WO2025133947A1

WO2025133947A1 - Oral product comprising porous sponge

Info

Publication number: WO2025133947A1
Application number: PCT/IB2024/062835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yu Yao; Benjamin Jenkins; Rosa GALATI; Arian FEJZULLA
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-12-20
Filing date: 2024-12-18
Publication date: 2025-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2026-06-20
Also published as: GB202319621D0

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an oral product adapted for administration to the oral cavity, which includes a porous sponge carrying an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity, the oral composition including at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof. A method for preparing an oral product is also provided, which includes providing a porous sponge; and treating the porous sponge with an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity, the oral composition including at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof.

Description

ORAL PRODUCT COMPRISING POROUS SPONGE

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to oral products intended for human use. The oral products are configured for oral use and deliver substances such as flavors and/or active ingredients during use. Such products may include tobacco or a product derived from tobacco, or may be tobacco-free alternatives.

BACKGROUND

There are many categories of products intended for oral use and enjoyment. For example, oral tobacco products containing nicotine, which is known to have both stimulant and anxiolytic properties, have been available for many years. Conventional formats for so-called “smokeless” tobacco products include moist snuff, snus, and chewing tobacco, which are typically formed almost entirely of particulate, granular, or shredded tobacco, and which are either portioned by the user or presented to the user in individual portions, such as in single-use pouches or sachets. See for example, the types of smokeless tobacco formulations, ingredients, and processing methodologies set forth in US Pat. Nos. 6,668,839 to Williams; 6,834,654 to Williams; 6,953,040 to Atchley et al.; 7,032,601 to Atchley et al.; and 7,694,686 to Atchley et al.; 7,810,507 to Dube et al.; 7,819,124 to Strickland et al.; 7,861,728 to Holton, Jr. et al.; 7,901,512 to Quinter et al.; 8,627,828 to Strickland et al.; 11,246,334 to Atchley, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition, traditional tobacco materials and non-tobacco materials have been combined with other ingredients to form product formats distinct from traditional smokeless products, with example formats including lozenges, pastilles, gels, and the like. See, for example, the types of products described in US Patent App. Pub. Nos. 2008/0196730 to Engstrom et al.; 2008/0305216 to Crawford et al.; 2009/0293889 to Kumar et al.; 2010/0291245 to Gao et al; 2011/0139164 to Mua et al.; 2012/0037175 to Cantrell et al.; 2012/0055494 to Hunt et al.; 2012/0138073 to Cantrell et al.; 2012/0138074 to Cantrell et al.; 2013/0074855 to Holton, Jr.; 2013/0074856 to Holton, Jr.; 2013/0152953 to Mua et al.; 2013/0274296 to Jackson et al.; 2015/0068545 to Moldoveanu et al.; 2015/0101627 to Marshall et al.; and 2015/0230515 to Lampe et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

There is continuing interest in the development of new types of oral products that deliver advantageous sensorial or biological activity. Such products typically contain flavorants and/or active ingredients such as nicotine, caffeine, botanicals, or cannabidiol. In one format, such products are in the form of a pouched product containing a powdered or granular composition. See, for example, the types of products described in US Patent App. Pub. Nos. 2023/0049343 to Keller et al; 2022/0071984 to Poole et al.; 2021/0330590 to Hutchens et al.; 2021/0186081 to Gerardi et al.; 2021/0177754 to Keller et al; 2021/0177043 to Gerardi et al.; 2021/0169867 to Holton, Jr. et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an oral product adapted for administration to the oral cavity, which includes a porous sponge (e.g., a cellulose sponge) carrying an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity, the oral composition including at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof. Use of a cellulose sponge as a carrier for an oral composition can provide various advantages. For example, use of a cellulose sponge can provide an oral product with enhanced biodegradability. Additionally, a porous cellulose sponge has a large pore volume that provides a very high surface area for receiving an oral composition. Still further, a cellulose sponge is a naturally resilient material suitable for manipulation/mastication in the oral cavity by a user. Movement or mastication of the sponge within the oral cavity will naturally cause constriction within the pores of the sponge, which would be expected to aid in release of the oral composition within the oral cavity.

The disclosure includes, without limitation, the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1 : An oral product adapted for administration to the oral cavity, comprising: a porous sponge carrying an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity.

Embodiment 2: The oral product of Embodiment 1, wherein the porous sponge comprises a cellulose material, such as a regenerated cellulose material.

Embodiment 3 : The oral product of Embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the oral composition comprises at least one water-soluble component, such as at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 4: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-3, wherein the oral composition comprises one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of nutraceuticals, botanicals, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, cannabinoids, cannabimimetics, terpenes, and combinations thereof.

Embodiment 5: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-4, wherein the oral composition comprises a nicotine component selected from nicotine free base, a nicotine salt, a nicotine-polymer complex, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment 6: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-5, wherein the oral composition comprises nicotine in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight of the composition, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.

Embodiment 7: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-6, wherein the oral composition comprises one or more flavoring agents, one or more salts, one or more sweeteners, one or more binding agents, one or more humectants, one or more gums, a tobacco material, or combinations thereof.

Embodiment 8: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-7, wherein the oral composition is affixed to the porous sponge via an adhesive component or absorbed/adsorbed within the porous sponge.

Embodiment 9: The oral product of Embodiment 8, wherein the adhesive component is selected from the group consisting of povidone, alginates, pectin, gums, carrageenan, pullulan, zein, cellulose ethers, starches, dextrans, acrylic resins, or combinations thereof. Embodiment 10: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-9, wherein the oral composition is in the form of one or more capsules comprising an encapsulant encapsulating the at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or combination thereof.

Embodiment 11: The oral product of Embodiment 10, wherein the one or more capsules comprises a plurality of microcapsules.

Embodiment 12: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-11, wherein the oral product exhibits biodegradability according to one or more of ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, D5988, ASTM D6400, and ASTM D6691.

Embodiment 13: The oral product of any one of Embodiments 1-12, wherein the porous sponge is characterized by one or more of the following: i) a density in the range of about 20 to about 60 kg/ m³; ii) the ability to absorb water in an amount of about 10 to about 20 times the dry weight of the porous sponge; and iii) a pore size range of about 4 nm to about 1000 microns, such as about 1 to about 500 microns or about 1 to about 100 microns.

Embodiment 14: A method for preparing an oral product, comprising: providing a porous sponge; and treating the porous sponge with an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity, the oral composition comprising at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof.

Embodiment 15: The method of Embodiment 14, wherein the treating comprises spraying the oral composition onto the porous sponge, soaking the porous sponge in the oral composition, or injecting the oral composition into the porous sponge.

Embodiment 16: The method of Embodiment 14 or 15, wherein the treating comprises treating the porous sponge with a plurality of microcapsules comprising the oral composition.

Embodiment 17: The method of Embodiment 16, further comprising treating the plurality of microcapsules with an adhesive component prior to treating the porous sponge with the plurality of microcapsules.

Embodiment 18: The method of any one of Embodiments 14-17, further comprising treating the porous sponge with an adhesive composition prior to treating the porous cellulose sponge with the oral composition.

Embodiment 19: The method of any one of Embodiments 14-18, wherein the porous sponge comprises a cellulose material, such as a regenerated cellulose material.

Embodiment 20: The oral product or method of any of Embodiments 1-19, wherein the porous sponge does not dissolve or disintegrate in the oral cavity, such as wherein the porous sponge is intended to be removed from the oral cavity following use.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-noted embodiments as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined in a specific embodiment description herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosure, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described aspects of the disclosure in the foregoing general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are exemplary only, and should not be constmed as limiting the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oral product in the form of a cellulose sponge carrying an oral composition according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an oral product in the form of a cellulose sponge enclosed within a pouch according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to example embodiments thereof. These example embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Oral Product Comprising Porous Cellulose Sponge

The present disclosure relates to a product adapted for use in the oral cavity to deliver, for example, one or more active ingredients and/or flavorants, to the oral cavity. The oral product includes a porous sponge carrying an oral composition comprising at least one component to be delivered to the oral cavity. As used herein, reference to “porous sponge” refers to a material with a large pore volume typically capable of liquid absorption and characterized by resilience. The sponge can be constructed of various materials, including cellulose, synthetic polymers such as polyethylene, polyurethane, or Plastazote® crosslinked polyethylene, rubber materials such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), PVC/nitrile or neoprene rubber, silicone, and the like. For the sake of brevity, the remainder of the disclosure focuses on cellulose sponge materials. However, the various characteristics and parameters associated with cellulose sponges herein could also apply to other sponge materials. Cellulose sponges can be formed using any method known in the art. In some embodiments, the sponge material includes a regenerated cellulose material. As is known in the art, regenerated cellulose can be formed by extracting non-cellulosic compounds from wood, contacting the extracted wood with caustic soda, followed by carbon disulfide and then by sodium hydroxide, giving a viscous solution. Example methods for the preparation of regenerated cellulose are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,274 to Leoni et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,666 to Baldini et al; U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,766 to Baldini et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,256 to Ishida et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,028 to Yokogi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,689 to Laity; U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,790 to Vos et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,938 to Sumnicht, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Regenerated cellulose sponges are typically formed using a mixture of a regenerated cellulose solution formed as noted above, reinforcing fibers such as linen, jute, cotton, regenerated cellulose fibers and the like, and an inorganic pore-forming agent. In general, this mixture is a viscous solution containing from 5 to 8 % by weight of cellulose, 6 to 100 % by weight reinforcing fibers, based on the weight of the cellulose, and 900 to 2500 % by weight of the inorganic pore-forming agent, based on the weight of the cellulose. The pore-forming agent is generally comprised of crystals of sodium sulfate decahydrate or other alkali metal salts high in water of crystallization, such as sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium carbonate decahydrate, trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate, disodium phosphate dodecahydrate, potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate and the like. The final pore size will be dependent upon the size of the pore-forming agent crystals. If desired, a colorant, such as a dye or pigment, can be added to the mixture as well, or added to the sponge after formation thereof, such as by spraying the colorant on the sponge or dipping the sponge into a colorant solution.

The mixture is then introduced into desired molds or extruded through desired shaped orifices and heated such that the cellulosic solution coagulates and regenerates, and the pore-forming agent is melted. After regeneration, the shaped mass is subjected to washing with water to remove the soluble salt and other constituents, optionally desulphurized, optionally bleached, and optionally treated with a solution of a plasticizer such as glycerol or propylene glycol. See, for example, the cellulose sponge manufacturing methods set forth in W02010105806 to Hunger et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,276,072 to Politzer et al. and 3,131,076 to Richardson et al., which are incorporated herein by reference. Cellulose sponge materials are commercially available from suppliers such as SPONTEX UK Ltd.

The shape and size of the sponge can vary without departing from the present disclosure. For example, the cellulose sponge, in cross-section, can have a circular, rectangular, square, oval, triangular, or multilobal shape. The size should be suitable for insertion into the oral cavity.

The cellulose sponge will typically have a density in the range of about 20 to about 60 kg/ m³. The cellulose sponge is typically highly absorbent, with embodiments exhibiting the ability to absorb as much as 20 times the dry weight of the cellulose sponge (e.g., about 10 to about 20 times the dry weight). Example pore size ranges include about 4 nm to about 1000 microns, such as about 1 to about 500 microns or about 1 to about 100 microns. In some embodiments, the cellulose sponge (and oral products made therewith) provided herein is biodegradable and/or compostable. The term “biodegradable” as used in reference to a plastic material refers to a polymer that degrades under aerobic and/or anaerobic conditions in the presence of bacteria, fungi, algae, and/or other microorganisms into carbon dioxide/methane, water and biomass, although materials containing heteroatoms can also yield other products such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide. “Biomass” generally refers to the portion of the metabolized materials incorporated into the cellular structure of the organisms present or converted to humus fractions indistinguishable from material of biological origin. By “compostable” is meant that the material is designed to biodegrade in the conditions of a composter (e.g., at lower temperatures than industrial compositing plants) and by “oxo-degradable” is meant that the material (which typically comprises suitable additives) fragments into microplastics or chemically decomposes through oxidation.

Biodegradation can be evaluated, e.g., by weight loss of the oral product over time. In some embodiments, 100% biodegradation of all biodegradable components is obtained over a period of less than 10 years, less than 5 years, less than 2 years, less than 1 year, or less than 6 months at ambient temperature (e.g., 20 °C) and aerobic conditions; it is understood that such times will be decreased with exposure to elevated temperatures. Certain oral products provided herein successfully test as “biodegradable” according to the ASTM standards mentioned herein (e.g., according to one or more of ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, ASTM D5988, ASTM D6400, and ASTM D6691), and/or to “Readily Biodegradability” standards according to OECD 3018B.

In some embodiments, the cellulose sponge and/or oral products provided herein can be described as being substantially (or wholly) free of TiO2. By "substantially free" is meant that no TiO2 has been intentionally added. For example, some embodiments can be characterized as having less than 0.001% by weight of TiO2, or less than 0.0001%, or even 0% by weight of TiOi.

The cellulose sponge is treated with an oral composition. As used herein, an “oral composition” is any composition comprising one or more components adapted for delivery to the oral cavity. The oral composition may include various components, such as active ingredients, flavorants, fillers, binders, humectants, sweeteners, salts, and the like. Example oral composition components are set forth hereinbelow.

