Nicotine composition as well as preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a nicotine composition as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The nicotine composition comprises a eutectic solvent, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, the eutectic solvent comprises a hydrogen bond acceptor and natural acid. According to the nicotine composition, the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid are adopted for forming the viscous eutectic solvent for the first time, then the nicotine and / or the nicotine salt are / is embedded through the eutectic solvent, slow release of the nicotine and / or the nicotine salt is achieved, the taste retention time of the nicotine composition is prolonged, and meanwhile due to the fact that the eutectic solvent easily absorbs water, the nicotine composition is easy to absorb water. The viscosity of the eutectic solvent in the oral cavity is reduced after the eutectic solvent absorbs water, so that the nicotine and / or nicotine salt embedded in the eutectic solvent can be quickly released into the oral cavity, the time for getting on the head is shortened, and the use experience of a user is improved. In addition, the nicotine composition is non-irritant to the oral cavity, and the overall use feeling is remarkably improved compared with that of commercially available products.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tobacco products, and in particular to a nicotine composition, a preparation method and an application thereof. Background Art

[0002] Snus is a moist tobacco product containing ground or shredded tobacco that comes in a pouch. Snus is placed under the upper lip near the gums, and the nicotine released from the product is absorbed through the oral mucosa. Compared to cigarettes, snus carries a lower health risk because no tobacco is burned during use and the lungs are not directly exposed to toxic substances. Currently, snus is prepared using dry and wet methods, mixing solids such as cellulose with solid nicotine. The snus obtained using these methods struggles to achieve a controlled release of nicotine, and the mixing step between the solids makes it difficult to evenly mix the nicotine and cellulose. Consequently, existing snus suffer from the following common problems: a slow and short-lasting high, rapid flavor decay, and alkaline snus that can irritate the mouth and produce a burning sensation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to overcome at least one of the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a nicotine composition.

[0004] A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a nicotine composition.

[0005] A third object of the present invention is to provide a buccal cigarette.

[0006] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a nicotine composition for use in tobacco products.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention provides a nicotine composition; the nicotine composition comprises a eutectic solvent, nicotine and / or a nicotine salt; the eutectic solvent comprises a hydrogen bond acceptor and a natural acid.

[0009] In the present invention, hydrogen bond acceptors combine with natural acids to form a viscous eutectic solvent. This eutectic solvent encapsulates nicotine and / or nicotine salts, enabling sustained release of the nicotine and / or nicotine salts during use. This prolongs the duration of the high, slows the flavor decay, and enhances the user experience of the nicotine composition. Furthermore, the eutectic solvent readily absorbs water. After absorbing moisture from the oral cavity, the viscosity of the eutectic solvent rapidly decreases, allowing the nicotine and / or nicotine salts embedded within the eutectic solvent to be rapidly released into the oral cavity, shortening the duration of the high and allowing users to experience a quick high.

[0010] Preferably, the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid serving as the hydrogen bond donor are bound to each other through hydrogen bonds.

[0011] Preferably, the hydrogen bond acceptor is selected from crown ethers, cryptands, cyclodextrins, calixarene, C 60 , at least one of calixpyrrole, calixcarbazole, cucurbituril, and pillar aromatics.

[0012] Preferably, the cyclodextrin is selected from at least one of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin; further preferably, the cyclodextrin is β-cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrin can impart excellent stability to the nicotine composition of the present invention. Furthermore, since cyclodextrin is a natural ingredient, the nicotine composition using cyclodextrin is safer and less expensive.

[0013] Preferably, the natural acid comprises at least one of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid and mucic acid.

[0014] Preferably, the nicotine salt is selected from at least one of nicotine benzoate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine lactate, nicotine malate, nicotine citrate, nicotine ascorbate, nicotine aspartate, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine fumarate, nicotine gentisate, nicotine mucate, nicotine laurate, nicotine levulinate, nicotine perchlorate, nicotine pyruvate, nicotine sorbate, and nicotine succinate; further preferably, the nicotine salt is selected from at least one of nicotine benzoate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine lactate, nicotine malate, and nicotine citrate.

[0015] Preferably, the molar ratio of the natural acid to the hydrogen bond acceptor is (5-10):1.

