Study of Encapsulation Technology
Study of Encapsulation Technology
Introduction
Encapsulation - is a process of entrapping active agents in particles for protecting them from the neighboring atmosphere or for providing biocompatibility. Encapsulation technology finds application in various fields such as laundry/detergents, chemical industry, medicine, cosmetics, food/beverages etc.
Encapsulation in food
Health Drinks & Beverages Chewing gum Chewing Gum Fortified Food Confectionery, Health Bars Baked Goods Confectionery Dessert Mixes Refrigerated or Frozen Dough & Batters Processed Meats Microwavable Entrees Seasoning Blends Desserts Nutritional Foods
Nutritional food
Bakery dough
Purpose of encapsulation
Protection
Protection from physical forces such as heat, light, or moisture. To maintain, enhance or improve its functionalities. To ensure products shelf life.
Purpose of encapsulation
Controlled release
For timely release of actives
In chewing gums where flavors are released upon chewing. release of a leavening agent at a certain temperature during baking. a pro-biotic culture upon digestion in the small intestine.
Purpose of encapsulation
Bio-compatibility
For better incorporation of actives in the product. For improving the handling properties of a sticky material like providing a dry powder for flavor to a bakery.
Purpose of encapsulation
Taste masking
Nutraceuticals are unpalatable and its taste need to be masked and hence they are encapsulated. To provide aesthetic experience to the consumer like right color, texture and aroma to the food.
2. 3.
Triggering agent
Trigger release of an active agent from the encapsulate happens by rupturing/opening of the encapsulate in the presence of a triggering agents. Triggering agent includes temperature, moisture, pressure, pH, ion concentration, diffusion, irradiation etc.
Triggering agent
Trigger release
Moisture mouth pH - gastrointestinal tract Temperature - hot drinks and soups Pressure chewing
Trigger release
Encapsulating techniques
Examples
Encapsulation offers targeted delivery of actives in gastrointestinal tract. Actives like enzymes can be encapsulated in proteins These protein has a specialty of getting degraded in the gut, thereby releasing the enzymes (core material for example) in the gut. Further addition of hydrocolloids such as alginate, gum arabic results in particles that can only be degraded in the gut. The food products such as drink, dairy product, soup, sauce, desert, candy-bar, ice-cream, food- or drinkadditive, ready-to-eat meal can use such a kind of encapsulation.
Conclusion
Encapsulation is an important way to meet the demands of consumer by
delivering food ingredients that are tasty and healthy at the right time and right place.
The potentiality of the technology in food is yet to explore and is under development.
The constraint of this technique is that it is price factor and the research is going on to combat its expensiveness.