The oral composition can be associated with the cellulose sponge in various ways. For example, the cellulose sponge can be treated with a powder, solution, or slurry comprising the oral composition by, for example, soaking the cellulose sponge in the oral composition or spraying the oral composition onto the sponge. In some embodiments, the oral composition is in the form of one or more capsules (such as microcapsules) containing an internal payload that includes at least one component (e.g., an active ingredient or flavorant) intended to be delivered to the oral cavity. The capsules could be included in a slurry used to treat the cellulose sponge. Alternatively, the oral composition could be added during formation of the cellulose sponge material, such as by mixing the oral composition with the viscous cellulose solution prior to the molding step noted above. In this manner, the oral composition is carried by the cellulose sponge through one or more of surface coating and absorption within the pores of the cellulose sponge. In some embodiments, the oral composition is absorbed and/or adsorbed within the sponge material, wherein absorption is understood to relate to the process by which the oral composition, typically in liquid form, is drawn into the porous structure of the sponge, and adsorption is understood to relate to gathering of the oral composition as a surface layer on the sponge material.

In embodiments where the oral composition is in the form of capsules, at least one encapsulant will be present, which is typically a polymeric material. The form of the encapsulated oral composition can vary, and will typically include embodiments such as core/shell capsules and encapsulants containing a polymer matrix with a dispersed phase including the oral composition. In some embodiments, the encapsulated oral composition includes an outer shell or coating incorporating a material such as wax, gelatin, cyclodextrin, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ("HPMC"), or alginate, and an inner payload incorporating one or more oral composition components. In this manner, a plurality of encapsulated oral composition units may be incorporated within the cellulose sponge, and during use of the product, degradation of the outer shell or coating of the encapsulated oral composition units allows release of the allows release of the oral composition within the oral cavity. For example, the encapsulated oral composition can be designed to degrade when contacted with moisture through use of water-soluble polymers in the construction of the encapsulated oral composition. Alternatively, the encapsulated oral composition could be designed for physical destruction through mastication of the cellulose sponge in the oral cavity.

The encapsulated oral composition units used in the oral product may be uniform or varied in size, weight, and shape. A representative encapsulated oral composition unit is generally spherical in shape. However, suitable encapsulated oral composition units may have other types of shapes, such as generally rectilinear, oblong, elliptical, or oval shapes. Example encapsulated oral composition units may have diameters of less than about 1,000 microns, such as diameters in the range of about 1 to about 750 microns, or about 10 micron to about 500 microns. In some embodiments, larger encapsulated oral composition units may be utilized. For example, encapsulated oral composition units utilized in the product may have a size of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm or about 0.6 mm to about 3 mm in diameter.

The total weight of the encapsulated oral composition units contained within the cellulose sponge may vary, but is typically greater than about 0.5 mg, often greater than about 1 mg, and can be greater than about 5 mg. The total weight of the encapsulated oral composition units is typically less than about 50 mg, often less than about 250 mg, and can be less than about 10 mg.

The relative weight of the encapsulated oral composition units in the oral product may vary. Example weight ranges are from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent, often about 0.2 percent to about 5 percent, based on the total weight of the oral product.

The encapsulated oral composition units can be formed using, for example, any encapsulating technology known in the art. For example, the capsules can be formed using any of various chemical encapsulation techniques such as solvent evaporation, solvent extraction, organic phase separation, interfacial polymerization, simple and complex coacervation, in-situ polymerization, liposome encapsulation, and nanoencapsulation. Alternatively, physical methods of encapsulation could be used, such as injection molding, spheronization, granulation, extrusion, microfluidics, spray coating, pan coating, fluid bed coating, annular jet coating, spinning disk atomization, spray cooling, spray drying, spray chilling, stationary nozzle coextrusion, centrifugal head coextrusion, or submerged nozzle coextrusion.

Coacervation is a colloid phenomenon that begins with a solution of a colloid in an appropriate solvent. Depending on the nature of the colloid, various changes can bring about a reduction of the solubility of the colloid. As a result of this reduction, a significant portion of the colloid can be separated out into a new phase, thus forming a two-phase system, with one being rich and the other being poor in colloid concentration. The colloid-rich phase in a dispersed state appears as amorphous liquid droplets called coacervate droplets. Upon standing, these coalesce into one clear homogenous colloid-rich liquid layer, known as the coacervate layer, which can be deposited so as to produce the wall material of the resultant encapsulated pH adjusting agent.

Simple coacervation can be effected either by mixing two colloidal dispersions, one having a high affinity for water, or it can be induced by adding a strongly hydrophilic substance such as alcohol or sodium sulfate. A water-soluble polymer is concentrated in water by the action of a water miscible, non-solvent for the emerging polymer (e.g., gelatin) phase. Ethanol, acetone, dioxane, isopropanol and propanol are exemplary solvents that can cause separation of a coacervate such as gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, or methyl cellulose. Phase separation can be effected by the addition of an electrolyte such as an inorganic salt to an aqueous solution of a polymer such as gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, or carboxymethylcellulose.

Complex coacervation can be induced in systems having two dispersed hydrophilic colloids of opposite electric charges. Neutralization of the overall positive charges on one of the colloids by the negative charge on the other is used to bring about separation of the polymer-rich complex coacervate phase. The gelatin-gum arabic (gum acacia) system is one known complex coacervation system.

Organic phase separation is sometimes more simply referred to as "water-in-oil" encapsulation. In this case, the polar core is dispersed into an oily or non-polar continuous medium. The wall material is then dissolved in this continuous medium.

Regardless of the encapsulation methodology employed, the outer wall or matrix material and/or coating material and solvents used to form the encapsulated oral composition units of the disclosure can vary. Classes of materials that are typically used as wall/shell or coating materials include proteins, polysaccharides, starches, waxes, fats, natural and synthetic polymers, and resins. Exemplary materials for use in the encapsulation process used to form the encapsulated oral composition units include gelatin, acacia (gum arabic), polyvinyl acetate, potassium alginate, carob bean gum, potassium citrate, carrageenan, potassium polymetaphosphate, citric acid, potassium tripolyphosphate, dextrin, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone, dimethylpolysiloxane, mannitol, dimethyl silicone, refined paraffin wax, ethylcellulose, bleached shellac, maltodextrin, modified food starch, sodium alginate, guar gum, sodium carboxy methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, sodium citrate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium ferrocyanide, sodium polyphosphates, locust bean gum, methylcellulose, sodium trimetaphosphate, methyl ethyl cellulose, sodium tripolyphosphate, microcrystalline wax, tannic acid, petroleum wax, terpene resin, tragacanth, polyethylene, xanthan gum, and polyethylene glycol.

Encapsulation methods are described, for example, in Gutcho, Microcapsules and Microencapsulation Techniques (1976); Gutcho, Microcapsules and Other Capsules Advances Since 1975 (1979); Kondo, Microcapsule Processing and Technology (1979); Iwamoto et al., AAPS Pharm. Sci. Tech. 2002 3(3): article 25; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,550,598 to McGlumphy; 4,889,144 to Tateno et al.; 5,004,595 to Cherukuri et al.; 5,690,990 to Bonner; 5,759,599 to Wampler et al.; 6,039,901 to Soper et al.; 6,045,835 to Soper et al.; 6,056,992 to Lew; 6,106,875 to Soper et al.; 6,117,455 to Takada et al.; 6,325,859 to DeRoos et al.; 6,482,433 to DeRoos et al.; 6,612,429 to Dennen; and 6,929,814 to Bouwmeesters et al.; U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. 2006/0174901 to Karies et al. and 2007/0095357 to Besso et al.; and PCT W02007/037962 to Holton et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Commercially available encapsulating techniques include those marketed under the trade names ULTRASEAL™ and PERMASEAL™ available from Givaudan headquartered in Vernier, Switzerland.

For stronger adhesion/immobilization of the oral composition within the cellulose sponge, in some embodiments, an adhesive component can be added to the oral composition. The adhesive component can be any suitable component that increases the tackiness of the oral composition or otherwise enhances the affinity of the oral composition for the surface of the cellulose sponge. The adhesive component can be a binder as described herein, for example. In some cases, certain components of the oral composition provide adhesive qualities without the need for additional adhesive components, such as nicotine resins described herein. Example adhesive components include bioadhesives, such as starches or natural resins, as well as synthetic resins such as polyacrylates. Where the oral composition is in the form of capsules, the adhesive component can be applied to the capsules as an outer coating prior to treating the cellulose sponge with the capsules. In some embodiments, the cellulose sponge is first treated with the adhesive component followed by treatment of the cellulose sponge with the oral composition. In this manner, the oral composition can be affixed to the sponge material, meaning the oral composition either contains at least one component that enhances tackiness of the composition that results in adhesion of the composition to the sponge material or an adhesive material is separately applied to the sponge material to enhance adhesion of the oral composition to the sponge material.

Some embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 1, which illustrates an embodiment of an oral product 100. The oral product 100 includes a cellulose sponge 102, which contains an oral composition 104, which can be, for example, in the form of a plurality of capsules.

Composition within Cellulose Sponge

The oral composition within the cellulose sponge can vary, but will typically include at least one active ingredient and/or at least one flavorant. The oral composition of the disclosure may generally be prepared, for example, by dry-blending dry ingredients, such as fillers, active ingredients, salts, buffers, flavoring agents, and the like, and combining the dry mixture with any liquid ingredients, such as humectants. As noted above, the oral composition can be used in encapsulated form. Example composition ingredients are provided below. The manner by which the various components of the composition are combined may vary. As such, the overall composition with e.g., powdered composition components may be relatively uniform in nature. The components noted above, which may be in liquid or dry solid form, can be admixed in a pretreatment step prior to mixture with any remaining components of the composition, or simply mixed together with all other liquid or dry ingredients. In some embodiments, a liquid flavorant is combined with a porous particulate carrier, such as microcrystalline cellulose, to form a dry flavorant mixture. This dry flavorant may then be combined with the other components of the composition (e.g., dissolvable filler, active ingredient, and the like). Introduction of the flavorant in this manner may be beneficial in providing a more homogenous product, and avoiding clumping which may otherwise result from combining a liquid flavorant with other dry materials. Such clumping is undesirable, as it reduces product homogeneity, and requires further processing, such as resting time and milling. In some embodiments, the flavorant is added to the other components in dry form as e.g., a spray dried powder.

The various components of the composition may be contacted, combined, or mixed together using any mixing technique or equipment known in the art. Any mixing method that brings the composition ingredients into intimate contact can be used, such as a mixing apparatus featuring an impeller or other structure capable of agitation. Examples of mixing equipment include casing drums, conditioning cylinders or drums, liquid spray apparatus, conical-type blenders, ribbon blenders, mixers available as FKM130, FKM600, FKM1200, FKM2000 and FKM3000 from Littleford Day, Inc., Plough Share types of mixer cylinders, Hobart mixers, and the like. See also, for example, the types of methodologies set forth in US Pat. Nos. 4,148,325 to Solomon et al.; 6,510,855 to Korte et al.; and 6,834,654 to Williams, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Manners and methods for formulating compositions will be apparent to those skilled in the art. See, for example, the types of methodologies set forth in US Pat. No. 4, 148,325 to Solomon et al.; US Pat. No. 6,510,855 to Korte et al.; and US Pat. No. 6,834,654 to Williams, US Pat. Nos. 4,725,440 to Ridgway et al., and 6,077,524 to Bolder et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Filler Component

According to the present disclosure, compositions provided herein can include one or more filler components. Such particulate filler components may fulfill multiple functions, such as enhancing certain organoleptic properties such as texture and mouthfeel, enhancing cohesiveness or compressibility of the product, and the like.

Generally, filler components are porous, particulate materials and are cellulose-based. For example, suitable particulate filler components are any non-tobacco plant material or derivative thereof, including cellulose materials derived from such sources. Examples of cellulosic non-tobacco plant material include cereal grains (e.g., maize, oat, barley, rye, buckwheat, and the like), sugar beet (e.g., FIBREX® brand fdler available from International Fiber Corporation), bran fiber, citrus fiber (e.g., CITRI-FI® brand fiber available from Fiberstar), and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of derivatives of non-tobacco plant material include starches (e.g., from potato, wheat, rice, com), natural cellulose, and modified cellulosic materials. Additional examples of potential particulate filler components include maltodextrin, dextrose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, lactose, mannitol, xylitol, and sorbitol. Combinations of fillers can also be used.

"Starch" as used herein may refer to pure starch from any source, modified starch, or starch derivatives. Starch is present, typically in granular form, in almost all green plants and in various types of plant tissues and organs (e.g., seeds, leaves, rhizomes, roots, tubers, shoots, fruits, grains, and stems). Starch can vary in composition, as well as in granular shape and size. Often, starch from different sources has different chemical and physical characteristics. A specific starch can be selected for inclusion in the mixture based on the ability of the starch material to impart a specific organoleptic property to composition. Starches derived from various sources can be used. For example, major sources of starch include cereal grains (e.g., rice, wheat, and maize) and root vegetables (e.g., potatoes and cassava). Other examples of sources of starch include acorns, arrowroot, arracacha, bananas, barley, beans (e.g., favas, lentils, mung beans, peas, chickpeas), breadfruit, buckwheat, canna, chestnuts, colacasia, katakuri, kudzu, malanga, millet, oats, oca, Polynesian arrowroot, sago, sorghum, sweetpotato, quinoa, rye, tapioca, taro, tobacco, water chestnuts, and yams. Certain starches are modified starches. A modified starch has undergone one or more structural modifications, often designed to alter its high heat properties. Some starches have been developed by genetic modifications, and are considered to be "genetically modified" starches. Other starches are obtained and subsequently physically (e.g., heat, cool water swelling, etc.), chemically, or enzymatically modified. For example, modified starches can be starches that have been subjected to chemical reactions, such as esterification, etherification, oxidation, depolymerization (thinning) by acid catalysis or oxidation in the presence of base, bleaching, transglycosylation and depolymerization (e.g., dextrinization in the presence of a catalyst), cross-linking, acetylation, hydroxypropylation, and/or partial hydrolysis. Enzymatic treatment includes subjecting native starches to enzyme isolates or concentrates, microbial enzymes, and/or enzymes native to plant materials, e.g., amylase present in com kernels to modify com starch. Other starches are modified by heat treatments, such as pregelatinization, dextrinization, and/or cold water swelling processes. Certain modified starches include monostarch phosphate, distarch glycerol, distarch phosphate esterified with sodium trimetaphosphate, phosphate distarch phosphate, acetylated distarch phosphate, starch acetate esterified with acetic anhydride, starch acetate esterified with vinyl acetate, acetylated distarch adipate, acetylated distarch glycerol, hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxypropyl distarch glycerol, starch sodium octenyl succinate.