[0016] Preferably, the nicotine composition comprises the following components in parts by weight: 70 to 99.65 parts of a eutectic solvent, and 0.1 to 10 parts of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt.

[0017] Preferably, the nicotine composition further comprises 0.2 to 20 parts by weight of additives.

[0018] Preferably, the additive is selected from at least one of flavors, cooling agents, sweeteners, acidity regulators, anticaking agents, antioxidants, colorants, moisture retainers, and preservatives.

[0019] Preferably, the additive comprises the following components in parts by weight: 0.05 to 10 parts of flavor, 0.1 to 5 parts of cooling agent, and 0.1 to 5 parts of sweetener.

[0020] Preferably, the fragrance is selected from at least one of peppermint oil, lemon oil, sweet orange oil, grapefruit oil, blueberry essence, cherry essence, grape essence, strawberry essence, apple essence, lavender oil, lemongrass oil, banana essence, milk essence, and raspberry essence.

[0021] Preferably, the sweetener is at least one selected from the group consisting of honey, white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, aspartame, xylitol, maltitol, saccharin sodium, tripotassium glycyrrhizate, and jujube.

[0022] Preferably, the cooling agent is at least one selected from borneol, menthol, cooling agent WS-23, and cooling agent WS-3.

[0023] Preferably, the nicotine composition comprises 70-99.65 parts by weight of a eutectic solvent, 0.1-10 parts by weight of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt, 0.05-10 parts by weight of a flavor, 0.1-5 parts by weight of a cooling agent, and 0.1-5 parts by weight of a sweetener.

[0024] Preferably, the pH of the nicotine composition is neutral or acidic.

[0025] The second aspect of the present invention provides a method for preparing the nicotine composition provided in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising the following steps:

[0026] S1: Mix the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid at elevated temperature to obtain a eutectic solvent;

[0027] S2: mixing the eutectic solvent, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, and optional additives to prepare the nicotine composition.

[0028] In the present invention, the eutectic solvent, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, and optional additives are all mixed by liquid mixing. Compared with solid mixing, the present invention has a better mixing effect, a more uniform distribution of components of the nicotine composition, and a longer-lasting flavor.

[0029] Preferably, the heating temperature is 60-90°C.

[0030] Preferably, the preparation method specifically comprises the following steps:

[0031] Step 1: heating and stirring the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid at 60-90° C. until a eutectic solvent of the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid is formed;

[0032] Step 2: adding flavor, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, cooling agent, and sweetener, and stirring until the mixture is uniform to obtain the nicotine composition.

[0033] The third aspect of the present invention provides a buccal cigarette, comprising a covering material and the covering material according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the covering material covers the outside of the nicotine composition.

[0034] Preferably, the mass ratio of the coating material to the nicotine composition is 1:(1-200).

[0035] Preferably, the covering material is non-woven fabric; further preferably, the covering material is a non-woven bag.

[0036] Preferably, the method for preparing the snus is: coating the outer surface of the nicotine composition with a layer of coating material. Further preferably, the method for preparing the snus is: encapsulating the nicotine composition into a non-woven fabric to obtain the snus.

[0037] The fourth aspect of the present invention provides use of the nicotine composition provided in the first aspect of the present invention in a tobacco product.

[0038] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: the nicotine composition of the present invention utilizes a hydrogen bond acceptor and a natural acid to form a viscous eutectic solvent, which then encapsulates nicotine and / or nicotine salts within the eutectic solvent, achieving sustained release of the nicotine and / or nicotine salts and prolonging the flavor retention of the nicotine composition. Furthermore, since the eutectic solvent readily absorbs water, its viscosity decreases within the oral cavity, allowing for rapid release of the encapsulated nicotine and / or nicotine salts into the oral cavity, shortening the intoxication time and enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, the nicotine composition of the present invention is non-irritating to the oral cavity, and its overall user experience is significantly improved compared to commercially available products.

[0039] The preparation method of the nicotine composition of the present invention is simple and easy to operate, and the preparation conditions are mild. The use of liquid for mixing makes the components of the prepared nicotine composition more uniform and the taste more uniform. In addition, since natural ingredients with a wide range of sources are used, the cost is lower and it is suitable for mass production.

