Wacker Biochem: The Cyclodextrin Experts

Wacker Biochem Corporation, Adrian, MI, was founded in 1997 to market the new biotech product line of the Wacker Group. Its parent company, Wacker Chemie, Munich, Germany, is a producer of silicones, silicone wafers and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) polymers and fine chemicals.

The first commercialized products marketed by Wacker Biochem were cyclodextrins, produced at the company’s plant in Eddyville, IA. Cyclodextrins are starch-derived products that have a bucket shape form with a hydrophobic (lipophillic) cavity and hydrophilic surface. This unique bucket form allows in­clusion complexes with various molecules. Ingredients complexed (similar to microencapsulation but on a molecular level) with cyclodextrins are stabilized to protect against oxidation and heat and unlike typical microencapsulation, there are no shear forces that can destroy these complexes.

This technology has been used successfully in pharmaceutical products and also in new cosmeceutical products such as anti-wrinkle creams. In food, cyclodextrins were first used to stabilize flavors but today more and more cyclodextrin formulations in the nutraceutical and functional food market are being developed to solve stability, taste and odor problems of special ingredients.

Wacker’s product portfolio includes OmegaDry®, which is a stabilized, taste and odor free powdered omega oil intended to deliver sufficient amounts of omega 3 fatty acids for nutraceuticals and functional food formulations. Stability tests show a significant increase in the stability of omega oils, e.g. fish oils, against oxidation, even at temperatures of 100˚ Celsius. According to Helmut Reuscher, market development manager, “These results show that cyclodextrin complexes are a new alternative to microencapsulation.”

Gamma cyclodextrin formulated omega oils can be used in nutraceutical formulations such as tablets, powder drinks and health bars as well as to fortify foods such as beverages, cereals, baked goods, spreads, dressings/sauces and dairy products. Formulation of plant extracts with cyclodextrins can be used to mask the taste or odor of these extracts, e.g. isoflavones. However, gamma cyclo­dextrin also shows increasing benefits in taste masking of beverages and in improving the flavor and texture of nutritional bars. In September of 2000 Wacker was granted GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status by FDA for its gamma cyclodextrin for a variety of food and nutraceuticals applications.

On the amino acid front, Wacker recently introduced a fermentation based, all natural cysteine. Mr. Reuscher said of the discovery, “This non-human, non-animal derived cysteine is a new example of the successful biotech R&D activity of Wacker. For decades this amino acid has been obtained mainly from human hair and, to a lesser extent, from feathers and pigs’ bristles and hooves,” he said, adding that, “Cysteine retains the ability to be a free radical scavenger, antioxidant and glutathione precursor, which permits its use in nutraceuticals applications.”

This month, Wacker is opening an extended technology center in Adrian. This center was built to support its customers mainly in the nutraceutical and functional food market.

In terms of future expectations, Mr. Reuscher said, “We see big potential for our technology derived products in the nutraceutical and functional food market.High stability and a good taste and odor profile will be crucial for market expectance of new nutraceutical products.” Wacker’s next step in product development includes the extension of its product line for cyclodextrin formulations and the introduction of its own fermentation processes for other nutraceutical ingredients.—R.M.

Wacker Biochem
3301 Sutton Road
Adrian, MI 49221-9397
Telephone: 517-264-8794
Fax: 517-264-8795
E-mail: helmut.reuscher@wacker.com
Website: www.wacker-biochem.com

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