In some embodiments, the particulate filler component is a cellulose material or cellulose derivative and can, in some embodiments, comprise microcrystalline cellulose (“MCC”). The MCC may be synthetic or semi-synthetic, or it may be obtained entirely from natural celluloses. The MCC may be selected from the group consisting of AVICEL® grades PH-100, PH-102, PH-103, PH-105, PH-112, PH-113, PH-200, PH-300, PH-302, VIVACEL® grades 101, 102, 12, 20 and EMOCEL® grades 50M and 90M, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, a particulate filler can be characterized as substantially spherical, such as cellulose spheres. By “substantially spherical” is meant at least a portion of the particulate filler component is in the shape of a sphere and/or is “sphere-like’ in shape. As such, “substantially spherical” encompasses slightly elongated (e.g., oval) shapes, slightly flattened shapes, and the like. Substantially spherical particulate filler components are intended to be distinguished from conventional particulate filler components (e.g., commercially available “fillers” or “particulate fillers” that are not explicitly designed as “spherical”). Such conventional particulate filler components typically substantially comprise particles with rather irregular shapes. In some cases, at least some (e.g., including a majority) of such conventional particulate filler components comprise one or more edges (e.g., jagged edges) that are typically not observable on substantially spherical particulate filler components as employed in the context of the present disclosure. Further, the uniformity of the particle shapes and sizes of a substantially spherical filler component is generally much greater than that of a conventional particulate filler component.

In some embodiments, the substantially spherical filler component comprises MCC. In some embodiments, the substantially spherical filler component comprises solid (although porous) MCC spheres. In some embodiments, the substantially spherical filler component comprises hollow MCC spheres. In some embodiments, the center/core of such hollow MCC spheres may be unfilled; in other embodiments, the center/core of such hollow MCC spheres may be filled with one or more additional components (e.g., flavorants, fillers, active ingredients, etc.). Examples of suitable MCC spheres include, but are not limited to, Vivapur® MCC spheres from JRS Pharma, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 100-200 pm (Vivapur® 100), 200-355 pm (Vivapur® 200), 355-500 pm (Vivapur® 350), 500-710 pm (Vivapur® 500), 710-1000 pm (Vivapur®700), and 1000-1400 pm (Vivapur® 1000). Further examples of suitable MCC spheres include, but are not limited to, Celphere™ MCC spheres from Asahi Kasei Corporation, available, e.g., with particle sizes of 75-212 pm (Celphere™ SCP-100), 106-212 pm (Celphere™ CP-102), 150-300 pm (Celphere™ CP-203), 300-500 pm (Celphere™ CP-305), and 500-710 pm (Celphere™ CP-507).

The amount of filler can vary, but is typically up to about 75 percent of the composition, based on the total weight of the composition. A typical range of filler (e.g., MCC) within the composition can be from about 5 to about 70% by total weight of the composition, for example, from about 5, about 10, about 15, or about 20 to about 30, about 35, about 45, or about 60 weight percent (e.g., about 5 to about 60 weight percent or about 10 to about 45 weight percent).

In some embodiments, the filler further comprises a cellulose derivative or a combination of such derivatives. In some embodiments, the mixture comprises from about 1% to about 10% of the cellulose derivative by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, with some embodiments comprising about 1 to about 5% by weight of cellulose derivative. In some embodiments, the cellulose derivative is a cellulose ether (including carboxyalkyl ethers), meaning a cellulose polymer with the hydrogen of one or more hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure replaced with an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl group. Non-limiting examples of such cellulose derivatives include methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose ("HPC"), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ("HPMC"), hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose ("CMC"). In some embodiments, the cellulose derivative is one or more of methylcellulose, HPC, HPMC, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and CMC. In some embodiments, the cellulose derivative is HPC. In some embodiments, the composition comprises from about 0% to about 5% HPC by weight, e.g., about 1% to about 3% HPC by weight, based on the total weight of the composition by weight.

Water/Moisture Content

The water content and oven volatiles of the composition described herein, prior to use by a consumer of the product, may vary according to the desired properties. Typically, the mixture, as present within the product prior to insertion into the mouth of the user, is less than about 60 percent by weight of water, and generally is from about 1 to about 60% by weight of water, for example, from about 5 to about 55, about 10 to about 50, about 20 to about 45, or about 25 to about 40 percent water by weight, including water amounts of at least about 5% by weight, at least about 10% by weight, at least about 15% by weight, and at least about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the water content of the oral composition is relatively low, e.g., about 1% to about 12% by weight, such as less than about 10%, less than about 8%, less than about 7%, less than about 6%, less than about 5%, or less than about 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the oral composition.

Binder

A binder (or combination of binders) is employed in the composition in an amount sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes and physical integrity. The binder materials can serve to add cohesiveness to a composition, and can also serve as gelling agents. Typically, the amount of binder present is up to about 50% by weight, and some embodiments are characterized by a binder content of at least about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the binder is present in an amount by weight in a range from about 5 to about 50% based on the total weight of the composition, such as from about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, or about 30%, to about 35%, about 40%, or about 45% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Typical binders can be organic or inorganic, or a combination thereof. Representative binders include povidone, sodium alginate, pectin, gums, carrageenan, pullulan, zein, cellulose derivatives, and the like, and combinations thereof. In some implementations, combinations or blends of two or more binder materials may be employed. Other examples of binder materials are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 to Jakob et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,887 to Raker et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the binder is selected from the group consisting of agar, alginates, carrageenan and other seaweed hydrocolloids, exudate gum hydrocolloids, cellulose ethers, starches, gums, dextrans, povidone, pullulan, zein, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the binder is a cellulose ether (including carboxy alkyl ethers), meaning a cellulose polymer with the hydrogen of one or more hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure replaced with an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl group. Non-limiting examples of such cellulose derivatives include methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose ("HPC"), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose ("HPMC"), hydroxyethyl cellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose ("CMC"). Suitable cellulose ethers include hydroxypropylcellulose, such as Klucel H from Aquaion Co.; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, such as Methocel K4MS from DuPont; hydroxyethylcellulose, such as Natrosol™ 250 MRCS from Aquaion Co.; methylcellulose, such as Methocel™ A4M, K4M, and E15 from DuPont.; and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, such as CMC 7HF, CMC 7LF, and CMC 7H4F from Aquaion Co. In some embodiments, the binder is one or more cellulose ethers (e.g., a single cellulose ether or a combination of several cellulose ethers, such as two or three, for example). In some embodiments, the binder is a cellulose ether selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, and combinations thereof.

Flavoring Agent

In some embodiments, the oral composition comprises one or more flavoring agents. As used herein, a "flavoring agent" or "flavorant" is any flavorful or aromatic substance capable of altering the sensory characteristics associated with the oral product. Examples of sensory characteristics that can be modified by the flavoring agent include taste, mouthfeel, moistness, coolness/heat, and/or fragrance/aroma. Flavoring agents may be natural or synthetic, and the character of the flavors imparted thereby may be described, without limitation, as fresh, sweet, herbal, confectionary, floral, fruity, or spicy.

Specific types of flavors include, but are not limited to, vanilla, coffee, chocolate/cocoa, cream, mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, Wintergreen, eucalyptus, lavender, cardamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple, peach, lime, cherry, strawberry, trigeminal sensates, melatonin, terpenes, and any combinations thereof. See also, Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (1972), which is incorporated herein by reference. Flavorings also may include components that are considered moistening, cooling or smoothening agents, such as eucalyptus or menthol. These flavors may be provided neat (i.e., alone) or in a composite, and may be employed as concentrates or flavor packages (e.g., spearmint and menthol, orange and cinnamon; lime, pineapple, and the like). Representative types of components also are set forth in US Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0244521 to Strickland et al.; and PCT Application Pub. No. WO 05/041699 to Quinter et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. In some instances, the flavoring agent may be provided in a spray -dried form or a liquid form.

The flavoring agent generally comprises at least one volatile flavor component. As used herein, "volatile" refers to a chemical substance that forms a vapor readily at ambient temperatures (i.e., a chemical substance that has a high vapor pressure at a given temperature relative to a nonvolatile substance). Typically, a volatile flavor component has a molecular weight below about 400 Da, and often include at least one carboncarbon double bond, carbon-oxygen double bond, or both. In some embodiments, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, terpenes, terpenoids, or a combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of aldehydes include vanillin, ethyl vanillin, p-anisaldehyde, hexanal, furfural, isovaleraldehyde, cuminaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and citronellal. Non-limiting examples of ketones include l-hydroxy-2-propanone and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2- cyclopentenone-l-one. Non-limiting examples of esters include allyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl hexanoate, isoamyl acetate, and 3 -methylbutyl acetate. Non-limiting examples of terpenes include sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-famesene, nerolidol, thujone, myrcene, geraniol, nerol, citronellol, linalool, and eucalyptol. In one embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises one or more of ethyl vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, sabinene, limonene, gamma-terpinene, beta-farnesene, or citral. In one embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises ethyl vanillin. In another embodiment, the at least one volatile flavor component comprises menthol.

In some instances, the flavoring agent may be provided in a spray-dried form or a liquid form. In some embodiments, a liquid flavorant is disposed (i.e., adsorbed or absorbed in or on) a porous particulate carrier, for example microcrystalline cellulose, which is then combined with the other composition ingredients. Embodiments with flavorant present in dry form (e.g., in or on microcrystalline cellulose) may be advantageous in providing a more homogenous product.

The amount of flavoring agent, where present in the oral composition can vary, but is typically up to about 10 weight percent, and some embodiments are characterized by a flavoring agent content of at least about 0.1 weight percent, such as about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent, 0.5 to about 10 weight percent, about 1 to about 6 weight percent, or about 2 to about 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the oral composition. The amount of flavoring agent present within the composition may vary over a period of time (e.g., during a period of storage after preparation of the composition). For example, certain volatile components present in the mixture may evaporate or undergo chemical transformations, leading to a reduction in the concentration of one or more volatile flavor components.

Taste Modifiers

In order to improve the organoleptic properties of a composition as disclosed herein, the composition may include one or more taste modifying agents ("taste modifiers") which may serve to mask, alter, block, or improve the flavor of a composition as described herein. Non-limiting examples of such taste modifiers include analgesic or anesthetic herbs, spices, and flavors which produce a perceived cooling (e.g., menthol, eucalyptus, mint), warming (e.g., cinnamon), or painful (e.g., capsaicin) sensation. Certain taste modifiers fall into more than one overlapping category.

In some embodiments, the taste modifier modifies one or more of bitter, sweet, salty, or sour tastes. In some embodiments, the taste modifier targets pain receptors. In some embodiments, the composition comprises an active ingredient having a bitter taste, and a taste modifier which masks or blocks the perception of the bitter taste. In some embodiments, the taste modifier is a substance which targets pain receptors (e.g., vanilloid receptors) in the user's mouth to mask e.g., a bitter taste of another component (e.g., an active ingredient). In some embodiments, the taste modifier is capsaicin.

In some embodiments, the taste modifier is the amino acid gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), referenced herein above with respect to amino acids. Studies in mice suggest that GABA may serve function(s) in taste buds in addition to synaptic inhibition. See, e.g., Dvoryanchikov et al., J Neurosci. 2011 Apr 13;31(15):5782-91. Without wishing to be bound by theory, GABA may suppress the perception of certain tastes, such as bitterness. In some embodiments, the composition comprises caffeine and GABA.

In some embodiments, the taste modifier is adenosine monophosphate (AMP). AMP is a naturally occurring nucleotide substance which can block bitter food flavors or enhance sweetness. It does not directly alter the bitter flavor, but may alter human perception of "bitter" by blocking the associated receptor.

In some embodiments, the taste modifier is lactisole. Lactisole is an antagonist of sweet taste receptors. Temporarily blocking sweetness receptors may accentuate e.g., savory notes.

When present, a representative amount of taste modifier is about 0.01% by weight or more, about 0.1% by weight or more, or about 1.0% by weight or more, but will typically make up less than about 10% by weight of the total weight of the composition, (e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 5%, or about 10% by weight of the total weight of the composition).

Salt

In some embodiments, the oral composition may further comprise a salt (e.g., alkali metal salts), typically employed in an amount sufficient to provide desired sensory attributes to the mixture. Non-limiting examples of suitable salts include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, flour salt, and the like. When present, a representative amount of salt is about 0.25 percent by weight or more, about 1.0 percent by weight or more, or at about 1.5 percent by weight or more, but will typically make up about 10 percent or less of the total weight of the composition, or about 7.5 percent or less or about 5 percent or less (e.g., about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight).

