Erythritol Tablet with Coarse Particles and Binder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oral delivery vehicles, such as compressed tablets, face challenges in balancing convenience and attractive taste, particularly due to the limitations of using direct compressible erythritol, which do not provide an optimal salivation effect and mouthfeel.

Innovation Solution

The use of non-direct compressible erythritol particles in combination with other sugar alcohols and binders, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, to create a tablet with a high erythritol content that offers improved salivation and taste while maintaining mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If direct compressible erythritol is used in tablets, then the tablet can be manufactured with ease, but the salivation effect and mouthfeel are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalivation effect and mouthfeelVSAvoidmanufacturability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of erythritol from conventional fine particles to coarse particles with specific size ranges (D10: 150-300 μm, D50: 300-600 μm, D90: 600-1200 μm). This parameter change enables non-direct compressible erythritol to be used while achieving improved salivation effect and mouthfeel, resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and sensory quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite particle system by combining coarse erythritol particles with binders (such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or starch) in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the use of non-direct compressible erythritol while maintaining tablet manufacturability, as the binder compensates for the poor compressibility of coarse erythritol particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If high content of non-direct compressible erythritol particles is used, then the salivation effect and taste are improved, but the tablet mechanical stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesalivation effect and tasteVSAvoidmechanical stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the particle size distribution parameters of erythritol to achieve a balance between salivation effect and mechanical stability. The specific D10, D50, and D90 ranges ensure that coarse particles provide good mouthfeel while the distribution pattern maintains adequate tablet strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining non-direct compressible erythritol with specific binders in optimized ratios (binder content: 1-10% by weight). This composite structure allows high erythritol content (90-99% by weight) to be used while the binder provides the necessary mechanical stability, resolving the contradiction between sensory quality and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Shape

If coarse erythritol particles are used to improve mouthfeel, then the particle size increases, but the compressibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle size for mouthfeelVSAvoidcompressibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameters of erythritol to coarse ranges (D10: 150-300 μm, D50: 300-600 μm, D90: 600-1200 μm) to improve mouthfeel and salivation effect. This parameter change is made possible by using non-direct compressible erythritol grade material, which is specifically suited for this application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces binders (hydroxypropyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or starch) as intermediary substances that facilitate the compression of coarse erythritol particles. These binders act as mediators that enable tablet formation from particles that would otherwise be difficult to compress, resolving the contradiction between particle size for mouthfeel and compressibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in a tablet that provides a fast and attractive disintegration and dissolving experience, enhancing user perception and mouthfeel, while maintaining mechanical stability and avoiding the limitations of direct compressible erythritol.

Implementation Method 1

Binders are the substances that promotes cohesiveness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCohesion: Cohesion

Implementation Method 2

the non-DC erythritol particles serves as a means for salivation which is both attractive to the user and also serves for the purpose of dissolving the further sugar alcohol particles when the tablet is chewed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution:

Data Source

PatentEP3541359B1Tablet comprising separate binder and erythritol
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 FERTIN PHARMA AS

AI summary

The invention relates to an oral delivery vehicle tablet, the delivery vehicle tablet being formed by compression of a plurality of particles, wherein the oral delivery vehicle tablet comprises sugar alcohol(s) in an amount of 40 to 99.9 % by weight of the delivery vehicle tablet, wherein the oral delivery vehicle tablet comprises non-direct compressible (non-DC) erythritol particles in an amount of 15-50% by weight of the delivery vehicle tablet, wherein the oral delivery vehicle tablet comprises one or more binders other than binders granulated to the sugar alcohol(s) in an amount of 0.1 to 6% by weight of the tablet, wherein the delivery vehicle tablet comprises a plurality of further sugar alcohol particles in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the delivery vehicle tablet and wherein said further sugar alcohols particles have a composition which is different from said non-DC erythritol.