What Is Nano Encapsulation And How Is This Necessary In Most Industries

By Michelle Howe


Nano encapsulation is a process of material coating which has now grown in popularity within a wide spectrum of industries. This technique has also become significant in the production of food ingredients where food flavoring is the most common. Nano encapsulation is particularly used in the volatile bioactives for food, adhesives, carbonless copy paper, phase change materials, textiles and a lot more.

Numerous techniques have been developed in conjunction with the established micro encapsulation processes. These particularly include centrifugal extrusion, spray drying and pan coating. Pan coating is extensively used in pharmaceutical industry. This is the oldest technique in making tiny, coated tablet in which present particle is brought down on a pan while coating materials are applied at the same time.

Centrifugal extrusion is performed in liquids. In this technique, liquids about to be encapsulated will be surrounded by a certain sheath of a wall solution. This process is said ideal in forming particles ranging from 400 to 2,000 micrometers. Using Rayleigh instability, the liquid jet will move through the air and as it breaks into tiny bits, droplets or particles will be formed in an instant. This process is perfect not only for liquids but also for slurry or sloppy cement.

In spray drying, this technique is done through dissolving or suspending active materials into a polymer solution. This is good for materials that constantly undergo changes as this technique only has short contact period in the dryer. Experts also find this economical that is why many industrial laboratories have been implementing the process.

Encapsulation is done not only by using physical properties. The chemical techniques in encapsulation can yield much more particle dispersions which can be great for core shell capsule and oil in water emulsion. These can be done through interfacial polycondensation, interfacial cross linking, in situ polymerization and matrix polymerization.

In the interfacial polycondensation process, two reactants of condensation polymers meet to react rapidly in the interface. This technique comes from the Schotten-Baumann reaction, a method of harmonizing amides and amines. A base through neutralized acids forms during the reaction.

Interfacial cross-linking comes from interfacial polycondensation. This method was developed so as to avoid toxic diamines in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. In this process, a tiny bifunctional monomer with active hydrogen atoms will be replaced with a certain biosourced polymer just like protein. During the reaction, the acid chloride will react with various functional groups that lead to the creation of a membrane. This is as versatile as the microcapsules' properties.

In situ polymerization, encapsulations of cellulose fibers are done through polyethylene. The coating thickness using the process is around 0.2 micrometer. It creates uniform coatings even in a sharp projection. Protein present during the chemical reaction becomes the membrane of a coated material that could be much more resistant than the coatings obtained using the interfacial polycondensation.

And lastly, the matrix polymerization of nano encapsulation is derived from spray-drying method. Particles in this process will be formed in the evaporation of the solvents obtained from matrix materials. Solidification of matrix is sometimes caused by a distinctive change as well.




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