Sweetener

The composition typically further comprises one or more sweeteners. The sweeteners can be any sweetener or combination of sweeteners, in natural or artificial form, or as a combination of natural and artificial sweeteners. Examples of natural sweeteners include isomaltulose, fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, mannose, galactose, lactose, stevia, honey, and the like. Examples of artificial sweeteners include sucralose, maltodextrin, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K, neotame and the like. In some embodiments, the sweetener comprises one or more sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are polyols derived from monosaccharides or disaccharides that have a partially or fully hydrogenated form. Sugar alcohols have, for example, about 4 to about 20 carbon atoms and include erythritol, arabitol, ribitol, isomalt, maltitol, dulcitol, iditol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, sorbitol, and combinations thereof (e.g., hydrogenated starch hydrolysates). In some embodiments, the mixture provided herein can include a sugar alcohol (e.g., xylitol or erythritol) in combination with a lesser amount of artificial or non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K, or any combination thereof). When present, a representative amount of sweetener may make up from about 0.1 to about 20 percent or more of the of the composition by weight, for example, from about 0.1 to about 1%, from about 1 to about 5%, from about 5 to about 10%, or from about 10 to about 20% of the composition on a weight basis, based on the total weight of the composition. Humectant

In some embodiments, one or more humectants may be employed in the composition. Examples of humectants include, but are not limited to, polyols such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and the like. Where included, the humectant is typically provided in an amount sufficient to provide desired moisture attributes to the composition. When present, a humectant will typically make up about 20% or less of the weight of the composition or 15% or less of the weight of the composition (e.g., from about 1% to about 20% by weight or about 5% to about 15% by weight).

Processing Aid

If necessary for downstream processing of the composition, such as pouching, a flow aid can also be added to the composition in order to enhance flowability of the composition. Exemplary flow aids include microcrystalline cellulose, silica, polyethylene glycol, stearic acid, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, canauba wax, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the flow aid is sodium stearyl fumarate. When present, a representative amount of flow aid may make up at least about 0.5 percent or at least about 1 percent, of the total dry weight of the composition. The amount of flow aid within the composition typically will not exceed about 5 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 3 percent, of the total weight of the composition.

Buffering Agent

In some embodiments, the composition of the present disclosure can comprise pH adjusters or buffering agents. Examples of pH adjusters and buffering agents that can be used include, but are not limited to, metal hydroxides (e.g., alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), and other alkali metal buffers such as metal carbonates (e.g., potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate), or metal bicarbonates such as sodium bicarbonate, and the like. Non-limiting examples of suitable buffers include alkali metal acetates, glycinates, phosphates, glycerophosphates, citrates, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, borates, or mixtures thereof. Where present, the buffering agent or pH adjuster is typically present in an amount less than about 5 percent based on the weight of the composition, for example, from about 0.1% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, or 0.5% to about 5%, such as, e.g., from about 0.75% to about 4%, from about 0.75% to about 3%, or from about 1% to about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

In some embodiments, at least one pH adjuster is added to the composition to further enhance stability of a volatile flavorant or active ingredient contained therein. For example, sufficient pH adjuster could be added to the composition to maintain a pH level below 7, such as about 4 to about 7.

Colorant A colorant may optionally be employed in amounts sufficient to provide the desired physical attributes to the composition. Examples of colorants include various dyes and pigments, such as caramel coloring and titanium dioxide. The amount of colorant utilized in the composition can vary, but when present is typically up to about 3 weight percent, such as from about 0.1%, about 0.5%, or about 1%, to about 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Active Ingredient

Generally, the composition comprises one or more active ingredients. As used herein, an "active ingredient" refers to one or more substances belonging to any of the following categories: API (active pharmaceutical ingredient), food additives, natural medicaments, and naturally occurring substances that can have an effect on humans. Example active ingredients include any ingredient known to impact one or more biological functions within the body, such as ingredients that furnish pharmacological activity or other direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or which affect the structure or any function of the body of humans (e.g., provide a stimulating action on the central nervous system, have an energizing effect, an antipyretic or analgesic action, or an otherwise useful effect on the body). In some embodiments, the active ingredient may be of the type generally referred to as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals" or "functional foods." These types of additives are sometimes defined in the art as encompassing substances typically available from naturally -occurring sources (e.g., botanical materials) that provide one or more advantageous biological effects (e.g., health promotion, disease prevention, or other medicinal properties), but are not classified or regulated as drugs.

Non-limiting examples of active ingredients include those falling in the categories of botanical ingredients, stimulants, amino acids, nicotine components, and/or pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medicinal ingredients (e.g., vitamins, such as A, B3, B6, B12, and C, and/or cannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)). Each of these categories is further described herein below. The particular choice of active ingredients will vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and desired characteristics of the particular product.

In some embodiments, the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of caffeine, taurine, GABA, theanine, vitamin C, lemon balm extract, ginseng, citicoline, sunflower lecithin, and combinations thereof. For example, the active ingredient can include a combination of caffeine, theanine, and optionally ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient includes a combination of theanine, gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), and lemon balm extract. In some embodiments, the active ingredient includes theanine, theanine and tryptophan, or theanine and one or more B vitamins (e.g., vitamin B6 or B12). In some embodiments, the active ingredient includes a combination of caffeine, taurine, and vitamin C.

The particular percentages of active ingredients present will vary depending upon the desired characteristics of the particular product. Typically, an active ingredient or combination thereof is present in a total concentration of at least about 0.001% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.001% to about 20%. In some embodiments, the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.5% w/w to about 10%, from about 1% to about 10%, from about 1% to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients is present in a concentration of from about 0.001%, about 0.01%, about 0.1% , or about 1%, up to about 20% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.001%, about 0.002%, about 0.003%, about 0.004%, about 0.005%, about 0.006%, about 0.007%, about 0.008%, about 0.009%, about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, about 0.1%, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 15%, about 16%, about 17%, about 18%, about 19%, or about 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. Further suitable ranges for specific active ingredients are provided herein below.

Botanical

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises a botanical ingredient. As used herein, the term "botanical ingredient" or "botanical" refers to any plant material or fungal-derived material, including plant material in its natural form and plant material derived from natural plant materials, such as extracts or isolates from plant materials or treated plant materials (e.g., plant materials subjected to heat treatment, fermentation, bleaching, or other treatment processes capable of altering the physical and/or chemical nature of the material). For the purposes of the present disclosure, a "botanical" includes, but is not limited to, "herbal materials," which refer to seed-producing plants that do not develop persistent woody tissue and are often valued for their medicinal or sensory characteristics (e.g., teas or tisanes). Reference to botanical material as "non-tobacco" is intended to exclude tobacco materials (i.e., does not include any Nicotiana species). In some embodiments, the compositions as disclosed herein can be characterized as free of any tobacco material (e.g., any embodiment as disclosed herein may be completely or substantially free of any tobacco material). By "substantially free" is meant that no tobacco material has been intentionally added. For example, some embodiments can be characterized as having less than 0.001% by weight of tobacco, or less than 0.0001%, or even 0% by weight of tobacco.

When present, a botanical is typically at a concentration of from about 0.01% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01% w/w, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

The botanical materials useful in the present disclosure may comprise, without limitation, any of the compounds and sources set forth herein, including mixtures thereof. Certain botanical materials of this type are sometimes referred to as dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, "phytochemicals" or "functional foods." Certain botanicals, as the plant material or an extract thereof, have found use in traditional herbal medicine, and are described further herein. Non-limiting examples of botanicals or botanical-derived materials include acai berry (Euterpe oleracea martius), acerola (Malpighia glabra), alfalfa, allspice, Angelica root, anise (e.g., star anise), annatto seed, apple (Malus domestica), apricot oil, ashwagandha, Bacopa monniera, baobab, basil (Ocimum basilicum), bay, bee balm, beet root, bergamot, blackberry (Morus nigra), black cohosh, black pepper, black tea, blueberries, boldo (Peumus boldus), borage, bugleweed, cacao, calamus root, camu (Myrcaria dubia), cannabis/hemp, caraway seed, cardamom, cassis, catnip, catuaba, cayenne pepper, Centella asiatica, chaga mushroom, Chai-hu, chamomile, cherry, chervil, chive, chlorophyll, chocolate, cilantro, cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), citron grass (Cymbopogon citratus), citrus, clary sage, cloves, coconut (Cocos nucifera), coffee, comfrey leaf and root, cordyceps, coriander seed, cranberry, cumin, curcumin, damiana, dandelion, Dorstenia arifolia, Dorstenia odorata, Echinacea, elderberry, elderflower, endro (Anethum graveolens), evening primrose, eucalyptus, fennel, feverfew, flax, Galphimia glauca, garlic, ginger (Zingiber officinale), gingko biloba, ginseng, goji berries, goldenseal, grape seed, grapefruit, grapefruit rose (Citrus paradisi), graviola (Annona muricata), green tea, guarana, gutu kola, hawthorn, hazel, hemp, hibiscus flower (Hibiscus sabdariffa), honeybush, hops, jiaogulan, jambu (Spilanthes oleraceae), jasmine (Jasminum officinale), juniper berry (Juniperus communis), Kaempferia parviflora (Thai ginseng), kava, laurel, lavender, lemon (Citrus limon), lemon balm, lemongrass, licorice, lilac, Lion’s mane, lutein, maca (Lepidium meyenii), mace, maijoram, matcha, milk thistle, mints (menthe), mulberry, Nardostachys chinensis, nutmeg, olive, oolong tea, orange (Citrus sinensis), oregano, papaya, paprika, pennyroyal, peppermint (Mentha piperita), pimento, potato peel, primrose, quercetin, quince, red clover, resveratrol, Rhizoma gastrodiae, Rhodiola, rooibos (red or green), rosehip (Rosa canina), rosemary, saffron, sage, Saint John's Wort, sandalwood, salvia (Salvia officinalis), savory, saw palmetto, Sceletium tortuosum, Schisandra, silybum marianum, Skullcap, spearmint, Spikenard, spirulina, slippery elm bark, sorghum bran hi-tannin, sorghum grain hi-tannin, spearmint (Mentha spicata), spirulina, star anise, sumac bran, tarragon, thyme, tisanes, turmeric, Turnera aphrodisiaca, uva ursi, valerian, vanilla, Viola odorata, white mulberry, wild yam root, Wintergreen, withania somnifera, yacon root, yellow dock, yerba mate, and yerba santa.

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises lemon balm. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a mildly lemon-scented herb from the same family as mint (Lamiaceae). The herb is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The tea of lemon balm, as well as the essential oil and the extract, are used in traditional and alternative medicine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises lemon balm extract. In some embodiments, the lemon balm extract is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 4% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises ginseng. Ginseng is the root of plants of the genus Panax, which are characterized by the presence of unique steroid saponin phytochemicals (ginsenosides) and gintonin. Ginseng finds use as a dietary supplement in energy drinks or herbal teas, and in traditional medicine. Cultivated species include Korean ginseng (P. ginseng), South China ginseng (P. notoginseng), and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius). American ginseng and Korean ginseng vary in the type and quantity of various ginsenosides present. In some embodiments, the ginseng is American ginseng or Korean ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises Korean ginseng. In some embodiments, ginseng is present in an amount of from about 0.4 to about 0.6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Stimulant

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises one or more stimulants. As used herein, the term "stimulant" refers to a material that increases activity of the central nervous system and/or the body, for example, enhancing focus, cognition, vigor, mood, alertness, and the like. Non-limiting examples of stimulants include caffeine, theacrine, theobromine, and theophylline. Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid) is a purine alkaloid which is structurally related to caffeine, and possesses stimulant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Present stimulants may be natural, naturally derived, or wholly synthetic. For example, certain botanical materials (guarana, tea, coffee, cocoa, and the like) may possess a stimulant effect by virtue of the presence of e.g., caffeine or related alkaloids, and accordingly are "natural" stimulants. By "naturally derived" is meant the stimulant (e.g., caffeine, theacrine) is in a purified form, outside its natural (e.g., botanical) matrix. For example, caffeine can be obtained by extraction and purification from botanical sources (e.g., tea). By "wholly synthetic", it is meant that the stimulant has been obtained by chemical synthesis. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises caffeine. In some embodiments, the caffeine is present in an encapsulated form. On example of an encapsulated caffeine is Vitashure®, available from Balchem Corp., 52 Sunrise Park Road, New Hampton, NY, 10958.

When present, a stimulant or combination of stimulants (e.g., caffeine, theacrine, and combinations thereof) is typically at a concentration of from about 0.1% w/w to about 15% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the composition comprises caffeine in an amount of from about 1.5 to about 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Amino acid

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises an amino acid. As used herein, the term "amino acid" refers to an organic compound that contains amine (-NH₂) and carboxyl (-COOH) or sulfonic acid (SO3H) functional groups, along with a side chain (R group), which is specific to each amino acid. Amino acids may be proteinogenic or non-proteinogenic. By "proteinogenic" is meant that the amino acid is one of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids found in proteins. The proteinogenic amino acids include alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. By "non- proteinogenic" is meant that either the amino acid is not found naturally in protein, or is not directly produced by cellular machinery (e.g., is the product of post-translational modification). Non-limiting examples of non- proteinogenic amino acids include gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), taurine (2 -aminoethanesulfonic acid), theanine (L-y-glutamylethylamide), hydroxyproline, and beta-alanine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises theanine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises GABA. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises a combination of theanine and GABA. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of theanine, GABA, and lemon balm. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of caffeine, theanine, and ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises taurine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of caffeine and taurine.

