FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to smoking articles for delivery of flavors only on demand. More particularly the present invention relates to smoking articles incorporating atleast one breakable seamless capsule(s) that have relatively high moisture content, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mg, and is still able to break with minimum crush strength and undergoes deformation of not more than 1/5th of its original diameter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Manufacturers of cigarettes and other smoking articles add flavours to enhance or ameliorate organoleptic properties of smoke (smoke sensory attributes). Currently there are prior arts available on flavor delivery through a seamless capsules inserted in a smoking article. However, all the known prior arts relating to capsules are made up of substance / polymers made out of animal origin e.g. gelatin. The disadvantages of using gelatin capsules are they tend to adsorb more moisture during smoking, and to prevent this, it is generally coated with barrier layers. Such acts are not desired by the consumers because, the capsules should be able to break with minimum crush strength to release the flavour and shape of the capsule should remain intact.

Gelatin has been the most successful material for manufacturing such hard shell seamless capsules for many end applications.

US 7984719, US 8235056, US 20060272636, US 6719933, EP 05/009227 and many others claim the use of gelatin for the manufacture of seamless capsule for use in smoking products and for other end applications. Commercially gelatin based seamless capsules for smoking articles are available from Mane Aromatic Flavour, Nice, France.
US 2011/0023896 A1 discloses the use of such gelatin based seamless capsules for smoking articles. The patent also discloses the commercial availability of these capsules from Mane Aromatic Flavour, Nice, France.

WO/2007/010407 (Mane) discloses that gelatin based capsules for use in smoking articles are sensitive to moisture and soften during the process of smoking. It is disclosed that the gelatin capsules lose their physical properties (shape, hardness, crushable sound) when exposed to smoking conditions (heat and moisture during smoking of cigarettes). It further states that the gelatin based capsules lose their physical properties (shape, hardness, crushable sound) when exposed to smoking conditions (heat and moisture during smoking of cigarettes). Moreover, commercially available gelatin based capsules for use in smoking articles are sensitive to moisture and soften during the process of smoking. The percentage decrease of the breaking strength of the gelatin based capsules varies between 30-50% based upon the smoking pattern (by blocking the ventilation holes, etc.) and environmental conditions (humidity and temperature). This causes a considerable amount of difficulty (e.g. does not produce the 'crackling' sound) to the user while smoking. WO/2007/010407 discloses the usage of organic solvent for surface oil removal and coating material dissolution. The patent also discloses the usage of organic solvent as part of inner liquid phase (core solution). These organic solvents are highly flammable and pose safety threat. Moreover, traces of these organic solvents in the smoking article may cause skewing of sensory profile.

Both US 2011/0023896 and WO/2007/010407 have used gelatin, an animal protein, as shell material. Gelatin is prone to changes of physical properties based on atmospheric conditions (heat, moisture and humidity) as is disclosed in the patents.

Capsules to be used in cigarettes and other smoking articles are subject to high moisture and heat during the act of smoking, hence conventional capsules for oral administration are not suitable.

10/KOL/2014 relates to gelatin free composition for production of flavor encapsulating hard shell seamless capsules.

Major problem associated with gelatin capsule is their tendency to soften-up in the filter due to heat generated during smoking. As a result the capsule in the filter is deformed and does not burst when pressure is applied on the filter. Further the conventionally known smoking article with capsule of the prior art use gelatin of animal origin, which is more often undesirable. There is no commercially available cigarettes/smoking article with capsule that is completely free of gelatin.

There thus exists an unmet need to develop a gelatin free biopolymer based seamless capsule for cigarettes and other smoking article that does not soften during smoking or storage and is capable of bursting even at the end of smoking experience.
The challenges are faced to provide a means for flavor delivery through a smoking article which sustains the optimal temperature, humidity and more significantly, found to be stable, while storage, transport etc. The said means includes a capsule, bead, granule and the like. At the same time, when the capsule is broken when the user prefers the flavor to be released, it has to be broken with an audible pop sound.