[0040] The buccal cigarette of the present invention uses all natural ingredients, does not contain any toxic or harmful substances, and can slowly release additives such as sweeteners and flavors embedded in the eutectic solvent. The taste is more lasting and natural than that of general buccal cigarette products. In addition, the buccal cigarette of the present invention has a short high time and a long high duration, is non-irritating to the oral cavity, and has a good overall use effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 This is a physical picture of the nicotine composition in Example 1.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a physical picture of the nicotine composition in Comparative Example 1.

[0043] Figure 3 1 is a test graph of nicotine release curves of the nicotine compositions in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The specific implementation of the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples, but the implementation and protection of the present invention are not limited thereto. It should be noted that if there are any processes that are not particularly described in detail below, they can be implemented or understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the prior art. The reagents or instruments used that do not indicate the manufacturer are all conventional products that can be purchased commercially.

[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the nicotine composition of the present invention comprises a co-crystal solvent, nicotine and / or a nicotine salt; the co-crystal solvent comprises a hydrogen bond acceptor and a natural acid. In some embodiments, the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid are bound by hydrogen bonds, wherein the natural acid acts as a hydrogen bond donor.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the hydrogen bond acceptor is selected from crown ethers, cryptands, cyclodextrins, calixarene, C 60 , at least one of calixpyrrole, calixcarbazole, cucurbituril, and pillar arene; in some embodiments, the hydrogen bond acceptor is cyclodextrin.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cyclodextrin is selected from at least one of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, and γ-cyclodextrin; in some embodiments, the cyclodextrin is β-cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrin can impart excellent stability to the nicotine composition of the present invention. Furthermore, since cyclodextrin is a natural ingredient, the nicotine composition using cyclodextrin is safer and less expensive.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, the natural acid comprises at least one of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, and mucic acid.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, the nicotine salt is selected from at least one of nicotine benzoate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine lactate, nicotine malate, nicotine citrate, nicotine ascorbate, nicotine aspartate, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine fumarate, nicotine gentisate, nicotine mucate, nicotine laurate, nicotine levulinate, nicotine perchlorate, nicotine pyruvate, nicotine sorbate, and nicotine succinate; in some embodiments, the nicotine salt is selected from at least one of nicotine benzoate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine lactate, nicotine malate, and nicotine citrate.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the molar ratio of the natural acid to the hydrogen bond acceptor is (5-10):1; in some embodiments, the molar ratio of the natural acid to the hydrogen bond acceptor is (5-8):1; and in some embodiments, the molar ratio of the natural acid to the hydrogen bond acceptor is (5-6):1. In the eutectic solvent, a higher content of the hydrogen bond acceptor results in a better sustained-release effect.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, the nicotine composition comprises the following components in parts by weight: 70-99.65 parts of a eutectic solvent, 0.1-10 parts of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt. In some embodiments, the nicotine composition comprises the following components in parts by weight: 70-99.65 parts of a eutectic solvent, 0.1-10 parts of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt, and 0.2-20 parts of an additive. In some embodiments, the nicotine composition comprises 70-99.65 parts of a eutectic solvent, 0.1-10 parts of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt, 0.05-10 parts of a flavoring, 0.1-5 parts of a cooling agent, and 0.1-5 parts of a sweetener.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present invention, the additive is selected from at least one of flavors, cooling agents, sweeteners, acidity regulators, anticaking agents, antioxidants, colorants, moisture retainers, and preservatives.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fragrance is selected from at least one of peppermint oil, lemon oil, sweet orange oil, grapefruit oil, blueberry essence, cherry essence, grape essence, strawberry essence, apple essence, lavender oil, lemongrass oil, banana essence, milk essence, and raspberry essence.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sweetener is selected from at least one of honey, white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, aspartame, xylitol, maltitol, saccharin sodium, tripotassium glycyrrhizate, and jujube.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cooling agent is selected from at least one of borneol, menthol, cooling agent WS-23, and cooling agent WS-3.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention further provides a method for preparing the above-mentioned nicotine composition, comprising the following steps:

[0057] S1: Mix the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid at elevated temperature to obtain a eutectic solvent;

[0058] S2: preparing the eutectic by mixing nicotine and / or nicotine salt, and optionally added additives.

[0059] In some embodiments of the present invention, the heating temperature is 60-90°C.