When present, an amino acid or combination of amino acids (e.g., theanine, GABA, and combinations thereof) is typically at a concentration of from about 0.1% w/w to about 15% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, or about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Vitamins and Minerals

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises a vitamin or combination of vitamins. As used herein, the term "vitamin" refers to an organic molecule (or related set of molecules) that is an essential micronutrient needed for the proper functioning of metabolism in a mammal. There are thirteen vitamins required by human metabolism, which are: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl-esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids), vitamin Bl (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate), vitamin B 12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), and vitamin K (quinones). In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises vitamin C. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of vitamin C, caffeine, and taurine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises one or more of vitamin B6 and B 12. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises theanine and one or more of vitamin B6 and B 12.

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises vitamin A. In some embodiments, the vitamin A is encapsulated. In some embodiments, the vitamin is vitamin B6, vitamin B 12, vitamin E, vitamin C, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises a mineral. As used herein, the term "mineral" refers to an inorganic molecule (or related set of molecules) that is an essential micronutrient needed for the proper functioning of various systems in a mammal. Non-limiting examples of minerals include iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, cobalt, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, and the like. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises iron. Suitable sources of iron include, but are not limited to, ferrous salts such as ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate. In some embodiments, the iron is encapsulated.

When present, a vitamin or mineral (or combinations thereof such as vitamin B6, vitamin B 12, vitamin E, vitamin C, or a combination thereof) is typically at a concentration of from about 0.01% w/w to about 6% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, or about 0.1% w/w, to about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, about 0.9%, about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5% , or about 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

Antioxidant

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises one or more antioxidants. As used herein, the term "antioxidant" refers to a substance which prevents or suppresses oxidation by terminating free radical reactions, and may delay or prevent some types of cellular damage. Antioxidants may be naturally occurring or synthetic. Naturally occurring antioxidants include those found in foods and botanical materials. Nonlimiting examples of antioxidants include certain botanical materials, vitamins, polyphenols, and phenol derivatives.

Examples of botanical materials which are associated with antioxidant characteristics include without limitation acai berry, alfalfa, allspice, annatto seed, apricot oil, basil, bee balm, wild bergamot, black pepper, blueberries, borage seed oil, bugleweed, cacao, calamus root, catnip, catuaba, cayenne pepper, chaga mushroom, chervil, cinnamon, dark chocolate, potato peel, grape seed, ginseng, gingko biloba, Saint John's Wort, saw palmetto, green tea, black tea, black cohosh, cayenne, chamomile, cloves, cocoa powder, cranberry, dandelion, grapefruit, honeybush, echinacea, garlic, evening primrose, feverfew, ginger, goldenseal, hawthorn, hibiscus flower, jiaogulan, kava, lavender, licorice, magoram, milk thistle, mints (menthe), oolong tea, beet root, orange, oregano, papaya, pennyroyal, peppermint, red clover, rooibos (red or green), rosehip, rosemary, sage, clary sage, savory, spearmint, spirulina, slippery elm bark, sorghum bran hi-tannin, sorghum grain hi-tannin, sumac bran, comfrey leaf and root, goji berries, gutu kola, thyme, turmeric, uva ursi, valerian, wild yam root, Wintergreen, yacon root, yellow dock, yerba mate, yerba santa, bacopa monniera, withania somnifera, Lion’s mane, and silybum marianum. Such botanical materials may be provided in fresh or dry form, essential oils, or may be in the form of an extracts. The botanical materials (as well as their extracts) often include compounds from various classes known to provide antioxidant effects, such as minerals, vitamins, isoflavones, phytoesterols, allyl sulfides, dithiolthiones, isothiocyanates, indoles, lignans, flavonoids, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Examples of compounds found in botanical extracts or oils include ascorbic acid, peanut endocarb, resveratrol, sulforaphane, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, co-enzyme Q, carnitine, quercetin, kaempferol, and the like. See, e.g., Santhosh et al., Phytomedicine, 12(2005) 216-220, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Non-limiting examples of other suitable antioxidants include citric acid, Vitamin E or a derivative thereof, a tocopherol, epicatechol, epigallocatechol, epigallocatechol gallate, erythorbic acid, sodium erythorbate, 4-hexylresorcinol, theaflavin, theaflavin monogallate A or B, theaflavin digallate, phenolic acids, glycosides, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, hyperoside, polyphenols, catechols, resveratrols, oleuropein, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), and combinations thereof.

When present, an antioxidant is typically at a concentration of from about 0.001% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.001%, about 0.005%, about 0.01% w/w, about 0.05%, about 0.1%, or about 0.5%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10%, based on the total weight of the mixture/composition.

Nicotine component

In some embodiments, the pouched products of the present disclosure can include a nicotinic compound. Various nicotinic compounds, and methods for their administration, are set forth in US Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0274628 to Borschke, which is incorporated herein by reference. As used herein, “nicotinic compound” or “source of nicotine” often refers to naturally-occurring or synthetic nicotinic compound unbound from a plant material, meaning the compound is at least partially purified and not contained within a plant stmcture, such as a tobacco leaf. In some embodiments, nicotine is naturally -occurring and obtained as an extract from a Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco). The nicotine can have the enantiomeric form S(-)-nicotine, R(+)-nicotine, or a mixture of S(-)-nicotine and R(+)-nicotine. In some embodiments, the nicotine is in the form of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., in a form that is virtually all S(-)-nicotine) or a racemic mixture composed primarily or predominantly of S(-)-nicotine (e.g., a mixture composed of about 95 weight parts S(-)-nicotine and about 5 weight parts R(+)-nicotine). The nicotine can be employed in virtually pure form or in an essentially pure form. The nicotine that is employed can have a purity of greater than about 95 percent, greater than about 98 percent, or greater than about 99 percent, on a weight basis.

In some embodiments, a nicotine component may be included in the composition in free base form, salt form, as a complex, or as a solvate. By "nicotine component" is meant any suitable form of nicotine (e.g., free base or salt) for providing oral absorption of at least a portion of the nicotine present. Typically, the nicotine component is selected from the group consisting of nicotine free base and a nicotine salt. In some embodiments, nicotine is in its free base form, which easily can be adsorbed in for example, a microcrystalline cellulose material to form a microcrystalline cellulose-nicotine carrier complex. See, for example, the discussion of nicotine in free base form in US Pat. Pub. No. 2004/0191322 to Hansson, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the nicotine can be employed in the form of a salt. Salts of nicotine can be provided using the types of ingredients and techniques set forth in US Pat. No. 2,033,909 to Cox et al. and Perfetti, Beitrage Tabakforschung Int., 12: 43-54 (1983), which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, salts of nicotine are available from sources such as Pfaltz and Bauer, Inc. and K&K Laboratories, Division of ICN Biochemicals, Inc. Typically, the nicotine component is selected from the group consisting of nicotine free base, a nicotine salt such as hydrochloride, dihydrochloride, monotartrate, bitartrate, sulfate, salicylate, and nicotine zinc chloride. In some embodiments, the nicotine component or a portion thereof is a nicotine salt with one or more organic acids, as explained more fully below.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the nicotine can be in the form of a resin complex of nicotine, where nicotine is bound in an ion-exchange resin, such as nicotine polacrilex, which is nicotine bound to, for example, a polymethacrilic acid, such as Amberlite™ IRP64, Purolite™ C115HMR, or Doshion® P551. See, for example, US Pat. No. 3,901,248 to Lichtneckert et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Another example is a nicotine-polyacrylic carbomer complex, such as with Carbopol® 974P. In some embodiments, nicotine may be present in the form of a nicotine polyacrylic complex.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide a basic amine-containing oral product configured for oral use which retains the initial basic amine content (e.g., nicotine content) during storage, and which delivers substantially the full amount of basic amine (e.g., nicotine) initially present in the oral product. In some such embodiments, nicotine or other basic amine is employed in association with at least a portion of an organic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof (referred to herein as “ion pairing”).

As disclosed herein, at least a portion of the basic amine (e.g., nicotine) is associated with at least a portion of the organic acid or the alkali metal salt thereof. Depending on multiple variables (concentration, pH, nature of the organic acid, and the like), the basic amine present in the composition can exist in multiple forms, including ion paired, in solution (i.e., fully solvated), as the free base, as a cation, as a salt, or any combination thereof. The relative amounts of the various components within the oral product composition may vary, and typically are selected so as to provide the desired sensory and performance characteristics to the oral product. In some embodiments, the association between the basic amine and at least a portion of the organic acid or the alkali metal salt thereof is in the form of an ion pair between the basic amine and a conjugate base of the organic acid.

Ion pairing describes the partial association of oppositely charged ions in relatively concentrated solutions to form distinct chemical species called ion pairs. The strength of the association (i.e., the ion pairing) depends on the electrostatic force of attraction between the positive and negative ions (i.e., a protonated basic amine such as nicotine, and the conjugate base of the organic acid). By "conjugate base" is meant the base resulting from deprotonation of the corresponding acid (e.g., benzoate is the conjugate base of benzoic acid). On average, a certain population of these ion pairs exists at any given time, although the formation and dissociation of ion pairs is continuous. In the oral products as disclosed herein, and/or upon oral use of said oral products (e.g., upon contact with saliva), the basic amine, for example nicotine, and the conjugate base of the organic acid exist at least partially in the form of an ion pair. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that such ion pairing may minimize chemical degradation of the basic amine and/or enhance the oral availability of the basic amine (e.g., nicotine). At alkaline pH values (e.g., such as from about 7.5 to about 9), certain basic amines, for example nicotine, are largely present in the free base form, which has relatively low water solubility, and low stability with respect to evaporation and oxidative decomposition, but high mucosal availability. Conversely, at acidic pH values (such as from about 6.5 to about 4), certain basic amines, for example nicotine, are largely present in a protonated form, which has relatively high water solubility, and higher stability with respect to evaporation and oxidative decomposition, but low mucosal availability.

It has been found that the properties of stability, solubility, and availability of the nicotine in a composition configured for oral use can be mutually enhanced through ion pairing or salt formation of nicotine with appropriate organic acids and/or their conjugate bases. Specifically, nicotine-organic acid ion pairs of moderate lipophilicity result in favorable stability and absorption properties. Lipophilicity is conveniently measured in terms of logP, the partition coefficient of a molecule between a lipophilic phase and an aqueous phase, usually octanol and water, respectively. An octanol-water partitioning favoring distribution of a basic amine-organic acid ion pair into octanol is predictive of good absorption of the basic amine present in the composition through the oral mucosa.

As noted above, at alkaline pH values (e.g., such as from about 7.5 to about 9), nicotine is largely present in the free base form (and accordingly, a high partitioning into octanol), while at acidic pH values (such as from about 6.5 to about 4), nicotine is largely present in a protonated form (and accordingly, a low partitioning into octanol). An ion pair between certain organic acids (e.g., having a logP value of from about 1.4 to about 8.0. such as from about 1.4 to about 4.5, allows nicotine partitioning into octanol consistent with that predicted for nicotine partitioning into octanol at a pH of 8.4.

One of skill in the art will recognize that the extent of ion pairing in the disclosed composition, both before and during use by the consumer, may vary based on, for example, pH, the nature of the organic acid, the concentration of nicotine, the concentration of the organic acid or conjugate base of the organic acid present in the composition, the water content of the composition, the ionic strength of the composition, and the like. One of skill in the art will also recognize that ion pairing is an equilibrium process influenced by the foregoing variables. Accordingly, quantification of the extent of ion pairing is difficult or impossible by calculation or direct observation. However, as disclosed herein, the presence of ion pairing may be demonstrated through surrogate measures such as partitioning of the nicotine between octanol and water or membrane permeation of aqueous solutions of the basic amine plus organic acids and/or their conjugate bases.

Typically, the nicotine component (calculated as the free base) when present, is in a concentration of at least about 0.001% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.001% to about 10%. In some embodiments, the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the nicotine component is present in a concentration from about 0.1% w/w to about 3% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.1% w/w to about 2.5%, from about 0.1% to about 2.0%, from about 0.1% to about 1.5%, or from about 0.1% to about l% by weight, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition. These ranges can also apply to other active ingredients noted herein.

In some embodiments, the products or compositions of the disclosure can be characterized as free of any nicotine component (e.g., any embodiment as disclosed herein may be completely or substantially free of any nicotine component). By "substantially free" is meant that no nicotine has been intentionally added, beyond trace amounts that may be naturally present in e.g., a botanical material. For example, some embodiments can be characterized as having less than 0.001% by weight of nicotine, or less than 0.0001%, or even 0% by weight of nicotine, calculated as the free base. Organic Acid

As used herein, the term "organic acid" refers to an organic (i.e., carbon-based) compound that is characterized by acidic properties. Typically, organic acids are relatively weak acids (i.e., they do not dissociate completely in the presence of water), such as carboxylic acids (-CO2H) or sulfonic acids (-SO2OH). As used herein, reference to organic acid means an organic acid that is intentionally added. In this regard, an organic acid may be intentionally added as a specific composition ingredient as opposed to merely being inherently present as a component of another composition ingredient (e.g., the small amount of organic acid which may inherently be present in a composition ingredient, such as a tobacco material).

