Lysed Microalgae Oil Encapsulation for Stable High-Load Powders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing encapsulation methods for oils face challenges in maintaining stability and high oil content without using excipients, leading to changes in hydrophilic/lipophilic balance and compromising the final product's properties, especially when used as food supplements.
Innovation Solution
Encapsulating oil in lysed microalgae or cyanobacteria without excipients, using a method involving addition, emulsion breaking, homogenization under pressure or ultrasound, and lyophilization to achieve a high oil concentration of 35-80% by weight, ensuring oxidative stability and powder form.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large quantity of oil is added to the microorganism envelope, then the oil concentration increases, but the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance changes and product stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the microorganism envelope through lysis and drying, transforming it from a hydrophilic structure to a lipophilic stable carrier that can accommodate high oil concentrations (35-80% w/w) without compromising stability. The envelope's structural modification alters its surface properties and interaction with oil, enabling high oil content while maintaining product stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If excipients are used to maintain stability, then product stability improves, but the natural composition is compromised and synthesized chemicals are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the microorganism envelope itself as the stabilizing agent, eliminating the need for external excipients. The envelope's natural structural properties, modified through lysis and drying, provide the necessary stability for high oil content formulations. The system uses its own components (microorganism envelope) to achieve stability rather than relying on added synthesized chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the water component through drying, concentrating the oil within the microorganism envelope. This extraction of water eliminates the need for excipients to maintain stability, as the dried envelope structure inherently provides stability for the high oil content. The removal of water creates a stable lipophilic environment without requiring additional stabilizing substances.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional encapsulation methods are used, then oil protection is achieved, but the final product cannot reach high oil concentration without excipients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the encapsulation function with the stabilization function into a single integrated system. The microorganism envelope simultaneously serves as the encapsulating structure and the stabilizing agent, eliminating the need for separate excipients. This merging of functions achieves high oil concentration (35-80% w/w) while simplifying the overall system composition to natural components only.
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 achieves stable encapsulation of high oil content in a powdery form, suitable for food supplements, without using solvents, emulsifiers, or stabilizers, meeting the demand for natural products.
Implementation Method 1
The cell envelope breaking step is performed by emulsion
Implementation Method 2
The homogenization step of the emulsion result is carried out by pressure in a range between 500 and 1000 bar
Implementation Method 3
or by ultrasound in a range between 70 khz 1500 W during a period of time between 5 and 15 min, so that the temperature is not excessive and the oil is not degraded
Implementation Method 4
the dehydration step has been another key step to obtain the product of the invention. It has been found that among all the possible types of dehydration, the dehydration by lyophilization is the most adequate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an encapsulated oil, more specifically to an oil encapsulated in lysed microorganisms and to the method for obtaining them.