The present invention therefore identifies the need to develop a smoking article with hard shell gelatin free seamless capsules for flavour delivery that is devoid of aforementioned disadvantages.

The inventors of the present invention have surpisingly found a smoking article with seamless breakable gelatin-free capsule for on-demand flavor delivery that does not soften on storage, during smoking and after smoking and that does not require barrier coating. The capsule is able to be crushed when pressed between fingers. More particularly the present invention relates to capsules with relatively high moisture content, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mg, but still be able to break with minimum crush strength and deformation is not more than 1/5th of its diameter prior to crushing when subjected to standard smoking conditions. The said capsules are able to deliver flavors / additives to the user based on their need. The seamless breakable capsule of the present invention is breakable with audible pop sound even after the article has been completely smoked.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a breakable seamless capsule for on-demand flavor delivery which is made up of atleast one non-animal based biopolymer material or mixtures thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a breakable seamless capsule of relatively high moisture content, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mg, that can be broken with minimum crush strength and undergoes deformation of not more than 1/5th of its diameter prior to crushing .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a breakable seamless capsule which is completely free of animal based component for on-demand flavour delivery.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a breakable seamless capsule for smoking article wherin capsule is not destroyed or deformed during storage and/or during the course of smoking.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a breakable seamless capsule for smoking article with capsule having breaking strength of 10 to 15 N that bursts with audible pop sound to release the flavor even after the article has been smoked.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a smoking article with a breakable seamless capsule that is able to deliver flavors to the user on-demand.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a nicotine delivery article with a breakable seamless capsule.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a nicotine delivery article including but not limited to combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine delivery systems such as electronic vaping devices, heat-not-burn (HNB) nicotine delivery formats, carbonaceous heat-not-burn (cHNB) formats, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electrically heated cigaretes, electrical/electronic tobacco and/or nicotine vaporizers, chemically heated nicotine delivery systems and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention there is to provided a breakable seamless capsule, wherein the said capsule is characterized by
a) having a diameter of 2.0 to 4.5 mm;
b) the inner core comprising flavouring agent in oil; and
c) the outer shell comprising Carrageenan alone or in combination with other non-animal based biopolymers selected from pectins, alginates, locust bean gum, pullulan, modified starches, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, gellan gum, guar gum or guar gum derivatives or a mixture thereof;
d) the crushing strength of the said capsule is 11 to 13 N;
e) having a moisture of about 0.5 to 2 mg;
wherein the said capsule undergoes deformation of not more than 1/5th of its original diameter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to smoking article for delivery of flavors-on-demand. The present invention relates to flavor delivery capsule which is made up of atleast one non-animal based biopolymer material and other suitable combination thereof.

The present invention relates to a seamless capsules with relatively high moisture content, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mg, which is able to break with minimum crush strength and undergoes deformation of not more than 1/5th of its original diameter, when subjected to standard smoking conditions. The said capsules are able to deliver flavors / additives to the user based on their need.

In an embodiment there is provided a smoking article comprising a seamless breakable capsule of vegetable origin.

The “Seamless capsule” according to the present invention refers to spherical shaped flavour delivery system or capsule without a visible seam comprising two parts, the inner part which is a liquid herein referred to as core and the outer part, which encloses the core, made of biopolymers herein referred to as shell. The seamless capsules of the present invention comprises of a hard shell and a core. Seamless capsule in the present invention refers to the seamless capsule with hard or firm shell that requires pressure to break.

The core in the present invention is a mixture of flavouring agent in oil. The oil for core preparation in the present invention refers to food grade oil which is not easily prone to rancidity. Examples of such oils are and are not limited to medium to low chain fatty acid tri-glycerides, mineral oils, etc.

