Flavored Vaporizable Formulation with Cyclodextrins for Flavor Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current e-cigarette formulations experience significant loss of flavors over time due to limited solubility in the base fluid, primarily composed of glycerol and propylene glycol, which negatively impacts the user's sensory experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating cyclodextrins into the flavored vaporizable formulation, which can contain up to 10% water, to enhance the solubility and stability of flavors, thereby reducing flavor loss over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glycerol and propylene glycol are used as base fluids, then the formulation is compatible with e-cigarette heating systems, but the solubility of flavors is limited causing flavor loss over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a co-solvent system comprising polar aprotic solvents (such as dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, or propylene carbonate) as intermediary substances that mediate between the hydrophobic flavor compounds and the hydrophilic base fluids (glycerol/propylene glycol). This co-solvent layer enhances flavor solubility and stability without compromising heating system compatibility, as the entire mixture remains compatible with existing e-cigarette hardware.
2Ease of operation
If higher flavor application rates are used, then the sensory experience is enhanced, but the solubility limit is exceeded causing precipitation and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the base fluid by incorporating polar aprotic solvents with high dielectric constants and specific solubility characteristics. This parameter change allows the system to dissolve higher concentrations of flavor compounds (achving application rates exceeding 10% w/w in some embodiments) while maintaining solution stability and preventing precipitation during storage and vaporization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If water content is increased to improve flavor solubility, then flavor stability improves, but vaporization performance and throat hit quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite solvent system combining multiple components: glycerol and/or propylene glycol (for vaporization quality and throat hit), polar aprotic solvents (for flavor solubility and stability), and controlled amounts of water (0-5% w/w) to enhance flavor dissolution. This composite material approach allows the formulation to simultaneously achieve flavor stability and high-quality vaporization performance by leveraging the complementary properties of each component.
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
The use of cyclodextrins significantly increases the solubility and stability of flavors, maintaining a consistent sensory experience by reducing volatility and precipitation, thus extending the flavor retention in e-cigarette liquids.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating cyclodextrins into the flavored vaporizable formulation, which can contain up to 10% water, to enhance the solubility and stability of flavors
Implementation Method 2
When a user inhales on the device, a heater is activated to vaporize a small amount of liquid, which is therefore inhaled by the user
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a flavored vaporizable formulation comprising (i) one or more solvents; (ii) a flavor; and (iii) one or more cyclodextrins; wherein the flavored vaporizable formulation contains water in an amount of from 0 to 10 wt. % based on the vaporizable formulation.