Microencapsulation research

Micro-encapsulation Research

Velobiotics  is a result of Research and Development from both the fields of  Bio-sciences aspect as well as Material Science.

Studies in Microencapsulation of Probiotics using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide technology ( scCO 2 C) have given rise to Velobiotics.

Here is a summary look at these scientific studies.

Results and Conclusions

  • It was demonstrated that the encapsulation matrix is stable at low pH, but disintegrates at higher pH, triggering release of the encapsulated material.
  • There was market reduction in moisture absorption by the scCO2 processed polymers compared with physical blends, because of reduced capacity for water uptake due to stronger interpolymer interactions.

Study I – Encapsulating Probiotics with an Interpolymer Complex in Supercirtical Carbon Dioxide  
F.S. Moolmana*, P.W. Labuschagnea, M.S. Thantsab, T.L. van der Merwea,  H. Rolfesc and T.E. Cloete

Introduction

Traditional encapsulation methods in fortified foods and drug delivery applications present difficulties for ‘actives’, such as  probiotics, sensitive to exposure to water, solvents, heat or oxygen.

Velobiotics™ probiotics present a novel encapsulation technology, based on interpolymer complex formation in supercritical carbon dioxide, which avoids such exposure during the encapsulation process.

In this study, the method was used to  encapsulate  Bifidobacterium longum in a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)–poly(vinyl acetate–co-crotonic acid) interpolymer complex. Polymer complexation was confirmed by Fourier Transform infrared and moisture absorption studies. Polymer plasticization and release of encapsulated probiotics were studied with scanning electron microscopy.

Full Study