Nanolipidic particles

Abstract

Nanolipidic Particles (NLPs) having average mean diameters of 1 nm to 20 nm are made from a precursor solution. NLPs can be loaded with a desired passenger molecule. Assemblies of these particles, called NLP assemblies, result in a vehicle population of a desired size. Single application or multifunction NLP assemblies are made from the loaded NLPs and range in size from about 30 to about 200 nm. A method of using preloaded NLPs to make larger carrier vehicles or a mixed population provides increased encapsulation efficiency. NLPs have application in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries.

Description

Claims

1. A method for making an NLP assembly population, comprising the steps of: (a) adding a lipophilic or amphipathic passenger molecule to a precursor solution to form a loaded vehicle population;(b) diluting said loaded vehicle population with a non-aqueous solvent to form a NLP loaded particle population; and(c) adding an aliquot of a selected NLP particle population to an aqueous solvent to form a NLP assembly population having a mean particle diameter of about 20 to about 200 nm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said non-aqueous solvent is from about 1 part loaded vehicle population to about 20 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded vehicle population to about 0.3 parts solvent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said non-aqueous solvent is from about 1 part loaded vehicle population to about 10 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded vehicle population to about 0.5 parts solvent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said aqueous solution further comprises a water-soluble passenger molecule.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein two or more different passenger molecules are added to said precursor solution to form NLP particles encapsulating admixed passenger molecules.

6. A method for making an NLP assembly population, comprising the steps of: (a) diluting a precursor solution with a non-aqueous solvent to form solvent diluted stock solution; and(b) adding an aqueous solution comprising a water soluble passenger molecule to said solvent diluted stock solution, whereby an NLP assembly population is formed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said non-aqueous solvent is from about 1 part precursor to about 20 parts solvent to about 1 part precursor to about 0.3 parts solvent.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said diluting of said precursor solution with said non-aqueous solvent is from about 1 part precursor to about 10 parts solvent to about 1 part loaded vehicle population to about 0.5 parts solvent.

9. One or more NLPs formed from dilution of a precursor solution with a non-aqueous solvent, said NLP sized from about 1 nm to about 20 nm.

10. The NLPs of claim 9, wherein the NLPS are sized from about 6 to about 12 nm.

11. An NLP assembly population formed from dilution of a precursor solution with a non-aqueous solvent, followed by further dilution with an aqueous solvent, wherein the mean size of each assembly is from about 30 to about 200 nm.

12. The NLP assembly population of claim 11, wherein the mean size is from about 80 to about 110 nm.

13. The NLP assembly population of claim 11, wherein the mean size is from about 110 to about 140 nm.

14. The NLP assembly population of claim 12, wherein the mean size is from about 150 to about 200 nm.

15. Encapsulating carrier vehicles formed from addition of passenger molecules to precursor stock to form preloaded NLPs, dilution of preloaded NLPs with a non-aqueous solvent to form solvent diluted preloaded NLPS, and adding said solvent diluted NLPs to an aqueous solution.

16. The carrier vehicles of claim 15, wherein said the mean size is between about 200 nm and about 300 nm.

17. A method for increasing the efficiency of encapsulation of a passenger molecule by a carrier vehicle, comprising adding preloaded NLPs to a non-aqueous solvent to form solvent diluted preloaded NLPs, followed by adding said solvent diluted preloaded NLPs to an aqueous solvent.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said aqueous solvent further comprises molecules which associate with the exterior of said NLPs.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said molecules are a carbohydrate.

20. A preparation for oral consumption made by adding preloaded NLPs to a non-aqueous solvent to form solvent diluted preloaded NLPs, followed by adding said solvent diluted preloaded NLPs to an aqueous solvent.

21. The preparation of claim 20, wherein the preloaded NLPs contain passenger molecules the taste of which will be masked upon oral ingestion by a user.

22. The preparation of claim 20, wherein said preparation comprises NLPs to which an agent has been associated with said NLP exterior to provide a desired property to said NLP.

23. The preparation of claim 22, wherein said agent is a flavoring agent.

24. The preparation of claim 22, wherein said agent is capable of binding for a desired period to a user's mouth cavity.

25. A preparation for topical application made by adding preloaded NLPs to a non-aqueous solvent to form solvent diluted preloaded NLPs, followed by adding said solvent diluted preloaded NLPs to an aqueous solvent.

26. An optically clear solution comprising a population of preloaded NLPs.

27. The solution of claim 26, wherein said NLPs are less than 150 nm in size.

28. A method of reducing the size of NLPs, comprising heating said preparation to a temperature of up to about 220 degrees Fahrenheit.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said heating provides an additional benefit of reducing the bacterial load.