[0060] In some embodiments of the present invention, a snus is provided, comprising the nicotine composition of the above embodiments and a coating material coated on the outer surface of the nicotine composition. In some embodiments, the coating material is a non-woven fabric; in some embodiments, the coating material is a non-woven bag.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, the mass ratio of the coating material to the nicotine composition is 1:(1-200); in some embodiments, the mass ratio of the coating material to the nicotine composition is 1:(50-200); in some embodiments, the mass ratio of the coating material to the nicotine composition is 1:(50-150).

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for preparing the buccal cigarette specifically comprises the following steps:

[0063] Step 1: heating and stirring the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid at 60-90° C. until a eutectic solvent of the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid is formed;

[0064] Step 2: adding flavoring, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, cooling agent, and sweetener, and stirring until uniformly mixed to obtain a nicotine composition;

[0065] Step 3: Encapsulate the nicotine composition into non-woven fabric to obtain a snus.

[0066] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments:

[0067] Examples 1 to 10

[0068] The components of the snus in Examples 1 to 10 and the mass of each component are shown in Table 1 below.

[0069] Table 1 Components of the snus in Examples 1 to 10 and the mass of each component

[0070]

[0071]

[0072] The buccal cigarette in Example 1 was prepared by the following preparation method, which specifically comprises the following steps:

[0073] (1) 34.7 g of cyclodextrin and 35.3 g of citric acid were heated at 80°C while stirring until a transparent eutectic solution was obtained;

[0074] (2) Add 10 g of nicotine benzoate salt, 5 g of cooling agent, 5 g of sweetener, and 10 g of lemon oil to the eutectic solution, heat and stir until the mixture is evenly mixed, and cool to obtain a gel-like nicotine composition;

[0075] (3) The nicotine composition obtained in step (2) is placed in a non-woven fabric and sealed to prepare the buccal cigarette in this example.

[0076] The actual picture of the nicotine composition in this example is as follows Figure 1 As shown, it is in the form of a mixed colloid.

[0077] The snus in Examples 2 to 10 were all prepared by referring to the preparation method of the snus in Example 1.

[0078] Comparative Example 1

[0079] The snus in this example is a commercially available product with the trade name: Flavor Lightning, denoted as sales product 1. The nicotine composition contained in the non-woven bag of the snus in this example is in powder form, as shown in the figure. Figure 2 The nicotine composition in this example contains 10% by mass of nicotine benzoate salt. Compared with the nicotine composition in commercially available oral tobacco products, the nicotine composition in Example 1 is more uniform and easier to release.

[0080] Performance testing:

[0081] (1) Nicotine release performance test

[0082] The snus in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were respectively placed in 50 mL of phosphate buffer with a pH value of 8.1 and stirred at the same speed of 200 rpm. 0.1 mL of the sample was sampled every 5 minutes and the nicotine concentration was tested by liquid chromatography to obtain the relationship between the sustained release of nicotine and time, and then the nicotine release curve was drawn. The specific test results are shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown. Figure 3 As can be seen, the nicotine in the snus of Example 1 is released evenly, while the nicotine in the snus of Comparative Example 1 is released rapidly between 0 and 5 minutes, with minimal, if any, release between 5 and 30 minutes. The sustained-release effects of nicotine in the snus of Examples 2-10 are essentially the same as those in the Examples. This demonstrates that the snus of the present invention exhibits both rapid and sustained release during use, allowing users to experience a quick, long-lasting "high."

[0083] (2) Sensory evaluation

[0084] The performance of the buccal cigarettes prepared in Examples 1 to 10 of the present invention are substantially the same. For ease of illustration, the present invention selects the buccal cigarettes in Example 1, Example 4, and Example 9 for sensory evaluation. The specific evaluation method is as follows:

[0085] In this experiment, 12 professional sensory evaluators, 6 males and 6 females, were selected to taste snus products. The selected samples were: the snus of Example 1, the snus of Example 4, the snus of Example 9, the snus of Comparative Example 1 (i.e., Product 1), Product 2 (trade name: Flavor Lightning, nicotine content of 2% by mass), and Product 3 (trade name: Flavor Lightning, nicotine benzoate salt content of 8% by mass). The snus products were tested for head rush time, head rush duration, oral irritation, and overall evaluation. The head rush time refers to the time from the start of snus use to the absorption of the human body to produce the initial "head rush" sensation, and the head rush duration refers to the time from the initial onset of the "head rush" sensation to the disappearance of the "head rush" sensation. The overall evaluation is a comprehensive evaluation of the four dimensions of flavor, head rush time, head rush duration, and oral irritation, and the average score is calculated. A score of 80 or above is excellent, 40-80 is fair, and below 40 is poor. The results obtained by the above test method are shown in Table 2 below.

