Methods and systems for forming multi-layered particles

Abstract

Provided is a method of encapsulation, the method including: providing a first mixture; applying heat to the first mixture until the first mixture reaches a first temperature; providing a second mixture; applying heat to the second mixture until the second mixture reaches a second temperature; mixing the first mixture with the second mixture to obtain a third mixture; providing a fourth mixture; applying heat to the fourth mixture until the fourth mixture reaches a third temperature; mixing the third mixture with the fourth mixture to obtain a fifth mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of encapsulation, the method comprising:
 providing a first mixture, the first mixture comprising:
 a first plurality of lipophilic carriers; 
 a first plurality of active ingredients; 
 a first polymer; and 
 a first plurality of emulsifying agents; 
   applying heat to the first mixture until the first mixture reaches a first temperature;   providing a second mixture, the second mixture comprising:
 an aqueous solution; and 
 a second polymer; 
   applying heat to the second mixture until the second mixture reaches a second temperature;   mixing the first mixture with the second mixture to obtain a third mixture;   providing a fourth mixture, the fourth mixture comprising:
 a second plurality of lipophilic carriers; 
 a third polymer; and 
 a second plurality of emulsifying agents; 
   applying heat to the fourth mixture until the fourth mixture reaches a third temperature;   mixing the third mixture with the fourth mixture to obtain a fifth mixture;   providing a sixth mixture, the sixth mixture comprising:
 an aqueous solution; 
   applying heat to the sixth mixture until the sixth mixture reaches a fourth temperature; and   mixing the fifth mixture with the sixth mixture to obtain a seventh mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first polymer has a first glass transition temperature; and   the first temperature is above the first glass transition temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second mixture has a third plurality of emulsifying agents.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fourth mixture further comprising:
 a crosslinking agent for the second polymer. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first polymer has a first glass transition temperature;   the third polymer has a second glass transition temperature; and   the first glass transition temperature is higher than the second glass transition temperature.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adding a thickening agent to the seventh mixture, wherein the thickening agent is a polysaccharide. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of emulsifying agents is selected from the group consisting of an extract of  Quillaja , lecithin, monoglycerides, polysorbate 80, polysorbate 20, Polyglycerol polyricinoleate, gum acacia, Xanthan gum, sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol, and sodium alginate.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of emulsifying agents has a first hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value;   the second plurality of emulsifying agents has a second hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value; and   the first hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value is higher than the second hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sixth mixture further comprising:
 a third plurality of emulsifying agents. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adding a fourth plurality of emulsifying agents to the fifth mixture before mixing the fifth mixture with the sixth mixture, wherein:
 the second plurality of emulsifying agents has a second hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value; 
 the fourth plurality of emulsifying agents has a third hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value; and 
 the third hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value is higher than the second hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of active ingredients comprises a source of cannabinoids, wherein the source of cannabinoids is selected from the group consisting of cannabigerol, cannabigerolic acid, cannabigerolic acid monomethylether, cannabigerol monomethyl ether, cannabichromene, cannabichromanon, cannabichromenic acid, cannabichromevarin, cannabichromevarinic acid, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabinol, iso-tetrahydrocannabinol-type, cannabinol, cannabinolic acid, cannabinol methylether, cannabicyclol-type, cannabicyclolic acid, cannabicyclovarin, cannabicitran, cannabitriol, cannabitriolvarin, cannabivarin, cannabifuran, and cannabiripsol.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of lipophilic carriers is selected from the group consisting of short-chain triglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, long-chain triglycerides, medium-chain partial glycerides, polyoxyethylated fatty alcohols, polyethylene glycol, and vegetable oil.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 mixing the first mixture with the second mixture is done at a first shear rate;   mixing the third mixture with the fourth mixture is done at a second shear rate; and   the first shear rate is higher than the second shear rate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the seventh mixture comprises:
 a dispersion medium comprising the sixth mixture; and 
 a dispersed phase comprising droplets of the fifth mixture. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the droplets of the fifth mixture have a mean diameter of less than 1 micron.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 cooling the seventh mixture to a fifth temperature, wherein:
 the first polymer has a first glass transition temperature; 
 the third polymer has a second glass transition temperature; and 
 the fifth temperature is less than the first and the second glass transition temperatures. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first plurality of active ingredients is selected from the group consisting of hemp,  cannabis, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Acmella oleracea, Helichrysum umbraculigerum, Radula marginata, kava , black truffle,  Syzygium aromaticum, Rosmarinus  oficinalis, basil, oregano, lavender, true cinnamon,  malabathrum, cananga odorata , Riboflavin, Theanine,  Ginkgo Biloba, Bacopa , and  Rhodiola Rosea  Extract.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least 50% by weight of the first plurality of active ingredients is not released within 30 minutes after consumption of the seventh mixture.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the weight ratio of the first mixture to the second mixture is from 1:1.5 to 1:5;   the weight ratio of the third mixture to the fourth mixture is from 1:1.5 to 1:5; and   the weight ratio of the fifth mixture to the sixth mixture is from 1:1.5 to 1:5.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fourth mixture further comprising:
 a second plurality of active ingredients, the second plurality of active ingredients comprises:
 at least one source of bioavailibity enhancer.