Leaf Protein Complex for Lipid-Soluble Material Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delivering and fortifying lipid-soluble materials like vitamins D, E, and K, and fatty acids into the human body is challenging due to their sensitivity and insolubility in low-fat foods, existing carriers being costly or inefficient, and the need for substantial fat usage, which limits their health benefits and stability.
Innovation Solution
A complex of leaf protein and lipid-soluble materials is created, where leaf protein efficiently binds and retains these substances, forming a stable powder suitable for use in foods, supplements, and pharmaceuticals, offering a cost-effective and animal-origin-free alternative to traditional carriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If emulsification is used to deliver lipid-soluble materials, then delivery efficiency is improved, but product safety deteriorates due to use of non-GRAS emulsifiers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, potentially unsafe commercial emulsifiers with inexpensive, GRAS-status leaf protein that forms biodegradable complexes. The leaf protein serves as a temporary carrier that delivers lipid-soluble materials safely through the digestive system without requiring persistent synthetic additives.
Solution Approach 2:
Leaf protein acts as an intermediary substance between lipid-soluble materials and the aqueous digestive environment. It forms soluble complexes that bridge the incompatibility between hydrophobic vitamins/fatty acids and hydrophilic bodily fluids, enabling safe and efficient delivery without direct contact between conflicting substances.
2Stability of the object's composition
If microencapsulation is used to deliver lipid-soluble materials, then stability is improved, but manufacturing cost deteriorates due to expensive materials like cyclodextrins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes expensive microencapsulation materials such as cyclodextrins with inexpensive leaf protein that can be produced at scale from agricultural waste. The leaf protein provides sufficient stabilization without requiring costly commercial additives, making the process economically viable.
3Quantity of substance
If substantial amounts of fat are used as carriers for lipid-soluble materials, then delivery capacity is improved, but health benefits deteriorate due to increased fat intake
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the essential delivery function from fat itself, using leaf protein to carry lipid-soluble materials without requiring the harmful lipid matrix. This separates the beneficial delivery capability from the harmful excess fat intake, allowing delivery capacity without the associated health risks.
4Productivity
If affinity purification methods are used to form protein-vitamin complexes, then binding efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost deteriorates due to costly chromatography processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive affinity chromatography equipment and reagents with simple, scalable precipitation and filtration methods using inexpensive leaf protein. The natural binding affinity of leaf protein for lipid-soluble materials provides sufficient efficiency without requiring costly industrial purification infrastructure.
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 leaf protein complex effectively retains approximately 85% of vitamin D, providing a highly efficient and stable delivery system for lipid-soluble materials, surpassing previous methods in binding efficiency and maintaining nutritional value.
Implementation Method 1
Certain food proteins, particularly milk proteins, had an ability to bind to hydrophobic molecules, making them useful for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive compounds. They reported that beta-lactoglobulin had been found to bind with vitamin D, retinoic acid, cholesterol and various aromatic compounds and fatty acids.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention describes a novel composition of matter describing a complex comprising leaf protein and a lipophilic substance(s), along with the method of producing it. Delivery of lipid-soluble materials into the body is challenging because they are generally highly insoluble in water and very subject to oxidative degradation. The inventors have found that leaf protein—the water-soluble proteins derived from plant leaves—can efficiently form a complex with lipophilic materials. This leaf protein—lipid-soluble material complex is an effective carrier of lipophilic substances. As such, the leaf protein—lipid-soluble material complex disclosed herein can be used for the delivery of lipophilic vitamins, fatty acids, caretenoids, lipophilic drugs, and other lipophilic materials. This complex can be used to deliver lipophiles in foods, nutritional and dietary supplements, topical compositions and in pharmaceutical products.