[0086] Table 2 Sensory evaluation test results of Example 1, Example 4, Example 9, and sold products

[0087]

[0088] In summary, the present invention is the first to use cyclodextrin and natural acid to form a eutectic solvent to prepare nicotine buccal cigarettes. The preparation method is simple, and the ingredients are all natural materials. The resulting buccal cigarettes have a short high time, a long high duration, and low irritation, significantly superior to currently available products. In addition, in the present invention, cyclodextrin and natural acid interact through hydrogen bonds to form a relatively viscous colloid. Nicotine or nicotine salt is coated in the above colloid to achieve a sustained release effect, thereby increasing the duration of the high. After the eutectic solvent formed by cyclodextrin and natural acid absorbs oral moisture, its viscosity drops sharply, causing the embedded nicotine to be rapidly partially released into the mouth, shortening the high time.

[0089] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications may be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof may be combined with one another unless there is a conflict.

Claims

1. A nicotine composition, characterized in that: The nicotine composition comprises a co-crystal solvent, nicotine and / or a nicotine salt; the co-crystal solvent comprises a hydrogen bond acceptor and a natural acid.

2. The nicotine composition according to claim 1, wherein: The natural acid includes at least one of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, and mucic acid; And / or, the hydrogen bond acceptor is selected from crown ethers, cryptands, cyclodextrins, calixarene, C 60 , at least one of calixpyrrole, calixcarbazole, cucurbituril, and pillararenes; and / or the nicotine salt is at least one selected from the group consisting of nicotine benzoate, nicotine salicylate, nicotine lactate, nicotine malate, nicotine citrate, nicotine ascorbate, nicotine aspartate, nicotine monotartrate, nicotine bitartrate, nicotine fumarate, nicotine gentisate, nicotine mucate, nicotine laurate, nicotine levulinate, nicotine perchlorate, nicotine pyruvate, nicotine sorbate, and nicotine succinate; And / or, the molar ratio of the natural acid to the hydrogen bond acceptor is (5-10):

1.

3. The nicotine composition according to claim 1, wherein: The nicotine composition comprises the following components in parts by weight: 70 to 99.65 parts by weight of a eutectic solvent, and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of nicotine and / or a nicotine salt.

4. The nicotine composition according to claim 3, wherein: The nicotine composition further comprises 0.2 to 20 parts by weight of additives.

5. The nicotine composition according to claim 4, characterized in that: The additive is selected from at least one of flavoring, cooling agent, sweetener, acidity regulator, anticaking agent, antioxidant, colorant, moisture retainer, and preservative; Alternatively, the additives include the following components in parts by weight: 0.05 to 10 parts by weight of flavor, 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of cooling agent, and 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of sweetener.

6. The nicotine composition according to claim 5, characterized in that: The fragrance is selected from at least one of peppermint oil, lemon oil, sweet orange oil, grapefruit oil, blueberry essence, cherry essence, grape essence, strawberry essence, apple essence, lavender oil, lemongrass oil, banana essence, milk essence, and raspberry essence; And / or, the sweetener is at least one selected from honey, white sugar, brown sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, aspartame, xylitol, maltitol, saccharin sodium, tripotassium glycyrrhizate, and jujube; And / or, the cooling agent is selected from at least one of borneol, menthol, cooling agent WS-23, and cooling agent WS-3.

7. The method for preparing the nicotine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1: Mix the hydrogen bond acceptor and the natural acid at elevated temperature to obtain a eutectic solvent; S2: mixing the eutectic solvent, nicotine and / or nicotine salt, and optional additives to prepare the nicotine composition.

8. The method for preparing the nicotine composition according to claim 7, wherein: The heating temperature is 60-90°C.

9. A buccal cigarette, characterized in that: The buccal cigarette comprises a coating material and the saline-alkali composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the coating material coats the outside of the nicotine composition.

10. Use of the nicotine composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in tobacco products.

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