Lecithin-Polysaccharide Dispersion for Stable Aqueous Organic Compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic compounds with limited aqueous solubility, such as creatine, ubiquinone, ubiquinol, and curcuminoids, face challenges in maintaining stability and solubility in liquid formulations, particularly in beverages, leading to degradation and unsuitability for delivery via aqueous vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the combination of lecithin and polysaccharides to form a surfactant solution, admixing the organic compound to create a dispersion, and homogenizing it to produce a colloidal dispersion, followed by optional drying, enhances solubility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If creatine is formulated in aqueous vehicles to improve delivery and bioavailability, then the compound can be delivered via beverages and liquid formulations, but it degrades rapidly by self-cyclizing into creatinine due to low solubility and decreased stability in solution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses cyclodextrins as intermediary molecules that form inclusion complexes with creatine. The cyclodextrin cavity accommodates the creatine molecule, shielding it from water and preventing degradation while maintaining solubility. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling aqueous delivery without direct water-creatine interaction that causes degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite formulations combining creatine with cyclodextrins and other stabilizing agents such as proteins, polysaccharides, or lipids. These composite structures provide both solubility enhancement and stability protection, allowing creatine to be delivered in aqueous vehicles while maintaining reliability through the protective matrix.
2Quantity of substance
If the pH is lowered to increase creatine solubility, then solubility improves, but degradation into creatinine accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
Cyclodextrins act as intermediaries that enable creatine solubility enhancement without requiring pH adjustment. The inclusion complex allows creatine to dissolve in neutral pH aqueous vehicles while the cyclodextrin cavity protects against acid-catalyzed degradation, resolving the solubility-stability trade-off at different pH conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and molecular environment of creatine by forming inclusion complexes, thereby altering its solubility parameters without changing the pH of the aqueous vehicle. This parameter change approach allows maintaining both high solubility and stability at neutral pH.
3Quantity of substance
If high temperatures are used to increase creatine solubility, then solubility improves, but degradation into creatinine increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cyclodextrins serve as thermal protectors and intermediaries that enable creatine to achieve enhanced solubility at lower temperatures. The inclusion complex formation is exothermic or thermoneutral, allowing solubility enhancement without the thermal stress that would otherwise cause degradation into creatinine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary complexation of creatine with cyclodextrins before any heating or processing steps. This preliminary action creates a protected complex that is resistant to thermal degradation, allowing subsequent temperature increases for processing without significant creatinine formation.
4Reliability
If creatine is used in powdered form to maintain stability, then shelf stability is maintained, but it cannot be readily mixed to form solutions from powder mixes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the creatine molecule into a core functional group and a solubilizing shell by forming inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins. The cyclodextrin outer surface provides hydrophilic interactions that enhance powder flow and mixing properties, while the internal creatine core maintains stability. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between stability and mixability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface properties and particle characteristics of creatine through cyclodextrin complexation. The resulting complex has modified hygroscopicity, flowability, and solubility parameters that enable both excellent shelf stability and ready mixing in powder formulations, eliminating the need for pre-dissolution steps.
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 method increases the solubility and stability of organic compounds, allowing them to be used in beverages and other products without significant degradation over shelf time, even under high-heat processing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
combining lecithin, water, and at least one polysaccharide to form a surfactant solution
Implementation Method 2
homogenizing the dispersion to produce a nitrogenous organic acid colloidal dispersion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method for making a shelf-stable organic compound in a more water-soluble form, the higher-solubility form being provided in liquid and/or powder. The method utilizes a surfactant solution comprising lecithin, water, and at least one polysaccharide into which at least one limited-solubility organic compound is admixed to form a dispersion.