Patent ID: 8563066

Claim:
A composition for in vivo consumption, comprising: an aqueous suspension, comprising (a) one or more nutritional supplements; and, (b) one or more hydrogel microparticles that encapsulate one or more nutritional supplements of (a), wherein the one or more hydrogel microparticles (i) have a diameter between 1 to 1000 micrometers; (ii) comprise one or more compounds that are non-toxic, crosslinked, and that release the encapsulated one or more nutritional supplements in a time controlled and sustained manner in vivo; (iii) are pH-sensitive, wherein one or more compounds of the hydrogel microparticles do not swell at pH 1-3; and (iv) are temperature-sensitive, wherein one or more compounds of the hydrogel microparticles have a lower critical solution temperature in aqueous solution.