The term “flavour delivery system” in the present invention refers to the capsule which on application of pressure releases the core liquid from the seamless capsules thus delivering the flavour. The flavouring agent in the present invention refers to all flavours used as flavouring agents in cigarettes and other smoking articles. Examples of flavouring agent in smoking articles are and are not limited to menthol, spearmint, apple, cardamom, clove, coffee, etc. The seamless capsule in the present invention is a flavour delivery mechanism which is meant to deliver flavour on demand to the smoker. The seamless capsule when ruptured by the application of pressure releases the flavoured liquid into the filter. The flavour being volatile is carried to the smoker’s palate along with smoke and gives differentiated smoking experience.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, gelatin free biopolymers in seamless capsule of the smoking article refers to and are not restricted to biopolymers such as kappa-carrageenan, iota-carrageenan, pectin, alginates, locust bean gum, pullulan, modified starches, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, gellan gum, guar gum and guar gum derivatives and the like either alone or in combination thereof. More preferably carrageenan. The outer shell preferably comprises carrageenan and other non-animal based biopolymers in the range of 5 weight % to 6 weight %.
Carrageenan used in this case, especially kappa carrageenan, is a negatively charged hydrophilic sulfated polysaccharide with a random coil structure. Carrageenan undergoes a conformational change when the sulfate groups interact with potassium chloride to form a double helix structure leading to the formation of a strong gel. The strong interaction leading to the helical structure restricts the uptake of moisture. The concentration of potassium ion plays a critical role in ensuring that the capsule does not pick up moisture. Optimum concentration of potassium ion is critical to the susceptibility of the capsule to moisture.

According to one embodiment of the present invention a gelling agent is included in the shell of the seamless capsule in the present invention. Gelling agent is a material that crosslinks with a substance in liquid form to give it a semi solid structure that does not exhibit any flow properties in steady state despite being formed mostly with liquid. The percentage of the gelling agent helps in varying the strength of the gel. The amount of gelling agent required in the composition ranges from 0.2 to 2 % wt. Examples of the gelling agent for the present invention are and are not limited to potassium chloride, calcium chloride, cesium chloride and the like.

According to one embodiment of the present invention moisture retaining agent is also included in the shell of the seamless capsule of the present invention. The amount of moisture retaining agents required in the composition ranges from 0.5 to 2.5 % wt. Example of the moisture retaining agent for the shell forming composition in the present invention are and are not limited to glycerol, sorbitol, mannitol, propylene glycol and the like.

According to one embodiment of the present invention food grade coloring agent is also included in the shell of the seamless capsule of the present invention. The food grade colouring agent used is a colourant or dye normally used in the food and beverage industry to impart color when it is added to any composition. Natural food colorants or dyes are used as colouring agent in the shell forming composition. It is preferable to use natural colouring agents. 10 – 50 mg of the colouring agent maybe used in one litre of the shell forming composition. An optional food grade colouring agent is used in the shell forming composition for differentiation.

The seamless capsule in the smoking article of the present invention is not susceptible to variation of humidity and moisture while storing and during the process of smoking.
The concentration of the moisture retaining agent is equally critical in ensuring that the capsule is not susceptible to moisture. The composition of the gelatin free hard shell seamless capsule of the present invention has optimized the concentration of potassium ion and moisture retaining agent such that it prevents the capsule from absorption of moisture/ humidity during storage and/ or during the process of smoking.
The shell composition of the present invention is composed in such a way that it does not affect or react with the components of cigarettes and other smoking articles and with the constituents of smoke.

The terms “components of cigarettes” and “other smoking articles” according to the present invention refers to cut tobacco, filters, paper, glue, plasticizer, additives, flavour etc. i.e. all components that go into making of cigarettes and other smoking articles.

The term “constituents of smoke” refer to the products generated by the combustion of tobacco, additives and paper.

Advantageously, the constituents of the seamless capsule do not alter the smoke profile while smoking. The term “smoke profile” refers to the smokers’ smoke sensory perception.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a process for the preparation of the seamless capsules. The process for the preparation of the gelatin free seamless capsules comprises the following steps:
a. co-extruding core and shell forming solutions through concentrically aligned nozzle into a hardening bath and straining the capsules;
b. complete the gelation of capsules by refrigerating the capsules at temperature, not exceeding 15 °C for 15-20 hrs.;
c. drying the capsules at low humidity and at low temperature in suitable drying equipment to obtain gelatin free seamless capsules.

