INTRODUCTION

Smoking has become the most significant concern all around the world. Quitting smoking is generally seen to be a difficult task for smokers, as they are addicted to the substance nicotine. The solution for this can be an alternative form of nicotine to facilitate the reduction of or cessation from smoking. While smoking a cigarette, nicotine gets absorbed into the smoker’s blood through the lungs, and it begins to affect the brain within 10 seconds. This results in an increased level of epinephrine and dopamine, controlling the brain's pleasure center, eventually providing the smoker with satisfaction. Few alternatives for nicotine administration are gums, patches, nasals, and oral pouches. These products contains minimal or no nicotine. The product should meet all aspects, from the purity of the nicotine substitute to the taste and consumer experience. Oral pouches containing nicotine powder comprise no or a very small amount of tobacco. These oral pouches are becoming popular among individuals due to their appealing appearance, freshness, taste, and ease of consumption. The patent application “An oral pouched nicotine product including a filling material comprising nicotine particles” describes Nicotine-containing particles that are free of tobacco and are created from a carrier material, which consists of microcrystalline cellulose spheres. The particles, made from microcrystalline cellulose, have specific sphericity and diameter. The product may include a small amount of tobacco but is free or partially free from a coating of nicotine source. Oral pouch nicotine products are typically used by consumers. The nicotine pouch has to be placed between the upper and lower gums and the lip for smaller period of time. The material of the pouch holds the filling material, allowing saliva to pass into the filling and allowing flavors and nicotine to diffuse from the filling to the consumer's mouth.

Why does the sphere shape matter?

MCC spheres are encapsulated particles of microcrystalline cellulose formed into uniform, round shapes. Unlike normal fibrous MCC powder, these MCC spheres offer better flow properties, compressibility, and surface area control, making them ideal for precision formulations like nicotine pouches. The spherical form of MCC granules could offer considerable advantages in terms of handling and consistency during the large-scale manufacturing process of nicotine pouches. 1. The superior flow characteristics of MCC spheres made for improved processing through automatic machinery, minimizing downtime and ensuring maximum throughput. 2. It has better compressibility; hence, it is possible to control the density of the final product and consequently obtain a soft and pleasant mouth feel, which is what users want. 3. In addition, MCC spheres allow for controlled surface area, which can enhance the release profile of nicotine and flavors, providing an even and reliable delivery system that is beneficial for consumer satisfaction. It allows for tailoring a nicotine pouch that can fulfill the required taste sensation, be it a hit at once or a slow-release for mild vapor.

How are nicotine pouches made from MCC spheres?

They act as the main carrier that absorbs and holds the nicotine and other ingredients, and then filled into the pouches. The nicotine pouches, composed of MCC spheres, are formed by loading the spheres with nicotine and other excipients such as flavoring agents and humectants. Thereafter, a binding solution is poured on it to improve the mouthfeel, then the mixture is adjusted for optimal moisture to ensure comfort and consistency upon consumption. These dried, nicotine-containing MCC spheres are then packed into the pouch. These pouches are packed to keep the ingredient fresh and prevent leakage in any circumstance.

Reasons to choose Umang’s microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) Spheres

Umang Global offers Microcrystalline Cellulose spheres for Nicotine Pouches, providing an innovative approach towards crafting tobacco-free products. With our MCC spheres, you can create clean-label nicotine pouches that cater to diverse consumer preferences. Excellent drug content and size uniformity. Customized Release Profile. Higher drug stability. Multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients can be combined in one unit dose. Reduced risk of sudden dose dumping. Perfect tool for combinatorial and controlled-release products. At Umang Global, we specialize in offering MCC spheres, fully customizable from color, size, release profile, to additives, allowing your to make your brand stand out in the crowd. Ultimately, this results in increased safety, improved compliance, and greater value for your products.

REFERENCE

1. Swedish Match North Europe Ab. (Inventor: Kindvall, Mårten). "An Oral Pouched Nicotine Product Including A Filling Material Comprising Nicotine Particles." International Patent Application No. Pct/Ep2020/082884, Filed 20 November 2020, Priority Date 20 November 2019. 2. Nicotine pouch." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine_pouch.