The Ohio State University Corporate Engagement Office

Back to All Technologies

Hydroxyphenyl-Pyranoanthocyanin Formulations for Dynamic and Adaptive Color Expression in Clean-Label Applications

Consumer Products
Consumer Consumables
College
College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES)
Researchers
Voss, Danielle
Giusti, M. Monica
Licensing Manager
Panic, Ana
(614) 292-5245
panic.2@osu.edu

T2024-384 This innovation approach enhances the color retention of natural colorants, making them suitable for a wide range of environmental conditions and consumer product industrial uses.

Background

Natural colorants are increasingly prioritized in the food, beverage, and cosmetic industries to support clean-label and plant-based product development. However, many existing natural pigments suffer from limited solubility, poor chromatic stability, and incompatibility with complex matrices, especially under varying pH and processing conditions. These technical limitations often require additional stabilizers or processing steps, increasing formulation complexity and cost. There is a clear need for advanced natural colorant systems that offer improved solubility, stability, and adaptability across diverse applications.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Technology Overview

Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a novel approach to natural colorants by leveraging the unique properties of hydroxyphenyl pyranoanthocyanins (HP-PACNs). Traditional use of these natural pigments often faces challenges such as limited solubility and static color expression, which restrict their use in complex product formulations. This technology addresses these limitations by demonstrating that specific formulations of HP-PACNs not only become more soluble but also exhibit dynamic color shifts depending on the matrix environment. This breakthrough enables the formation of new color complexes, allowing for customizable and adaptive color solutions. By offering enhanced performance, greater formulation flexibility, and the potential for clean-label product development, this innovation provides companies with a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional colorants.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Benefits

  • Superior Stability and Solubility
  • Customizable Color Expression
  • Sustainability

Applications

  • Food & Beverage
  • Cosmetics
  • Consumer Products

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Patents: Provisional

Seeking: Licensing, Partnership