Double-Emulsion Microcapsule Shell for Water-Soluble Substance Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current encapsulation methods for water-soluble or hydrophilic substances are inadequate in preventing degradation and leakage, as they lack sufficient protective barriers, leading to rapid release and instability in formulated products.
Innovation Solution
A double-emulsion encapsulation process is developed, involving the preparation of a C1 composition with a water-soluble substance dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, followed by agitation with a polymerical composition C2, and subsequent polymerization, creating a rigid, multi-barrier microcapsule structure with a steric, thermodynamic, and physical barrier to protect the encapsulated substance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional encapsulation methods (atomization, interfacial polymerization, interfacial precipitation, solvent evaporation) are used, then capsules can be produced, but the shell does not constitute a sufficiently tight barrier to diffusion of water-soluble substances and degrading chemical species, leading to rapid leakage and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a double emulsion structure where an inner water phase containing the hydrophilic substance is nested within an organic phase, which is then nested within a polymeric shell. This multi-layer nested structure creates multiple diffusion barriers that prevent leakage of water-soluble substances and protect against degrading chemical species, resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule shell is formed from a polymeric composition that may include multiple components such as monomers, polymers, crosslinking agents, and initiators. This composite material approach creates a shell with enhanced barrier properties that effectively prevents diffusion of both water-soluble substances and degrading chemical species, achieving high reliability without excessive complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If water-soluble or hydrophilic substances are added to formulated products, then application properties and performance are improved, but the substances are susceptible to degradation through hydrolysis, thermal denaturation, or oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water-soluble or hydrophilic substance from the bulk formulated product environment by encapsulating it within a protective polymeric shell. This isolation removes the substance from contact with degrading factors such as water, oxygen, and heat, thereby maintaining its stability while preserving its functional properties for controlled release.
Solution Approach 2:
The encapsulation structure provides preliminary protection against degradation mechanisms by creating physical and chemical barriers before degradation can occur. The polymeric shell prevents hydrolysis by blocking water access, prevents oxidation by blocking oxygen access, and prevents thermal denaturation by providing thermal insulation, thus counteracting degradation effects before they can damage the active substance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If water-soluble or hydrophilic substances are added to formulated products, then performance is increased, but the ionic strength is strongly modified leading to rapid phase separation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts water-soluble substances that strongly modify ionic strength from the bulk formulated product by encapsulating them within polymeric shells. This isolation prevents these substances from interacting with other product components and causing phase separation, while the encapsulated substances retain their performance-enhancing properties for controlled release.
4Adaptability or versatility
If water-soluble or hydrophilic substances are added to formulated products, then application properties are improved, but reactions with other components lead to adverse effects on stability and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts water-soluble or hydrophilic substances from the bulk formulated product environment by encapsulating them within protective polymeric shells. This physical separation prevents harmful chemical reactions with other product components while allowing the encapsulated substances to maintain their beneficial application properties for controlled release.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric encapsulation shell acts as an intermediary barrier between the water-soluble or hydrophilic substance and other components of the formulated product. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact and harmful chemical reactions while allowing the substance to fulfill its functional role when released in a controlled manner.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process effectively prevents the diffusion of degrading chemical species and maintains the stability and retention of water-soluble substances within the microcapsules, ensuring prolonged protection and controlled release.
Implementation Method 1
a double emulsion (E2) comprising drops dispersed in the composition C3 is obtained
Implementation Method 2
The shell of the capsules made by these processes does not constitute a sufficiently tight barrier to the diffusion of molecules as small as the water-soluble or hydrophilic substances
Implementation Method 3
polymerizing the composition C2, whereby solid microcapsules dispersed in the composition C3 are obtained
Implementation Method 4
a composition C1, comprising at least one water-soluble or hydrophilic substance dispersed in a hydrophobic phase
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for preparing solid microcapsules comprising the following steps: a) preparing a composition C1, comprising at least one water-soluble or hydrophilic substance dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, b) adding, under agitation, said composition C1 to a polymeric composition C2, the compositions C1 and C2 being mutually immiscible, whereby an emulsion (E1) is obtained; c) adding, under agitation, the emulsion (E1) to a composition C3, the compositions C2 and C3 being mutually immiscible, whereby a double emulsion (E2) is obtained; d) applying shear to the emulsion (E2), whereby a double emulsion (E3) is obtained; and e) polymerising the composition C2, whereby solid microcapsules dispersed in the composition C3 are obtained.