Flavourant provider and smoking substitute device

Abstract

Provided herein is a flavourant provider for a smoking substitute device wherein polysaccharide fibres are cross linked by a flavourant microcapsule and/or nano capsule. Also provided is use of the flavourant provider and a method of forming the flavourant provider.

1 . A flavourant provider for a smoking substitute device comprising polysaccharide fibres that are cross-linked by a flavourant microcapsule and/or nanocapsule. 
     
     
         2 . The flavourant provider according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each link between the polysaccharide fibres and the flavourant microcapsule and/or nanocapsule comprises a bridging group formed from an organic polyacid. 
     
     
         3 . The flavourant provider according to  claim 2 , wherein the organic polyacid is a polycarboxylic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The flavourant provider according to  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide fibres comprise or consist of cellulose, optionally wherein the polysaccharide fibres comprise or consist of cotton. 
     
     
         5 . A smoking substitute device comprising a flavourant provider of  claim 1 , the smoking substitute device having a fluid inlet that is fluidly connected to a fluid outlet by a passageway in which an aerosol generator is positioned. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 5 , wherein the flavourant provider is positioned in the passageway between the fluid outlet and the aerosol generator. 
     
     
         7 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 6 , wherein the flavourant provider is frictionally disposed in the passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 5 , wherein the flavourant provider is positioned between a reservoir for an aerosol precursor and a heating element, such that the flavourant provider acts as a wick for delivering aerosol precursor to the heating element. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 5 , wherein there are a plurality of flavourant providers. 
     
     
         10 . The smoking substitute device according to  claim 5 , comprising an aerosol precursor that is substantially free of flavourant. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a flavourant provider for a smoking substitute device comprising a step of cross-linking polysaccharide fibres with a flavourant microcapsule and/or nano capsule. 
     
     
         13 . The method of forming a flavourant provider according to  claim 12 , wherein the cross-linking step is performed under acidic conditions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of forming a flavourant provider according to  claim 12  wherein, before the step of cross-linking the polysaccharide fibres with the flavourant microcapsule and/or nano capsule, there is a step of functionalising the polysaccharide fibres with an organic polyacid such that at least one acid group of the organic polyacid remains available. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the flavourant provider comprises polysaccharide fibres that are cross-linked by a flavourant microcapsule and/or nano capsule is.