The core of the seamless capsule of the smoking article does not react with the shell material and the components of filter plug material. The term components of filter plug refer to the tow material, wrapping material, plasticizers etc. The core releases only upon breaking the seamless capsule by applying pressure. The core thus released enhances the smokers’ smoking experience. The core material does not react with smoke; interfere with the volume of smoke inhaled by the smoker during puffing. The core does not stain the tipping paper of cigarettes and other smoking articles on bursting of the capsule.

The seamless capsules are inserted into the filter plug material of the cigarettes and other smoking articles. Filter rods are manufactured for use as filter plugs in cigarettes. During the process of filter manufacture using crimped cellulose acetate tow and plasticizer the capsules are inserted at regular intervals into the cellulose acetate tow.

The intervals at which the capsules are inserted determine the length of the filter plugs. During cigarette making the filter rods are cut to the desired length to form filter plugs. Each filter plug encases a capsule.

Placement of the capsules does not affect the online/ off line filter tip ventilation and the pressure drop of the filter plug.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the breakable seamless capsules may be placed in a smoking article.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the breakable seamless capsules may be placed in a smoking article meant for delivery of nicotine.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the breakable seamless capsules may be placed in a nicotine delivery article.

The nicotine delivery article suitable for the present invention includes but not limited to combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine delivery systems such as electronic vaping devices, heat-not-burn (HNB) nicotine delivery formats, carbonaceous heat-not-burn (cHNB) formats, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electrically heated cigaretes, electrical/electronic tobacco and/or nicotine vaporizers, chemically heated nicotine delivery systems and the like

The term “filter tip ventilation” refers to vent holes in the tipping paper that allows air to enter the mouth of the smoker during puffing. The term “online ventilation” refers to the method of perforating the tipping paper directly on to the filter assembly unit of the cigarettes making machine.

The term “offline ventilation” refers to the method of perforating the tipping paper in isolation from the filter assembly unit of the cigarettes making machine.

The term “pressure drop” of the filter plug refers to the difference in static pressure between the two ends of the filter plug when a current of air at the rate of 17.5 ml/sec is passed through it.

The present invention precludes the coating or barrier layers such as as hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxyl propyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and the like to protect the capsules from humidity, temperature which is very common in the industry and well known in the prior arts. Without barrier coating, the capsules known in the art may tend to adsorb more moisture, becoming more soft, which would need more crushing strength to break and as a result, it undergoes extreme deformities. Additionally it may not tend to produce any sound while breaking, which may lead to the confusion in the minds of the user, whether the capsule is broken or flavor would release etc.

The seamless capsule composition in smoking article of the present invention:
For Outer shell
Material Quantity wt%
Carrageenan

Potassium Chloride

Calcium Chloride, dehydrate

Propylene Glycol

Food grade coloring agent

Demineralized Water 5.55

0.65

0.065

1.15

0.005

92.5
For Inner Core
Mineral oil

Apple Flavour 95

5

The ingredients of the shell forming composition are dispersed in de-mineralized water and heated to make homogenous solution for manufacturing capsules. The core solution is prepared by dissolving the desired flavouring agent in the oil. The hard shell seamless capsule is prepared by extruding both the core and shell forming solution through a concentrically aligned nozzle. The shell solution is extruded through the outer nozzle and the core solution is extruded through the inner nozzle.

In the present invention, the outlet of the nozzle is placed at a height from the hardening liquid. The spherical droplets formed at the nozzle are collected in hardening oil. The hardening oil in the present invention relates to medium to low chain fatty acid or mineral oils. The temperature of the hardening oil is not more than 20 °C, preferably not more than 10 °C and most preferably not more than 5 °C. Vibrator is optionally used to increase the rate of production of capsules.

The capsules are strained and allowed to complete the process of gel formation by refrigerating the capsules at temperature of not more than 15 °C for 15-20 Hrs. The capsules are air dried at low humidity and at low temperature in suitable drying equipment. The preferable relative humidity (RH) is in the range of 15-50 %, more preferably in the range of 15-40 % and most preferably in the range of 15-30 %. The preferable temperature of the drying air is in the range of 15-45 °C, more preferably in the range of 20-40°C and most preferably in the range of 20-30 °C.

