CARRIER FOR THE ORAL ABSORPTION OF AN ACTIVE SUBSTANCE BY ANIMALS, METHOD FOR PREPARING SAME AND USES THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carrier for facilitating the oral ingestion of at least one active substance by animals, characterized in that it comprises: at least one bead comprising said at least one active substance, a gelled appetizing matrix surrounding said at least one bead, the pH of said matrix being less than 4, wherein the Aw (residual water) of said matrix and of said at least one bead is identical and from 0.4 to 0.9. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such a carrier, and also to the uses thereof. The present invention also relates to a non-therapeutic method for feeding animals, in particular dogs and cats, by means of this carrier.

Claims

1. Carrier for facilitating the oral ingestion of at least one active substance by animals, characterized in that it comprises: at least one bead comprising said at least one active substance, a gelled appetizing matrix surrounding said at least one bead, the pH of said matrix being less than 4.0, wherein the Aw (residual water) of said matrix and of said at least one bead is identical and from 0.4 to 0.9.

2. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein said bead is a capsule or a microcapsule.

3. Carrier according to claim 2, wherein said capsule or microcapsule is a capsule or microcapsule of alginate or plant wax.

4. Carrier according to claim 1, comprising at least 2 beads, each of the beads comprising an active substance that may be identical to and/or different from those of the other bead(s).

5. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein said matrix comprises a gelling agent chosen from carrageenans, agar agar, gellan gum, beef, pork or fish gelatin, xanthan gum, carob seed flour, guar gum, gum arabic, alginates, gum tragacanth and starches.

6. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein said at least one active substance is chosen from the group comprising probiotics, essential oils, medicaments, nutraceuticals and nutrients.

7. Carrier according to claim 1, wherein said matrix also comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

8. Use of a carrier as defined in claim 1, for facilitating the oral ingestion of at least one substance by animals, said at least one substance being chosen from probiotics, essential oils, nutraceuticals and nutrients.

9. Use according to claim 7, wherein said animals may be domestic animals or livestock.

10. Carrier as defined in claim 1, for preparing a medicament intended for animals.

11. Method for preparing a carrier as defined in claim 1, comprising the following steps: 1) encapsulating at least one active substance by (i) bringing said at least one active substance into contact with an encapsulation solution, (ii) mixing said encapsulation solution in a gelling bath and (iii) extruding the mixture in the form of beads, 2) preparing a gelled matrix by (i) mixing the components of said matrix and a gelling agent, (ii) heating said mixture to the hydration temperature of said gelling agent, (iii) cooling the mixture for it to be cast into a mould, 3) casting the mixture obtained in step 2) into said mould and introducing said beads into said mould, this allowing to obtain said carrier.

12. Non-therapeutic method for feeding animals, in particular dogs and cats, comprising the following operations: a) production of a carrier as defined in claim 1, and b) administration of said carrier to said animals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a transparent carrier of oval shape comprising 5 beads of different colours.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a transparent carrier in the shape of a bone comprising 20 beads of different colours.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows the development of Aspergillus amstelodami in a carrier as a function of the pH of the matrix (abscissa) and the Aw (ordinate) of the matrix and the beads. The hatching represents a growth of Aspergillus amstelodami, the dots represent an absence of Aspergillus amstelodami growth and the grey areas a weak or very slow growth of Aspergillus amstelodami.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows the development of Aspergillus niger in a carrier as a function of the pH (abscissa) and the Aw (ordinate) of the matrix and the beads. The hatching represents a growth of Aspergillus niger, the dots represent an absence of Aspergillus niger growth and the grey areas a weak or very slow growth of Aspergillus niger.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows the development of Penicillium verrucosum in a carrier as a function of the pH (abscissa) and the Aw (ordinate) of the matrix and the beads. The hatching represents a growth of Penicillium verrucosum, the dots represent an absence of Penicillium verrucosum growth and the grey surfaces a weak or very slow growth of Penicillium verrucosum.

[0078] FIG. 6 shows the development of Candida krusei in a carrier as a function of the pH (abscissa) and the Aw (ordinate) of the matrix and the beads. The hatching represents a growth of Candida krusei, the dots represent an absence of Candida krusei growth and the grey surfaces a weak or very slow growth of Candida krusei.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Production of Jelly Treats

[0079] The first step of the production method consists in the encapsulation of active materials in the form of beads of alginates or of plant wax. These beads comprise between 20 and 70% of active materials and have a diameter of from 200 microns to 6 mm. Their Aw (residual water) is between 0.4 and 0.9.