Suitable organic acids will typically have a range of lipophilicities (i.e., a polarity giving an appropriate balance of water and organic solubility). Typically, lipophilicities of suitable organic acids, as indicated by logP, will vary between about 1.4 and about 4.5 (more soluble in octanol than in water). In some embodiments, the organic acid has a logP value of from about 1.5 to about 4.0, e.g., from about 1.5, about 2.0, about 2.5, or about 3.0, to about 3.5, about 4.0, about 4.5, or about 5.0. Particularly suitable organic acids have a logP value of from about 1.7 to about 4, such as from about 2.0, about 2.5, or about 3.0, to about 3.5, or about 4.0. In some embodiments, the organic acid has a logP value of about 2.5 to about 3.5. In some embodiments, organic acids outside this range may also be utilized for various purposes and in various amounts, as described further hereinbelow. For example, in some embodiments, the organic acid may have a logP value of greater than about 4.5, such as from about 4.5 to about 8.0. Particularly, the presence of certain solvents or solubilizing agents (e.g., inclusion in the composition of glycerin or propylene glycol) may extend the range of lipophilicity (i.e., values of logP higher than 4.5, such as from about 4.5 to about 8.0).

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that moderately lipophilic organic acids (e.g., logP of from about 1.4 to about 4.5) produce ion pairs with nicotine which are of a polarity providing good octanol-water partitioning of the ion pair, and hence partitioning of nicotine, into octanol versus water. As discussed above, such partitioning into octanol is predictive of favorable oral availability. In some embodiments, the organic acid has a log P value of from about 1.4 to about 4.5, such as about 1.5, about 2, about 2.5, about 3, about 3.5, about 4 or about 4.5. In some embodiments, the organic acid has a log P value of from about 2.5 to about 3.5.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is a carboxylic acid or a sulfonic acid. The carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid functional group may be attached to any alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group having, for example, from one to twenty carbon atoms (C1-C20). In some embodiments, the organic acid is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl carboxylic or sulfonic acid.

As used herein, "alkyl" refers to any straight chain or branched chain hydrocarbon. The alkyl group may be saturated (i.e., having all sp³ carbon atoms), or may be unsaturated (i.e., having at least one site of unsaturation). As used herein, the term "unsaturated" refers to the presence of a carbon-carbon, sp² double bond in one or more positions within the alkyl group. Unsaturated alkyl groups may be mono- or polyunsaturated. Representative straight chain alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, and n-hexyl. Branched chain alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, isopropyl, sec -butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, isopentyl, and 2-methylbutyl. Representative unsaturated alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethylene or vinyl, allyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, isobutylenyl, 1 -pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3- methyl-l-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, and the like. An alkyl group can be unsubstituted or substituted.

"Cycloalkyl" as used herein refers to a carbocyclic group, which may be mono- or bicyclic. Cycloalkyl groups include rings having 3 to 7 carbon atoms as a monocycle or 7 to 12 carbon atoms as a bicycle. Examples of monocyclic cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl. A cycloalkyl group can be unsubstituted or substituted, and may include one or more sites of unsaturation (e.g., cyclopentenyl or cyclohexenyl).

The term "aryl" as used herein refers to a carbocyclic aromatic group. Examples of aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl and naphthyl. An aryl group can be unsubstituted or substituted.

"Heteroaryl" and "heterocycloalkyl" as used herein refer to an aromatic or non-aromatic ring system, respectively, in which one or more ring atoms is a heteroatom, e.g. nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl group comprises up to 20 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S. A heteroaryl or heterocycloalkyl may be a monocycle having 3 to 7 ring members (for example, 2 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S) or a bicycle having 7 to 10 ring members (for example, 4 to 9 carbon atoms and 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S), for example: a bicyclo [4,5], [5,5], [5,6], or [6,6] system. Examples of heteroaryl groups include by way of example and not limitation, pyridyl, thiazolyl, tetrahydrothiophenyl, pyrimidinyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, tetrazolyl, benzofuranyl, thianaphthalenyl, indolyl, indolenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, indolizinyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, IH-indazolyl, purinyl, 4H-quinolizinyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, quinoxalinyl, quinazolinyl, cinnolinyl, pteridinyl, 4aH-carbazolyl, carbazolyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, phenothiazinyl, furazanyl, phenoxazinyl, isochromanyl, chromanyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, and isatinoyl. Examples of heterocycloalkyls include by way of example and not limitation, dihydroypyridyl, tetrahydropyridyl (piperidyl), tetrahydrothiophenyl, piperidinyl, 4- piperidonyl, pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidonyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, bis-tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, decahydroquinolinyl, octahydroisoquinolinyl, piperazinyl, quinuclidinyl, and morpholinyl. Heteroaryl and heterocycloalkyl groups can be unsubstituted or substituted.

"Substituted" as used herein and as applied to any of the above alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, means that one or more hydrogen atoms are each independently replaced with a substituent. Typical substituents include, but are not limited to, -Cl, Br, F, alkyl, -OH, -OCH₃, NH₂, -NHCH₃, -N(CH₃)₂, - CN, -NC(=O)CH₃, -C(=O)-, -C(=O)NH₂, and -C(=O)N(CH₃)₂. Wherever a group is described as "optionally substituted," that group can be substituted with one or more of the above substituents, independently selected for each occasion. In some embodiments, the substituent may be one or more methyl groups or one or more hydroxyl groups. In some embodiments, the organic acid is an alkyl carboxylic acid. Non-limiting examples of alkyl carboxylic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and the like.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is an alkyl sulfonic acid. Non-limiting examples of alkyl sulfonic acids include propanesulfonic acid, heptanesulfonic acid, and octanesulfonic acid.

In some embodiments, the alkyl carboxylic or sulfonic acid is substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups. Non-limiting examples include glycolic acid, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, and lactic acid.

In some embodiments, an organic acid may include more than one carboxylic acid group or more than one sulfonic acid group (e.g., two, three, or more carboxylic acid groups). Non-limiting examples include oxalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, and glutaric acid. In organic acids containing multiple carboxylic acids (e.g., from two to four carboxylic acid groups), one or more of the carboxylic acid groups may be esterified. Non-limiting examples include succinic acid monoethyl ester, monomethyl fumarate, monomethyl or dimethyl citrate, and the like.

In some embodiments, the organic acid may include more than one carboxylic acid group and one or more hydroxyl groups. Non-limiting examples of such acids include tartaric acid, citric acid, and the like.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is an aryl carboxylic acid or an aryl sulfonic acid. Non-limiting examples of aryl carboxylic and sulfonic acids include benzoic acid, toluic acids, salicylic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, and -tohicncsulfonic acid.

Further non-limiting examples of organic acids which may be useful in some embodiments include 2,2-dichloroacetic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, 4-acetamidobenzoic acid, 4- aminosalicylic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid (L), aspartic acid (L), alpha-methylbutyric acid, camphoric acid (+), camphor-10-sulfonic acid (+), cinnamic acid, cyclamic acid, dodecylsulfuric acid, ethane- 1,2-disulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, furoic acid, galactaric acid, gentisic acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid, glucuronic acid, glutamic acid, glycerophosphoric acid, glycolic acid, hippuric acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, lactobionic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, naphthalene-l,5-disulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, pamoic acid, phenylacetic acid, pyroglutamic acid, pyruvic acid, sebacic acid, stearic acid, and undecylenic acid.

Examples of suitable acids include, but are not limited to, the list of organic acids in Table 1.

Table 1. Non-limiting examples of suitable organic acids

*Values obtained from PubChem or calculated

The selection of organic acid may further depend on additional properties in addition to consideration of the logP value. For example, an organic acid should be one recognized as safe for human consumption, and which has acceptable flavor, odor, volatility, stability, and the like. Determination of appropriate organic acids is within the purview of one of skill in the art.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is a mono ester of a dicarboxylic acid or a poly -carboxylic acid. In some embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid is malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid is succinic acid, glutaric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the dicarboxylic acid is succinic acid, glutaric acid, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the alcohol forming the mono ester of the dicarboxylic acid is a lipophilic alcohol. Examples of suitable lipophilic alcohols include, but are not limited to, octanol, menthol, and tocopherol. In some embodiments, the organic acid is an octyl mono ester of a dicarboxylic acid, such as monooctyl succinate, monooctyl fumarate, or the like. In some embodiments, the organic acid is a monomenthyl ester of a dicarboxylic acid. Certain menthyl esters may be desirable in oral compositions as described herein by virtue of the cooling sensation they may provide upon use of the product comprising the composition. In some embodiments, the organic acid is monomenthyl succinate, monomenthyl fumarate, monomenthyl glutarate, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the organic acid is a monotocopheryl ester of a dicarboxylic acid. Certain tocopheryl esters may be desirable in oral compositions as described herein by virtue of the antioxidant effects they may provide. In some embodiments, the organic acid is tocopheryl succinate, tocopheryl fumarate, tocopheryl glutarate, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids. Carotenoids are tetraterpenes, meaning that they are produced from 8 isoprene molecules and contain 40 carbon atoms. Accordingly, they are usually lipophilic due to the presence of long unsaturated aliphatic chains, and are generally yellow, orange, or red in color. Certain carotenoid derivatives can be advantageous in oral compositions by virtue of providing both ion pairing and serving as a colorant in the composition. In some embodiments, the organic acid is 2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16Z,18E)-20-methoxy-4,8,13,17-tetramethyl- 20-oxoicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenoic acid (bixin) or an isomer thereof. Bixin is an apocarotenoid found in annatto seeds from the achiote tree (Bixa orellana), and is the naturally occurring pigment providing the reddish orange color to annatto. Bixin is soluble in fats and alcohols but insoluble in water, and is chemically unstable when isolated, converting via isomerization into the double bond isomer, /ran.s-bixin ( -bixin), having the structure:

In some embodiments, the organic acid is (2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E)-4,8,13,17- tetramethylicosa-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18-nonaenedioic acid (norbixin), a water soluble hydrolysis product of bixin having the structure:

In some embodiments, more than one organic acid may be present. For example, the composition may comprise two, or three, or four, or more organic acids. Accordingly, reference herein to "an organic acid" contemplates mixtures of two or more organic acids. The relative amounts of the multiple organic acids may vary. For example, a composition may comprise equal amounts of two, or three, or more organic acids, or may comprise different relative amounts. In this manner, it is possible to include certain organic acids (e.g., citric acid or myristic acid) which have a logP value outside the desired range, when combined with other organic acids to provide the desired average logP range for the combination. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to include organic acids in the composition which have logP values outside the desired range for purposes such as, but not limited to, providing desirable organoleptic properties, stability, as flavor components, and the like. Further, certain lipophilic organic acids have undesirable flavor and or aroma characteristics which would preclude their presence as the sole organic acid (e.g., in equimolar or greater quantities relative to nicotine). Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a combination of different organic acids may provide the desired ion pairing while the concentration of any single organic acid in the composition remains below the threshold which would be found objectionable from a sensory perspective.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises an organic acid which is a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid or is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids as described herein above, and further comprises an additional organic acid or salt thereof. In some embodiments, the additional organic acid is benzoic acid, an alkali metal salt thereof, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises an alkali metal salt of an organic acid. For example, at least a portion of the organic acid may be present in the composition in the form of an alkali metal salt. Suitable alkali metal salts include lithium, sodium, and potassium. In some embodiments, the alkali metal is sodium or potassium. In some embodiments, the alkali metal is sodium. In some embodiments, the composition comprises an organic acid and a sodium salt of the organic acid.

In some embodiments, the weight ratio of the organic acid to the sodium salt (or other alkali metal) of the organic acid is from about 0.1 to about 10, such as from about 0.1, about 0.25, about 0.3, about 0.5, about 0.75, or about 1, to about 2, about 5, or about 10. For example, in some embodiments, both an organic acid and the sodium salt thereof are added to the other components of the composition, wherein the organic acid is added in excess of the sodium salt, in equimolar quantities with the sodium salt, or as a fraction of the sodium salt. One of skill in the art will recognize that the relative amounts will be determined by the desired pH of the composition, as well as the desired ionic strength. For example, the organic acid may be added in a quantity to provide a desired pH level of the composition, while the alkali metal (e.g., sodium) salt is added in a quantity to provide the desired extent of ion pairing. As one of skill in the art will understand, the quantity of organic acid (i.e., the protonated form) present in the composition, relative to the alkali metal salt or conjugate base form present in the composition, will vary according to the pH of the composition and the pKa of the organic acid, as well as according to the actual relative quantities initially added to the composition.

The amount of organic acid or alkali metal salt thereof present in the composition, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), may vary. Generally, as the concentration of the organic acid (or the conjugate base thereof) increases, the percent of basic amine (e.g., nicotine) that is ion paired with the organic acid increases. This typically increases the partitioning of the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), in the form of an ion pair, into octanol versus water as measured by the logP (the logw of the partitioning coefficient). In some embodiments, the composition comprises from about 0.05, about 0.1, about 1, about 1.5, about 2, or about 5, to about 10, about 15, or about 20 molar equivalents of the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), calculated as the free base of the basic amine.

In some embodiments, the composition comprises from about 2 to about 10, or from about 2 to about 5 molar equivalents of the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof, relative to the basic amine (e.g., nicotine), on a free-base basis. In some embodiments, the organic acid, the alkali metal salt thereof, or the combination thereof, is present in a molar ratio with basic amine (e.g., nicotine) from about 2, about 3, about 4, or about 5, to about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, or about 10. In embodiments wherein more than one organic acid, alkali metal salt thereof, or both, are present, it is to be understood that such molar ratios reflect the totality of the organic acids present.