The diameter of the seamless capsule is in the range of 2.0 mm to 4.5 mm. The breaking strength or hardness of the seamless capsule according to the embodiment of the present invention is in the range of 10-15 N, most preferably in the range of 11 – 13 N. The seamless capsule retains its shape and breaking strength and bursts with an audible sound prior to, during and post the process of smoking on application of pressure. The said seamless capsules are not susceptible to variation of humidity and moisture while storing and during the process of smoking.
Comparative study:

1) Comparison of moisture levels of the capsules

Parameters Example 1
(Control-barrier coated, gelatin capsule) Example 2
(Control, barrier coated non-animal based capsule) Example 3
(Control, barrier coated, gelatin capsule) Example 4
(Present invention, non-animal based, non-barrier coated capsules)
Moisture-pre Moisture-post Moisture-pre Moisture-post Moisture-pre Moisture-post Moisture-pre Moisture-post
Mg/
Capsule
0.89
0.65
0.68
0.66
0.74
0.78
1.18
1.03

The above table represents the significance of moisture levels of the non-barrier coated capsules when compared against the barrier coated control samples. This plays a vital role in the capsule behaviour properties, when subjected smoking test A and it reflects in deformation aspects also.

When looked at Example 1-3, which are capsules made up of animal based biopolymers and/or non-animal based biopolymers but predominantly barrier coated capsules, has a moisture level of less than 1mg/capsule.

Whereas, the capsules of smoking article of the present invention (example 4) which is non-barrier coated, and predominantly made up of atleast one non-animal based biopolymers has a moisture level, ranging from not less than 1 mg/capsule.

At the same time, when subjected to smoking test A (pre and post smoking conditions), it is found to be very stable and hence it is easy to break, undergoing <1/5th of its diameter and emits audible sound while breaking.

2) Comparison of physical properties of capsules before and after smoking

Capsules used as a control majorly contains atleast one animal source of biopolymer (e.g. gelatin) and/or non-animal source polymers but barrier coating on them.
Control samples and their
Major ingredients Remarks
Gelatin The shell is barrier coated
Gelatin The shell is barrier coated
Carrageenan and Agar The shell is barrier coated

An UTM (Universal Testing Machine, Lloyds LRX Plus) has been used to check crushing strength and maximum deformation before rupturing of the capsules. Stainless steel jig having a diameter 12.69 mm has been used for to analyse the properties. A linear speed of 60 mm/sec was kept constant for the jig during the analysis.

In a method to measure the crushing strength of the capsule, the capsule is placed on the metal plate and the jig is allowed to descend at a speed of 60 mm/sec on the capsule.

The computer attached to the UTM measures the maximum crushing load the capsule can bear before breaking and the deformation.

The capsule of the smoking article of present invention and commercially available capsules are put in the cigarette filter (27 mm filter length) to check the change in physical behaviour of the capsule post smoking.

Smoking test A

The smoking test was performed on a linear smoking machine as per the below parameters:

Parameters of smoking test-A
Puff volume: 35 ml/sec.
Puff frequency:60 sec.
Puff duration: 2 sec.
Puff number (average):8

The conditions of the testing area are as follow:
Air velocity: 200 ml/sec.
Temperature: 22 °C.
Relative humidity: 60 %.

At the end of the smoking test (after 7-8 puffs), the filter butt is taken to the Universal testing machine (UTM) for crushing strength and deformation analysis. 60 cigarettes were smoked to get the average values.

