Oral pouched product with high density load

Abstract

A composition enclosed in a pouch to form a pouched product configured for oral use is provided, the composition including a filler in an amount of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, and at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof. The composition is loaded within the pouch at a density of about 0.45 g/cm3 or higher. Further provided are methods of preparing the pouched product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition enclosed in a pouch to form a pouched product configured for oral use, wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density of about 0.45 g/cm 3  or higher, the composition comprising:
 a filler in an amount of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition; and   at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or both at least one active ingredient and at least one flavorant.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  in the form of a particulate material, one or more compressed tablets, or one or more compressed pellets. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density from about 0.45 g/cm 3  to about 2 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density from about 0.5 g/cm 3  to about 1.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch has a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein each of said length, width, and thickness are in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 40 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises microcrystalline cellulose. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a cellulose derivative. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a salt and at least one sweetener. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the salt is sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one flavorant. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient comprises one or more botanical materials, one or more stimulants, one or more amino acids, one or more vitamins, one or more antioxidants, one or more cannabinoids, one or more cannabimimetics, one or more terpenes, one or more pharmaceutical agents, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient is a stimulant. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the stimulant is caffeine, theanine, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient comprises a cannabinoid. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of nicotine. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one active ingredient comprises a nicotine component. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more vitamins, one or more amino acids, or a combination thereof, as an additional active ingredient. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more organic acids, and optionally an alkali metal salt of the one or more organic acids. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more organic acids is present in the composition in an amount by weight of from about 0.1 to about 10%, or from about 0.1 to about 0.5%, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more organic acids is citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, octanoic acid, benzoic acid, a toluic acid, salicylic acid, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of tobacco. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising magnesium. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making a pouched product configured for oral use comprising a composition enclosed in a pouch, wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density about 0.45 g/cm 3  or higher, the composition comprising a filler in an amount of at least 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or both at least one active ingredient and at least one flavorant, the method comprising:
 blending the filler, the at least one active ingredient, the at least one flavorant, or both to form the composition; and   enclosing the composition in the pouch to form the pouched product.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density from about 0.45 g/cm 3  to about 2 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is loaded within the pouch at a density from about 0.5 g/cm 3  to about 1.5 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is enclosed within the pouch using vacuum filling. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising increasing the density of the composition prior to enclosing in the pouch. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein increasing the density of the composition comprises one or more of decreasing an average particle size of the composition, increasing a moisture level of the composition, and compressing the composition. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein increasing the density of the composition comprises compressing the composition into a predetermined shape, wherein the predetermined shape is a pellet or a tablet. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising granulating the composition with a binder solution to form a plurality of granules prior to the compressing. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising adding one or more salts, binders, sweeteners, buffering agents, colorants, humectants, oral care additives, preservatives, disintegration aids, flow aids, compressibility aids, or combinations thereof to the composition, the binder solution, or to both. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising coating the predetermined shape with a coating composition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the coating composition comprises a flavorant. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein enclosing the composition comprises filling the pouch with one or more tablets or pellets.