In some embodiments the organic acid inclusion is sufficient to provide a composition pH of from about 4.0 to about 9.0, such as from about 4.5 to about 7.0, or from about 5.5 to about 7.0, from about 4.0 to about 5.5, or from about 7.0 to about 9.0. In some embodiments, the organic acid inclusion is sufficient to provide a composition pH of from about 4.5 to about 6.5, for example, from about 4.5, about 5.0, or about 5.5, to about 6.0, or about 6.5. In some embodiments, the organic acid is provided in a quantity sufficient to provide a pH of the composition of from about 5.5 to about 6.5, for example, from about 5.5, about 5.6, about 5.7, about 5.8, about 5.9, or about 6.0, to about 6.1, about 6.2, about 6.3, about 6.4, or about 6.5. In some embodiments, a mineral acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, or the like) is added to adjust the pH of the composition to the desired value.

In some embodiments, the organic acid is added as the free acid, either neat (i.e., native solid or liquid form) or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components. In some embodiments, the alkali metal salt of the organic acid is added, either neat or as a solution in, e.g., water, to the other composition components. In some embodiments, the organic acid and the basic amine (e.g., nicotine) are combined to form a salt, either before addition to the composition, or the salt is formed within and is present in the composition as such. In some embodiments, the organic acid and basic amine (e.g., nicotine) are present as individual components in the composition, and form an ion pair upon contact with moisture (e.g., saliva in the mouth of the consumer).

In some embodiments, the oral composition comprises nicotine benzoate and sodium benzoate, wherein at least a portion of the nicotine and benzoate ions present are in an ion paired form. In some embodiments, the composition comprises nicotine benzoate, sodium benzoate, and an organic acid, an alkali metal salt of an organic acid, or a combination thereof, the organic acid having a logP value from about 1 to about 12, wherein the organic acid is a monoester of a dicarboxylic acid or is a carotenoid derivative having one or more carboxylic acids.

In some embodiments, the oral composition further comprises a solubility enhancer to increase the solubility of one or more of the organic acid or salt thereof. Suitable solubility enhancers include, but are not limited to, humectants as described herein, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

Cannabinoid

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises one or more cannabinoids. As used herein, the term "cannabinoid" refers to a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors, also known as the endocannabinoid system, in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. Ligands for these receptor proteins include the endocannabinoids produced naturally in the body by animals; phytocannabinoids, found in cannabis; and synthetic cannabinoids, manufactured artificially. Cannabinoids found in cannabis include, without limitation: cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM), cannabinerolic acid, cannabidiolic acid (CBD A), cannabinol propyl variant (CBNV), cannabitriol (CBO), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), and tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCV A). In some embodiments, the cannabinoid is selected from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and/or cannabidiol (CBD) another major constituent of the plant, but which is devoid of psychoactivity. All of the above compounds can be used in the form of an isolate from plant material or synthetically derived.

In some embodiments, the cannabinoid (e.g., CBD) is added to the composition in the form of an isolate. An isolate is an extract from a plant, such as cannabis, where the active material of interest (in this case the cannabinoid, such as CBD) is present in a high degree of purity, for example greater than 95%, greater than 96%, greater than 97%, greater than 98%, or around 99% purity.

In some embodiments, the cannabinoid is an isolate of CBD in a high degree of purity, and the amount of any other cannabinoid in the composition is no greater than about 1% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.5% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.1% by weight of the composition, such as no greater than about 0.01% by weight of the composition.

Alternatively, the active ingredient can be a cannabimimetic, which is a class of compounds derived from plants other than cannabis that have biological effects on the endocannabinoid system similar to cannabinoids. Examples include yangonin, alpha-amyrin or beta-amyrin (also classified as terpenes), cyanidin, curcumin (tumeric), catechin, quercetin, salvinorin A, N-acylethanolamines, and N-alkylamide lipids. When present, a cannabinoid (e.g., CBD) or cannabimimetic is typically in a concentration of at least about 0.1% by weight of the composition, such as in a range from about 0.1% to about 30%, such as, e.g., from about 0.1%, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, or about 0.9%, to about 1%, about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, or about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition. The choice of cannabinoid and the particular percentages thereof which may be present within the disclosed composition will vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and other characteristics of the composition.

Terpene

Active ingredients suitable for use in the present disclosure can also be classified as terpenes, many of which are associated with biological effects, such as calming effects. Terpenes are understood to have the general formula of (C5H₈)_n and include monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. Terpenes can be acyclic, monocyclic or bicyclic in structure. Some terpenes provide an entourage effect when used in combination with cannabinoids or cannabimimetics. Examples include beta-caryophyllene, linalool, limonene, betacitronellol, linalyl acetate, pinene (alpha or beta), geraniol, carvone, eucalyptol, menthone, iso-menthone, piperitone, myrcene, beta-bourbonene, and germacrene, which may be used singly or in combination.

In some embodiments, the terpene is a terpene derivable from a phytocannabinoid producing plant, such as a plant from the strain of the cannabis sativa species, such as hemp. Suitable terpenes in this regard include so-called “CIO” terpenes, which are those terpenes comprising 10 carbon atoms, and so-called “C15” terpenes, which are those terpenes comprising 15 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises more than one terpene. For example, the active ingredient may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten or more terpenes as defined herein. In some embodiments, the terpene is selected from pinene (alpha and beta), geraniol, linalool, limonene, carvone, eucalyptol, menthone, iso-menthone, piperitone, myrcene, beta-bourbonene, germacrene and mixtures thereof.

Pharmaceutical ingredient

In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The API can be any known agent adapted for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic use. These can include, for example, synthetic organic compounds, proteins and peptides, polysaccharides and other sugars, lipids, phospholipids, inorganic compounds (e.g., magnesium, selenium, zinc, nitrate), neurotransmitters or precursors thereof (e.g., serotonin, 5 -hydroxy tryptophan, oxitriptan, acetylcholine, dopamine, melatonin), and nucleic acid sequences, having therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic activity. Non-limiting examples of APIs include analgesics and antipyretics (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, 3-(4- isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid), phosphatidylserine, myoinositol, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, Omega-3), arachidonic acid (AA, Omega-6), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), citicoline (cytidine-5'-diphosphate-choline), and cotinine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises citicoline. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of citicoline, caffeine, theanine, and ginseng. In some embodiments, the active ingredient comprises sunflower lecithin. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a combination of sunflower lecithin, caffeine, theanine, and ginseng.

The amount of API may vary. For example, when present, an API is typically at a concentration of from about 0.00 l% w/w to about 10% by weight, such as, e.g., from about 0.01%, about 0.02%, about 0.03%, about 0.04%, about 0.05%, about 0.06%, about 0.07%, about 0.08%, about 0.09%, about 0.1% w/w, about 0.2%, about 0.3%, about 0.4%, about 0.5% about 0.6%, about 0.7%, about 0.8%, about 0.9%, or about 1%, to about 2%, about 3%, about 4%, about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, or about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

In some embodiments, the composition is substantially free of any API. By "substantially free of any API" means that the composition does not contain, and specifically excludes, the presence of any API as defined herein, such as any Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutic agent intended to treat any medical condition.

Tobacco Material

In some embodiments, the composition may include a tobacco material. The tobacco material can vary in species, type, and form. Generally, the tobacco material is obtained from for a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species. Example Nicotiana species include N. tabacum, N. rustica, N. alata, N. arentsii, N. excelsior, N. forgetiana, N. glauca, N. glutinosa, N. gossei, N. kawakamii, N. knightiana, N. langsdorffi, N. otophora, N. setchelli, N. sylvestris, N. tomentosa, N. tomentosiformis, N. undulata, N. x sanderae, N. africana, N. amplexicaulis, N. benavidesii, N. bonariensis, N. debneyi, N. longiflora, N. maritina, N. megalosiphon, N. occidentalis, N. paniculata, N. plumbaginifolia, N. raimondii, N. rosulata, N. simulans, N. stocktonii, N. suaveolens, N. umbratica, N. velutina, N. wigandioides, N. acaulis, N. acuminata, N. attenuata, N. benthamiana, N. cavicola, N. clevelandii, N. cordifolia, N. corymbosa, N. fragrans, N. goodspeedii, N. linearis, N. miersii, N. nudicaulis, N. obtusifolia, N. occidentalis subsp. Hersperis, N. pauciflora, N. petunioides, N. quadrivalvis, N. repanda, N. rotundifolia, N. solanifolia, and N. spegazzinii. Various representative other types of plants from the Nicotiana species are set forth in Goodspeed, The Genus Nicotiana, (Chonica Botanica) (1954); US Pat. Nos. 4,660,577 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; 5,387,416 to White et al., 7,025,066 to Lawson et al.; 7,798,153 to Lawrence, Jr. and 8,186,360 to Marshall et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Descriptions of various types of tobaccos, growing practices and harvesting practices are set forth in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Nicotiana species from which suitable tobacco materials can be obtained can be derived using genetic-modification or crossbreeding techniques (e.g., tobacco plants can be genetically engineered or crossbred to increase or decrease production of components, characteristics or attributes). See, for example, the types of genetic modifications of plants set forth in US Pat. Nos. 5,539,093 to Fitzmaurice et al.; 5,668,295 to Wahab et al.; 5,705,624 to Fitzmaurice et al.; 5,844,119 to Weigl; 6,730,832 to Dominguez et al.; 7,173,170 to Liu et al.; 7,208,659 to Colliver et al. and 7,230,160 to Benning et al.; US Patent Appl. Pub. No. 2006/0236434 to Conkling et al.; and PCT W02008/103935 to Nielsen et al. See, also, the types of tobaccos that are set forth in US Pat. Nos. 4,660,577 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; 5,387,416 to White et al.; and 6,730,832 to Dominguez et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The Nicotiana species can, in some embodiments, be selected for the content of various compounds that are present therein. For example, plants can be selected on the basis that those plants produce relatively high quantities of one or more of the compounds desired to be isolated therefrom. In some embodiments, plants of the Nicotiana species (e.g., Galpao commun tobacco) are specifically grown for their abundance of leaf surface compounds. Tobacco plants can be grown in greenhouses, growth chambers, or outdoors in fields, or grown hydroponically.

Various parts or portions of the plant of the Nicotiana species can be included within a mixture as disclosed herein. For example, virtually all of the plant (e.g., the whole plant) can be harvested, and employed as such. Alternatively, various parts or pieces of the plant can be harvested or separated for further use after harvest. For example, the flower, leaves, stem, stalk, roots, seeds, and various combinations thereof, can be isolated for further use or treatment. In some embodiments, the tobacco material comprises tobacco leaf (lamina). The mixture disclosed herein can include processed tobacco parts or pieces, cured and aged tobacco in essentially natural lamina and/or stem form, a tobacco extract, extracted tobacco pulp (e.g., using water as a solvent), or a mixture of the foregoing (e.g., a mixture that combines extracted tobacco pulp with granulated cured and aged natural tobacco lamina).

In some embodiments, the tobacco material comprises solid tobacco material selected from the group consisting of lamina and stems. The tobacco that is used for the mixture typically includes tobacco lamina, or a tobacco lamina and stem mixture (of which at least a portion is smoke-treated). Portions of the tobaccos within the mixture may have processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled stems, cut-rolled-expanded stems or cut-puffed stems), or volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET)). See, for example, the tobacco expansion processes set forth in US Pat. Nos. 4,340,073 to de la Burde et al.; 5,259,403 to Guy et al.; and 5,908,032 to Poindexter, et al.; and 7,556,047 to Poindexter, et al., all of which are incorporated by reference. In addition, the d mixture optionally may incorporate tobacco that has been fermented. See, also, the types of tobacco processing techniques set forth in PCT W02005/063060 to Atchley et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

The tobacco material is typically used in a form that can be described as particulate (i.e., shredded, ground, granulated, or powder form). The manner by which the tobacco material is provided in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary. Plant parts or pieces are typically comminuted, ground or pulverized into a particulate form using equipment and techniques for grinding, milling, or the like. The plant material is typically relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the like. For example, tobacco parts or pieces may be ground or milled when the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 weight percent or less than about 5 weight percent. The tobacco material is sometimes employed in the form of parts or pieces that have an average particle size between 1.4 millimeters and 250 microns. In some instances, the tobacco particles may be sized to pass through a screen mesh to obtain the particle size range required. If desired, air classification equipment may be used to ensure that small sized tobacco particles of the desired sizes, or range of sizes, may be collected. If desired, differently sized pieces of granulated tobacco may be mixed together.

For the preparation of oral products, it is typical for a harvested plant of the Nicotiana species to be subjected to a curing process. The tobacco materials incorporated within the mixture for inclusion within products as disclosed herein are those that have been appropriately cured and/or aged. Descriptions of various types of curing processes for various types of tobaccos are set forth in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999). Examples of techniques and conditions for curing flue-cured tobacco are set forth in Nestor et al., Beitrage Tabakforsch. Int., 20, 467-475 (2003) and US Pat. No. 6,895,974 to Peele, which are incorporated herein by reference. Representative techniques and conditions for air curing tobacco are set forth in US Pat. No. 7,650,892 to Groves et al.; Roton et al., Beitrage Tabakforsch. Int., 21, 305-320 (2005) and Staaf et al., Beitrage Tabakforsch. Int, 21, 321-330 (2005), which are incorporated herein by reference. Certain types of tobaccos can be subjected to alternative types of curing processes, such as fire curing or sun curing.

In some embodiments, tobacco materials that can be employed include flue-cured or Virginia (e.g., K326), burley, sun-cured (e.g., Indian Kumool and Oriental tobaccos, including Katerini, Prelip, Komotini, Xanthi and Yambol tobaccos), Maryland, dark, dark-fired, dark air cured (e.g., Madole, Passanda, Cubano, Jatin and Bezuki tobaccos), light air cured (e.g., North Wisconsin and Galpao tobaccos), Indian air cured, Red Russian and Rustica tobaccos, as well as various other rare or specialty tobaccos and various blends of any of the foregoing tobaccos.

