-ethanol monophase.   
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said precursor solution is a monophasic optically-clear solution. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said NLP assembly has a population formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20 nm-300 nm. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.2% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 22  wherein said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent; and wherein said NLP assembly population is formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20 nm-300 nm; and wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%, and wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.2% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said ethanol-containing substance is selected from the group comprising vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, grain alcohols, and liqueurs containing vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, or grain alcohols. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the concentration of ethanol-containing substance in a frozen food product is from about 0.2% to 15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with said encapsulated ethanol-containing substance are combined with ingredients suitable for consumption in a frozen food product, and the mixture is frozen at an appropriate temperature such that an ethanol-containing frozen food results. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said ethanol-containing frozen food remains in the frozen state for a period of time sufficient for an individual to consume said frozen food. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio of about 1 part precursor to about 10 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded nanolipidic population to about 0.5 parts solvent. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the stability of said ethanol-encapsulated nanolipidic particles that said particles will maintain structural integrity through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said precursor solution comprises phospholipids selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 22  further comprising one or more additional serial dilutions of said precursor solution, wherein said additional dilutions form distinct populations of nanolipidic particles, and wherein said nanolipidic particle populations decrease in size as ethanol concentration in precursor solution increases. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 22  further comprising one or more additional dilutions of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent in order to provide a desired number of nanolipidic particles per unit volume. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said aqueous solvent has an additional water-soluble passenger molecule. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more lipophilic or amphipathic passenger molecules added to said precursor solution to form a loaded nanolipidic particle population wherein said nanolipidic particles encapsulate admixed passenger molecules. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein said nanolipid particles are added to a frozen beverage or dessert having a final ethanol concentration from 0.1%-15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein said nanolipid particles are added to a food product, said food product having a final ethanol concentration of from 0.1-15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 40 , wherein the ethanol encapsulated in said nanolipidic particles is in a concentration of 0.1% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         43 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with encapsulated ethanol are admixed with nanolipidic particles encapsulating a pharmaceutical product, said admixture is added to ingredients suitable for a frozen food, wherein said frozen mixture is a delivery device for said pharmaceutical 
     
     
         44 . A nanolipidic particle (NLP) having encapsulated ethanol, made by a process comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a precursor solution;   b) diluting said precursor solution with an ethanol solvent to produce a solvent-diluted precursor solution;   c) adding an ethanol-containing substance having an ethanol content of 0.2%-50.0% to an aqueous solvent to produce an aqueous-ethanol monophase; and   c) mixing said solvent-diluted precursor solution with said aqueous-ethanol monophase wherein said mixing produces one or more populations of ethanol-loaded nanolipids (NLPs) or NLP assemblies.   
     
     
         45 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein said precursor solution is a monophasic optically-clear solution. 
     
     
         46 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent. 
     
     
         47 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein said NLP assembly has a population formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20 nm-300 nm. 
     
     
         48 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%. 
     
     
         49 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.1% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         50 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44  wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to a ratio ranging from about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent; and; wherein said NLP assembly population is formed having a mean particle diameter from about 20 nm-300 nm; and wherein the concentration of said solvent in said NLPs is from about 0.5% to about 14%, and wherein the said concentration of ethanol encapsulated within the nanolipidic particles is from about 0.1% to 15.0%. 
     
     
         51 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said ethanol-containing substance is selected from the group comprising vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, grain alcohol, and liqueurs containing vodka, gin, rum, bourbon, or grain alcohol. 
     
     
         52 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein the concentration of ethanol in said ethanol-loaded NLPs is from about 0.1% to 15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         53 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said nanolipidic particles encapsulated with said ethanol-containing substance are combined with ingredients suitable for consumption in a frozen food product, and the mixture is frozen at an appropriate temperature such that an ethanol-containing frozen food results. 
     
     
         54 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said ethanol-containing frozen food remains in the frozen state for a period of time sufficient for an individual to consume said frozen food. 
     
     
         55 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 46 , wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent is at a ratio of about 1 part precursor to about 10 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded nanolipidic population to about 0.5 parts solvent. 
     
     
         56 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein the stability of said ethanol-loaded nanolipids is such that said ethanol-loaded nanolipids will maintain structural integrity through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. 
     
     
         57 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said precursor solution comprises phospholipids selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         58 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , comprising making one or more additional serial dilutions of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent, wherein said additional dilutions form distinct populations of nanolipidic particles, and wherein said nanolipidic particle populations decrease in size as ethanol concentration in precursor solution increases. 
     
     
         59 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , comprising making one or more additional dilutions of said precursor solution with said ethanol solvent in order to provide a desired number of nanolipidic particles per unit volume 
     
     
         60 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said aqueous solvent further comprises an additional water-soluble passenger molecule. 
     
     
         61 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein one or more lipophilic or amphipathic passenger molecules are added to said precursor solution to form a loaded nanolipidic particle population wherein said nanolipidic particles encapsulate admixed passenger molecules. 
     
     
         62 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 53 , wherein said frozen food is a frozen beverage or dessert having a final ethanol concentration of 0.1% to 15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         63 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 53 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with encapsulated ethanol are in a topping for a frozen dessert, said topping having a final ethanol concentration of up to of 0.1% to 15.0% by volume. 
     
     
         64 . Nanolipidic particles of  claim 44 , wherein said nanolipidic particles with encapsulated ethanol are admixed with nanolipidic particles encapsulating a pharmaceutical product, said admixture is added to ingredients suitable for a frozen food, wherein said frozen mixture is a delivery device for said pharmaceutical.