Aquanova Degussa alliance promotes nanotech ingredients

The firm, a supplier of food-use safe nanostructured liquid formulas solubilisates - for active substances, has launched the partnership with Degussa Food Ingredients to develop and market alpha lipoic acid. The firm believes that its alpha-lipoic acid solubilisate, which is sold under its brand name Alipure SOL, could help food makers improve the nutritional value of their products easily and effectively. "Alipure SOL overcomes two of alpha-lipoic acids major obstacles in dietary supplement and food formulations: limited bioavailability and solubility," said Dr. Roland Rabeler, manager of strategic projects at Degussa Food Ingredients. "We are very much looking forward to a cooperation with Aquanova in thefield of functional ingredients. The partnership will give us the opportunity to boost our alpha-Lipoic Acid activities in a quickly growing market." Nanotechnology is expected to become a key technology forinnovative food ingredients and nutraceuticals. The nanostructured Aquanova products are food-use safe and leave the active ingredient chemicallyunmodified, making them available as ready to use solutions. Both companies are currently at the worlds largest nanotech trade fare in Tokyo. Degussa Food Ingredients' current marketing focus is on the Japanese market for alpha lipoic acid. The nanostructured and liquid Alipure SOL is manufactured through Aquanovas proprietary and patented solubilisation process. The resulting solubilisates, which are always both water and fat soluble, contain the active ingredients, in the present case alpha-lipoic acid, in a nano particulate form, whichmeans it is embedded in product micelles (mirroring the natural human micellation process) with a diameter not bigger than 30 nm. This allows application in crystal clear beverages, which has so far notbeen possible with the existing alpha-lipoic acid formulations. Alipure SOL therefore enables the dosage in beverages to be increased by up to 600 per cent compared to straight alpha-lipoic acid, which has poor solubility. The second unique feature of Aquanovas technology is thesignificant improvement of the physiological absorption(bioavailability) of poorly available fat soluble actives. Alpha-lipoicacid in Alipure SOL, for instance, is 70 per cent more available thanmarket leading soy oil formulation, offering the opportunity for evenmore successful and efficacious alpha lipoic acid supplements andfunctional foods. Degussa Food Ingredients consists of the texturant systems andflavours business lines. Texturant systems is comprised of product groups in the areas of hydrocolloids, blends, lecithin, cultures and bioactive ingredients. The flavours business line produces flavouring solutions for the beverage, dairy, confectionery and other food sectors and provides key capabilities in formulation, application, analytical chemistry and sensory analysis.

Aquanova Degussa alliance promotes nanotech ingredients

Aquanova's alliance with Degussa could result in a dramatic increase in the use of nanostructured solubilisates in various food applications.

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