Aerosolizable Nicotine Formulation With Selective Flavor Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing e-cigarettes struggle to provide an aerosol that mimics the complex flavor and nicotine absorption experience of traditional tobacco products, and there is a desire to reduce harmful toxicants.
Innovation Solution
An aerosolizable formulation comprising water, nicotine, at least one acid, and one or more flavors, with an encapsulating material that preferentially encapsulates flavors over protonated nicotine, optimizing flavor compatibility and reducing toxicant components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If encapsulating material is used to encapsulate flavors, then flavor compatibility and vaping experience are improved, but nicotine encapsulation may occur which reduces nicotine delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by protonating nicotine before introducing the encapsulating material. This pre-treatment modifies nicotine's chemical properties (converting to protonated nicotine form) to prevent it from being encapsulated by the cyclodextrin, while still allowing flavors to be encapsulated. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring nicotine delivery is preserved while achieving flavor compatibility through selective encapsulation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If more encapsulating material is added to improve flavor encapsulation, then flavor stability increases, but the formulation complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical state of nicotine through protonation (changing pH conditions). This parameter change fundamentally alters the interaction dynamics between nicotine and the encapsulating material, enabling selective encapsulation of flavors while excluding nicotine. This resolves the contradiction by achieving flavor stability through encapsulation without requiring excessive amounts of encapsulating material or complex formulation adjustments.
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 formulation enhances the vaping experience by improving flavor compatibility and reducing toxicants, providing a more acceptable and safer inhalation experience.
Implementation Method 1
the encapsulating material encapsulates at least one of the one or more flavors in preference to protonated nicotine
Implementation Method 2
contacting nicotine with at least one acid to partially or completely protonate the nicotine
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosolizable formulation comprising (i) water, (ii) nicotine, (iii) at least one acid, (iv) one or more flavors, and (v) one or more encapsulating materials, wherein the encapsulating material encapsulates at least one of the one or more flavors in preference to protonated nicotine; wherein the molar ratio of (a) encapsulating material encapsulating the one or more flavors to (b) unencapsulated flavors is greater than the molar ratio of (c) encapsulating material encapsulating nicotine to (d) unencapsulated nicotine. A process for forming the aerosolizable formulation, the aerosolizable formulation contained within a container, and an electronic aerosol provision system capable of aerosolizing the aerosolizable formulation for inhalation by a user.