The tobacco material may also have a so-called "blended" form. For example, the tobacco material may include a mixture of parts or pieces of flue-cured, burley (e.g., Malawi burley tobacco) and Oriental tobaccos (e.g., as tobacco composed of, or derived from, tobacco lamina, or a mixture of tobacco lamina and tobacco stem). For example, a representative blend may incorporate about 30 to about 70 parts burley tobacco (e.g., lamina, or lamina and stem), and about 30 to about 70 parts flue cured tobacco (e.g., stem, lamina, or lamina and stem) on a dry weight basis. Other example tobacco blends incorporate about 75 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 15 parts burley tobacco, and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; or about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 25 parts burley tobacco, and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; or about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 10 parts burley tobacco, and about 25 parts Oriental tobacco; on a dry weight basis. Other example tobacco blends incorporate about 20 to about 30 parts Oriental tobacco and about 70 to about 80 parts flue-cured tobacco on a dry weight basis.

Tobacco materials used in the present disclosure can be subjected to, for example, fermentation, bleaching, and the like. If desired, the tobacco materials can be, for example, irradiated, pasteurized, or otherwise subjected to controlled heat treatment. Such treatment processes are detailed, for example, in US Pat. No. 8,061,362 to Mua et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, tobacco materials can be treated with water and an additive capable of inhibiting reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide upon heating of the tobacco material (e.g., an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, cysteine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, compositions incorporating di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, certain non-reducing saccharides, certain reducing agents, phenolic compounds, certain compounds having at least one free thiol group or functionality, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, natural plant extracts (e.g., rosemary extract), and combinations thereof. See, for example, the types of treatment processes described in US Pat. Pub. Nos. 8,434,496, 8,944,072, and 8,991,403 to Chen et al., which are all incorporated herein by reference. Further methods are disclosed, e.g., in Int. Pat. Appl. Pub. Nos. WO2013/122948; WO/2020/128971;

WO/2021/048769; WO/2021/048768; WO/2021/048770; and Int. Pat. Appl. No. PCT/IB2021/058063, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In some embodiments, this type of treatment is useful where the original tobacco material is subjected to heat in the processes previously described.

In some embodiments, the type of tobacco material is selected such that it is initially visually lighter in color than other tobacco materials to some degree (e.g., whitened or bleached). Tobacco pulp can be whitened in some embodiments according to any means known in the art. For example, bleached tobacco material produced by various whitening methods using various bleaching or oxidizing agents and oxidation catalysts can be used. Example oxidizing agents include peroxides (e.g., hydrogen peroxide), chlorite salts, chlorate salts, perchlorate salts, hypochlorite salts, ozone, ammonia, potassium permanganate, and combinations thereof. Example oxidation catalysts are titanium dioxide, manganese dioxide, and combinations thereof. Processes for treating tobacco with bleaching agents are discussed, for example, in US Patent Nos. 787,611 to Daniels, Jr.; 1,086,306 to Oelenheinz; 1,437,095 to Delling; 1,757,477 to Rosenhoch; 2,122,421 to Hawkinson; 2,148,147 to Baier; 2,170,107 to Baier; 2,274,649 to Baier; 2,770,239 to Prats et al.; 3,612,065 to Rosen; 3,851,653 to Rosen; 3,889,689 to Rosen; 3,943,940 to Minami; 3,943,945 to Rosen; 4,143,666 to Rainer; 4,194,514 to Campbell; 4,366,823, 4,366,824, and 4,388,933 to Rainer et al.; 4,641,667 to Schmekel et al.; 5,713,376 to Berger; 9,339,058 to Byrd Jr. et al.; 9,420,825 to Beeson et al.; and 9,950,858 to Byrd Jr. et al.; as well as in US Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2012/0067361 to Bjorkholm et al.; 2016/0073686 to Crooks; 2017/0020183 to Bjorkholm; and 2017/0112183 to Bjorkholm, and in PCT Publ. Appl. Nos. WO1996/031255 to Giolvas and WO2018/083114 to Bjorkholm, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness of at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 75%, or at least about 80%. In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can have an ISO brightness in the range of about 50% to about 90%, about 55% to about 75%, or about 60% to about 70%. ISO brightness can be measured according to ISO 3688:1999 or ISO 2470-1:2016.

In some embodiments, the whitened tobacco material can be characterized as lightened in color (e.g., "whitened") in comparison to an untreated tobacco material. White colors are often defined with reference to the International Commission on Illumination's (CIE's) chromaticity diagram. The whitened tobacco material can, in some embodiments, be characterized as closer on the chromaticity diagram to pure white than an untreated tobacco material.

In some embodiments, the tobacco material can be treated to extract a soluble component of the tobacco material therefrom. "Tobacco extract" as used herein refers to the isolated components of a tobacco material that are extracted from solid tobacco pulp by a solvent that is brought into contact with the tobacco material in an extraction process. Various extraction techniques of tobacco materials can be used to provide a tobacco extract and tobacco solid material. See, for example, the extraction processes described in US Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2011/0247640 to Beeson et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Other example techniques for extracting components of tobacco are described in US Pat. Nos. 4,144,895 to Fiore; 4,150,677 to Osborne, Jr. et al.; 4,267,847 to Reid; 4,289,147 to Wildman et al.; 4,351,346 to Brummer et al.; 4,359,059 to Brummer et al.; 4,506,682 to Muller; 4,589,428 to Keritsis; 4,605,016 to Soga et al.; 4,716,911 to Poulose et al.; 4,727,889 to Niven, Jr. et al.; 4,887,618 to Bemasek et al.; 4,941,484 to Clapp et al.; 4,967,771 to Fagg et al.; 4,986,286 to Roberts et al.; 5,005,593 to Fagg et al.; 5,018,540 to Grubbs et al.; 5,060,669 to White et al.; 5,065,775 to Fagg; 5,074,319 to White et al.; 5,099,862 to White et al.; 5,121,757 to White et al.; 5,131,414 to Fagg; 5,131,415 to Munoz et al.; 5,148,819 to Fagg; 5,197,494 to Kramer; 5,230,354 to Smith et al.; 5,234,008 to Fagg; 5,243,999 to Smith; 5,301,694 to Raymond et al.; 5,318,050 to Gonzalez-Parra et al.; 5,343,879 to Teague; 5,360,022 to Newton; 5,435,325 to Clapp et al.; 5,445,169 to Brinkley et al.; 6,131,584 to Lauterbach; 6,298,859 to Kierulff et al.; 6,772,767 to Mua et al.; and 7,337,782 to Thompson, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Typical inclusion ranges for tobacco materials can vary depending on the nature and type of the tobacco material, and the intended effect on the final composition, with an example range of up to about 30% by weight (or up to about 20% by weight or up to about 10% by weight or up to about 5% by weight), based on total weight of the mixture (e.g., about 0.1 to about 15% by weight). In some embodiments, a tobacco material (e.g., a whitened tobacco material) is included in a relatively small amount (e.g., about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight).

Other Additives

Other additives can be included in the disclosed composition. For example, the composition can be processed, blended, formulated, combined and/or mixed with other materials or ingredients. The additives can be artificial, or can be obtained or derived from herbal or biological sources. Examples of further types of additives include additional thickening or gelling agents (e.g., fish gelatin), emulsifiers, preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate and the like), zinc or magnesium salts selected to be relatively water soluble for compositions with greater water solubility (e.g., magnesium or zinc gluconate) or selected to be relatively water insoluble for compositions with reduced water solubility (e.g., magnesium or zinc oxide), disintegration aids, or combinations thereof. See, for example, those representative components, combination of components, relative amounts of those components, and manners and methods for employing those components, set forth in US Pat. No. 9,237,769 to Mua et al., US Pat. No. 7,861,728 to Holton, Jr. et al., US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2010/0291245 to Gao et al., and US Pat. App. Pub. No. 2007/0062549 to Holton, Jr. et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Typical inclusion ranges for such additional additives can vary depending on the nature and function of the additive and the intended effect on the final composition, with an example range of up to about 10% by weight, based on total weight of the composition (e.g., about 0.1 to about 5% by weight).

The aforementioned additives can be employed together (e.g., as additive formulations) or separately (e.g., individual additive components can be added at different stages involved in the preparation of the final composition). Furthermore, the aforementioned types of additives may be encapsulated as provided in the final product. Example encapsulated additives are described, for example, in WO2010/132444 to Atchley, which has been previously incorporated by reference herein.

In some embodiments, the cellulose sponge oral product can be enclosed within a fleece material to form a pouched product. An example of such a product is shown in FIG. 2, which illustrates an oral pouched product 200 comprising a cellulose sponge 202 treated with an oral composition as described herein enclosed within a fleece material 204. A "fleece material" as used herein may be formed from various types of fibers capable of being formed into a traditional fleece fabric or other traditional pouch material. For example, fleece materials may be provided in the form of a woven or nonwoven fabric. Suitable types of fleece materials are described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 8,931,493 to Sebastian et al.; US Patent App. Pub. No. 2016/0000140 to Sebastian et al.; and US Patent App. Pub. No. 2016/0073689 to Sebastian et al.; which are all incorporated herein by reference. The term "nonwoven" is used herein in reference to fibrous materials, webs, mats, batts, or sheets in which fibers are aligned in an undefined or random orientation. The nonwoven fibers are initially presented as unbound fibers or filaments. An important step in the manufacturing of nonwovens involves binding the various fibers or filaments together. The manner in which the fibers or filaments are bound can vary, and include thermal, mechanical and chemical techniques that are selected in part based on the desired characteristics of the final product.

In some embodiments, the fibers within the fleece material may include, but are not limited to, a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly glyco lie acid, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene succinate adipate, and copolymers thereof. In some embodiments, the fibers within the fleece material may be selected from the groups consisting of wool, cotton, fibers made of cellulosic material, such as regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose, protein fibers, and the like. In some embodiments, the fleece material can comprise viscose fibers, including but not limited to, viscose fibers derived from tobacco. The manner in which the regenerated cellulose is made is not limiting, and can include, for example, both the rayon and the TENCEL processes. Various suppliers of regenerated cellulose are known, including Lenzing (Austria), Cordenka (Germany), Aditya Birla (India), and Daicel (Japan). In some embodiments, the fleece material is also biodegradable and/or compostable. In some embodiments, the fleece material can have a basis weight of about 20 gsm to about 40 gsm, about 30 gsm to about 40 gsm, or about 25 gsm to about 30 gsm. In some embodiments, the fleece material can have a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 0.3 mm (e.g., about 0.1 to about 0.2 mm, e.g., about 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, 0.17, or 0.18 mm).

Alternatively, the sponge material itself could serve as a pouch material and any of the oral composition components noted herein (e.g., fillers, active ingredients, flavorants) could be added to a cavity within the sponge.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An oral product adapted for administration to the oral cavity, comprising: a porous sponge carrying an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity.

2. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the porous sponge comprises a cellulose material, such as a regenerated cellulose material.

3. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition comprises at least one water-soluble component, such as at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof.

4. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition comprises one or more active ingredients selected from the group consisting of nutraceuticals, botanicals, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, cannabinoids, cannabimimetics, terpenes, and combinations thereof.

5. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition comprises a nicotine component selected from nicotine free base, a nicotine salt, a nicotine-polymer complex, or combinations thereof.

6. The oral product of claim 5, wherein the oral composition comprises nicotine in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 10% by weight of the composition, calculated as the free base and based on the total weight of the composition.

7. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition comprises one or more flavoring agents, one or more salts, one or more sweeteners, one or more binding agents, one or more humectants, one or more gums, a tobacco material, or combinations thereof.

8. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition is affixed to the porous sponge via an adhesive component or absorbed/adsorbed within the porous sponge.

9. The oral product of claim 8, wherein the adhesive component is selected from the group consisting of povidone, alginates, pectin, gums, carrageenan, pullulan, zein, cellulose ethers, starches, dextrans, acrylic resins, or combinations thereof.

10. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral composition is in the form of one or more capsules comprising an encapsulant encapsulating the at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or combination thereof.

11. The oral product of claim 10, wherein the one or more capsules comprises a plurality of microcapsules.

12. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the oral product exhibits biodegradability according to one or more of ASTM D5338, ASTM D5511, ASTM D5526, D5988, ASTM D6400, and ASTM D6691.

13. The oral product of claim 1, wherein the porous sponge is characterized by one or more of the following: i) a density in the range of about 20 to about 60 kg/ m³; ii) the ability to absorb water in an amount of about 10 to about 20 times the dry weight of the porous sponge; and iii) a pore size range of about 4 nm to about 1000 microns, such as about 1 to about 500 microns or about 1 to about 100 microns.

14. A method for preparing an oral product, comprising: providing a porous sponge; and treating the porous sponge with an oral composition releasable in the oral cavity, the oral composition comprising at least one active ingredient, at least one flavorant, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the treating comprises spraying the oral composition onto the porous sponge, soaking the porous sponge in the oral composition, or injecting the oral composition into the porous sponge.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the treating comprises treating the porous sponge with a plurality of microcapsules comprising the oral composition.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising treating the plurality of microcapsules with an adhesive component prior to treating the porous sponge with the plurality of microcapsules.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising treating the porous sponge with an adhesive composition prior to treating the porous cellulose sponge with the oral composition.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the porous sponge comprises a cellulose material, such as a regenerated cellulose material.