Encapsulated Benefit Agents via Flow Focusing Nozzle
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing encapsulated benefit agents fail to provide effective protection and desired release profiles in consumer products, particularly due to issues with symmetry, monodispersity, and uniform core-shell architecture, especially for liquid and organic environments, where traditional encapsulation methods are ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A process using a concentric flow focusing nozzle to produce encapsulated benefit agents with a polymer shell, optimizing fluid viscosity, concentration, and nozzle characteristics to achieve particles with a diameter coefficient of variation between 6% to 50% and a shell thickness coefficient of variation between 2% to 30%, ensuring desired protection and release benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional encapsulation methods are used, then liquid and organic benefit agents can be encapsulated, but the resulting particles lack symmetry, monodispersity, and uniform core-shell architecture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing fluid viscosity, concentration, nozzle flow rate, and nozzle characteristics to achieve symmetric, mono-disperse particles with uniform core-shell architecture. Specifically, the patent controls the viscosity of the core and shell fluids, adjusts the concentration of benefit agents, and optimizes nozzle parameters to produce particles with diameter coefficient of variation between 6-50% and shell thickness coefficient of variation between 2-30%, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a concentric flow focusing nozzle that utilizes hydraulic principles to generate monodisperse encapsulated benefit agents. The nozzle design creates a concentric flow pattern where core fluid and shell fluid are precisely controlled through fluid dynamics, enabling the formation of uniform spherical particles with consistent core-shell architecture, thereby achieving high manufacturing precision through hydraulic control.
2Reliability
If benefit agents are added to fluid products, then desired benefits are provided, but the benefit agents may be degraded by or degrade components of the product during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a protective shell around the benefit agent core before the product is used. This shell prevents degradation reactions from occurring during storage, preserving both the benefit agent and product components. The encapsulation is established in advance, ensuring reliability during storage while maintaining the capability for controlled release when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a polymer shell that acts as a flexible protective barrier around the benefit agent core. This shell structure provides protection during storage while allowing for controlled release of the benefit agent when the product is activated, thus maintaining both product stability and benefit release effectiveness without contradiction.
3Manufacturing precision
If flow focusing is used to produce encapsulated benefit agents, then encapsulation is achieved, but the particles are not symmetric, mono-disperse, or uniformly structured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by systematically optimizing multiple parameters including fluid viscosity, concentration, nozzle flow rate, and nozzle geometric characteristics. By carefully controlling these parameters, the patent achieves symmetric, mono-disperse particles with uniform core-shell architecture using flow focusing, thereby attaining high manufacturing precision while managing device complexity through parameter optimization rather than simplifying the device itself.
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 results in encapsulated benefit agents that offer enhanced protection and controlled release, maintaining product integrity and delivering benefits effectively across various consumer products without damaging them during storage.
Implementation Method 1
A process using a concentric flow focusing nozzle to produce encapsulated benefit agents with a polymer shell, optimizing fluid viscosity, concentration, and nozzle characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates processes that can be used to produce encapsulated benefit agents comprising a core and a shell that encapsulates said core, encapsulated benefit agents produced by such process and products comprising such encapsulated benefit agents as well as methods of making and using such products. Such process can be used to produce particles that offer the desired protection and release benefits when used in a varity of products.