[0080] The production of the beads consists of the preparation of an encapsulation solution composed of alginates or plant wax.

[0081] The gelling bath is then prepared. This consists of CaCl.sub.2) and citric acid.

[0082] The active agents and also the bulking agents (starches) and the dyes are incorporated into the encapsulation solution. The mixture is then extruded by dripping into the gelling bath.

[0083] Finally, the beads formed are filtered and then rinsed and dried on a fluidized air bed (70° C.).

[0084] The second step consists of the preparation of 2 mixtures.

[0085] A 1.sup.st mixture comprising all the liquid raw materials of the composition is prepared. Said mixture is composed of glucose syrup, glycerol, water, appetizing factor and oil (plant or fish oil). This mixture is heated until complete dissolution of the thicker raw materials.

[0086] A 2.sup.nd mixture comprising the raw materials in powder form is prepared. Said mixture contains the gelling agent (carrageenans, agar agar, gellan gum, beef, pork or fish gelatin, xanthan gum, carob seed flour, guar gum, gum arabic, alginates, gum tragacanth or starches), the appetizing solution, potassium sorbate, sodium citrate, tripotassium citrate, salt, dextrose.

[0087] The various liquid ingredients (water, glucose syrup, glycerol) of the matrix are dissolved and heated until complete dissolution of the liquid raw materials. When all the liquids have melted, the powdered raw materials core is introduced.

[0088] The mixture is then brought to the hydration temperature of the gelling agent used (between 75 and 90° C.).

[0089] The temperature of the mixture is then allowed to drop back to 70° C. and the citric acid is introduced.

[0090] The mixture is allowed to cool and is left to increase slightly in viscosity.

[0091] The mixture is then poured into blisters and the beads containing the different active materials are introduced into each Gelicaps, and uniformly distributed.

Example 2: Carrier Composition Example

[0092] A carrier of the invention, presented as a dog treat, is prepared by carrying out the method described in step 1, and has the following composition:

[0093] Beads:

TABLE-US-00001 PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT IN THE BEAD Alginates 0.1% to 5% Starches 2% to 50% Dyes 0.05% to 2% Active substance 10% to 90%

[0094] Matrix:

TABLE-US-00002 Water 30.775%    Glucose syrup 20%  Glycerol 18%  Appetizing factor 5% Fish oil        .sup. In the 1% coating or in the matrix Brief gelatin 12.5%   Potassium sorbate 0.4%.sup.  Sodium citrate 0.1%.sup.  Tripotassium citrate 0.075%    Salt 2% Dextrose 9.55%  

Example 3: Change in the Stability of the Carrier as a Function of pH

[0095] Carriers were prepared according to the protocol described in Example 1, while at the same time controlling the pH and the Aw of the matrix and of the beads of each of these carriers. For all the carriers, the Aw values are identical in the beads and in the carrier. The pHs obtained have the following values: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0.

[0096] The Aw is controlled by controlling the amount of glycerol and/or xylitol. For each pH value of the matrix, 8 carriers are prepared in which the liquid ingredients of the matrix and the Aw are described in the following table:

TABLE-US-00003 Glycerol (grams) Xylitol (grams) Water (grams) Aw 500 1000 0.90 750 1000 0.855 900 1000 0.824 1350 1000 0.80 1350 900 1000 0.715 1100 600 1000 0.785 1100 900 1000 0.754 1500 900 1000 0.692

[0097] The stability of each carrier is then tested, by inoculating each carrier with the following strains: Aspergillus amstelodami, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium verrucosum and Candida krusei.

[0098] The cultures were carried out at 25° C., in the dark, for 15 days. Regarding moulds, inoculation is carried out by the peripherry of a growing thallus (the tests focused on the measurement of thallus growth); yeasts were inoculated in drops (containing about 10.sup.6 CFU/ml), that is to say about 10.sup.3 CFU.

[0099] The results are described respectively in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. They show stability of the carrier at a pH of less than or equal to 4.0, for all the microorganisms tested.

REFERENCE LIST

[0100] 1. EP 0 320 320. [0101] 2. EP 0 574 301.