Table-1: Physical properties of barrier coated gelatin capsules before and after smoking.
Parameters Example-1 Change in crushing strength after smoking (%) Change in maximum deformation before break after smoking (%)
Before smoking After smoking
Crush strength (resistance before it brakes) Maximum deformation before breaking Crush strength (resistance before it brakes) Maximum deformation before breaking

41.65

66.67

Average 16.26 0.94 9.49 1.56

Table-2 Physical properties of barrier coated gelatin capsules (unknown source) before and after smoking.
Parameters Example-2 Change in crushing strength after smoking (%) Change in maximum deformation before break after smoking (%)
Before smoking After smoking
Crush strength (resistance before it breaks) Maximum deformation before breaking Crush strength (resistance before it breaks) Maximum deformation before breaking

26.29

46.87
Average 12.81 0.88 9.44 1.29

Table-3 Physical properties of barrier coated non-animal based capsules before and after smoking.
Parameters Example-3 Change in crushing strength after smoking (%) Change in maximum deformation before break after smoking (%)
Before smoking After smoking
Crush strength (resistance before it brakes) Maximum deformation before breaking Crush strength (resistance before it brakes) Maximum deformation before breaking 10.07 47.08
Average 14.73 1.14 13.25 1.67
Table-4 Physical properties of non-barrier coated, non-animal based capsules of the present invention before and after smoking.
Parameters Example-4 Change in crushing strength after smoking (%) Change in maximum deformation before break after smoking (%)
Before smoking After smoking
Crush strength (resistance before it breaks) Maximum deformation before breaking Crush strength (resistance before it breaks) Maximum deformation before breaking 15.98 17.63
Average 11.19 0.80 9.40 0.94

The barrier coated gelatin based capsules (Table-1 & 2) show higher decrease in breaking strength in compare to the barrier coated, non-animal based capsule (Table 3) and the non-barrier coated capsules made of the smoking article of the present invention (Table 4).

The gelatin based capsules (Table-2), though barrier coated, also shows higher deformation before breaking. Table-3 shows higher amount of deformation before breaking.

The seamless capsules of the smoking article of the present invention shows the least change in deformation (17.63%) and least crush strength (Table-4) when subjected to smoking test A.

The crushing strength of the capsule in the smoking article of the present invention is 10 N to 15 N; more preferably 11 to 13 N.

Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
,CLAIMS:1. A breakable seamless capsule, wherein the said capsule is characterized by
a. having a diameter of 2.0 to 4.5 mm ;
b. the inner core comprising flavouring agent in oil; and
c. the outer shell comprising Carrageenan alone or in combination with other non-animal based biopolymers selected from pectins, alginates, locust bean gum, pullulan, modified starches, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, gellan gum, guar gum or guar gum derivatives or a mixture thereof;
d. the crushing strength of the said capsule is 11 to 13 N;
e. having a moisture of about 0.5 to 2 mg;
wherein the said capsule undergoes deformation of not more than 1/5th of its original diameter.

2. The breakable seamless capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner core of the said seamless capsule consists of flavor(s) selected from the group comprising vanilla, coffee, chocolate, cream, mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, wintergreen, lavender, cardamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple, peach, lime, cherry, eucalyptus, strawberry, and mixtures thereof at 5 weight % and mineral oil at 95 weight %.

3. The breakable seamless capsule as claimed in claim 1, wherin the said outer shell comprises carrageenan and other non-animal based biopolymers in the range of 5 weight % to 6 weight %.

4. The breakable seamless capsule as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer shell of the said seamless capsule further comprises potassium chloride, calcium chloride, propylene glycol, food grade coloring agent and water.

5. The breakable seamless capsule as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said outer shell of the seamless capsule comprises potassium chloride at 0.65 weight %, calcium chloride at 0.065 weight %, propylene glycol at 1.15 weight %, food grade coloring agent 0.005 weight % and water 92.5 weight %.

6. The breakable capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims is placed in a smoking article.

7. A smoking article comprising the breakable seamless capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. The smoking article as claimed in claim 7 is selected from combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine delivery systems such as electronic vaping devices, heat-not-burn (HNB) nicotine delivery formats, carbonaceous heat-not-burn (cHNB) formats, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electrically heated cigaretes, electrical/electronic tobacco and/or nicotine vaporizers, or chemically heated nicotine delivery systems.

9. A nicotine delivery article comprising the breakable seamless capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.