The Advantages Of Nano Encapsulation

By Nita McKinney


Nano encapsulation is a process in which tiny particles and droplets are surrounded by coating to give out small capsules that has useful properties. These small capsules often have diameters between micrometers to a few millimeters. This has been widely used in most foods. Each class of a certain food is encapsulated, mostly with flavors. The technique would often vary depending on the physical and chemical properties of the material.

There are numerous reasons why many people prefer to use it. In some cases, the core would be separated from its surroundings like separating some vitamins from the deteriorating effects brought about by oxygen. This could also be used to improve further the handling property of any sticky material. It could be present in some pesticides as well to minimize its leaching and some volatilization risks.

Even when the aim of such process is to isolate the core from the surroundings, the walls must be ruptured at the time of use. This could be easily done by pressure or shear stress. In some cases, the wall can be broken by some solvent action, enzyme attack, chemical reaction and hydrolysis.

There are even techniques that could be done to simplify the whole process. Currently, there are still new techniques that are continuously innovated and developed. Pan coating will be the commonly used particularly in the industry of pharmaceuticals. It is among the oldest strategies they use to create and coat tiny tablets. All the particles would be arranged in a certain pan or another device while slowly applying the coating material.

Centrifugal extrusion is another technique where liquids are encapsulated with the use of a rotating extrusion head. As it moves, a solvent might evaporate from the solution. This process is only excellent in particles that have small diameters. Also, this process is limited for liquids only.

This can be used to release a certain drug slowly into a body. This will minimize the side effects that are caused by toxins that is present in various medicines by simply preventing the blood to incur a high initial concentration. A certain pattern is recommended in releasing it. The usual pattern is the first order where certain rate will lessen exponentially until the drug source will be exhausted.

These processes offer different levels of complexity, capacity and operating cost with relative comparisons. These can all be applied in various areas such as pharmaceuticals, food and nutriceuticals, consumer and diversified products and some agricultural and industrial fields. This might also be used to embed a certain fragrance for some brands of perfume. It can also be used to further extend the shelf life and stability of various commodities such as vitamins.

A certain nanocapsule will usually have different sizes or shapes. It can have diverse compositions as well. An encapsulated particle could have a regular or uniform appearance or might as well have an odd or irregular shape.

Nano encapsulation has really evolved with time. It was considered a miniaturization of microencapsulation. Though they are somewhat similar especially in the techniques that are used in manufacturing. Technology has been changing and improving things all throughout. With the help of the brilliant minds, new products are innovated that would help individuals in their daily activities.




About the Author: