3D Food Printing Coaxial Extrusion for Hydrogel Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for encapsulating bioactive compounds like lutein in foods face challenges due to temperature sensitivity, low solubility, and chemical instability, and existing delivery systems have limitations such as poor encapsulation efficiency and stability.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional food printing system that extrudes food-grade biopolymer hydrogels using a coaxial extrusion-based method, combining starch and ethyl cellulose to create dual-layered gels, which encapsulates bioactive compounds without the need for organic solvents or surfactants, enhancing stability and bioavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional encapsulation methods are used, then bioactive compounds can be delivered, but temperature sensitivity and chemical instability cause degradation during processing and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydrogel particles as a protective shell that encapsulates bioactive compounds. The hydrogel matrix acts as a flexible barrier that protects temperature-sensitive and chemically unstable compounds during processing and storage, maintaining their stability without requiring rigid protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite hydrogel materials formed from multiple food-grade biopolymers (e.g., starch, gelatin, alginate, chitosan) with different functional properties. This composite approach creates a protective matrix that simultaneously provides thermal stability, chemical protection, and controlled release, addressing multiple stability issues at once.
2Reliability
If existing delivery systems are used, then bioactive compounds can be encapsulated, but encapsulation efficiency and stability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the hydrogel formulation, such as adjusting polymer concentration, crosslinking density, and particle size, to optimize encapsulation efficiency. By controlling these parameters during manufacturing, the system achieves high encapsulation efficiency while maintaining ease of production through standardized hydrogel formation processes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional encapsulation methods are used, then bioactive compounds can be protected, but harmful chemicals and surfactants are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs food-grade biopolymers that are naturally biodegradable and non-toxic, replacing the need for harmful chemicals and surfactants. The hydrogel particles themselves serve as the protective barrier, eliminating the requirement for additional chemical additives that could harm the bioactive compounds or the final food product.
4Manufacturing precision
If 3D food printing is used, then precision and flexibility in producing hydrogel particles is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a 3D printing system that can handle multiple biopolymer formulations and create various hydrogel particle types using a single platform. This multi-functional capability allows the system to produce different particle characteristics (size, porosity, composition) without requiring separate specialized equipment, thereby managing complexity while maintaining precision.
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 method provides high precision and flexibility in producing hydrogel particles with improved stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds, ensuring protection during processing, storage, and digestion, while avoiding the use of harmful chemicals.
Implementation Method 1
A three-dimensional food printing system that extrudes food-grade biopolymer hydrogels using a coaxial extrusion-based method
Implementation Method 2
encapsulates bioactive compounds without the need for organic solvents or surfactants, enhancing stability and bioavailability
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a three-dimensional food printing system and method for fabricating porous hydrogel particles having small sizes and high porosity. The inventive method first forms a highly consistent biopolymer solution with desired rheological properties. The biopolymer solution is extruded using a 3D food printing system and then freeze-dried into the desired porous hydrogel particles, having a desired particle size, morphological, structural, thermal and textural properties, and crystallinity. The hydrogel particles can then be utilized for targeted delivery systems for bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, micronutrients, probiotics, and the like, and can also be used in connection with personalized nutrition and medicine plans and programs.