Microcapsule Wall Design for Moisture-Resistant Taste Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microencapsulation methods fail to effectively mask the bitter taste of medicinal ingredients due to the loss of barrier properties when exposed to moisture, particularly when gelatin is used as the microcapsule wall material, leading to diffusion of small molecular bioactives and poor taste masking in oral administration.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a combination of a payload material and a carrier material, such as candelilla wax or paraffin wax, is encapsulated within a wall material, forming microcapsules with a specific ratio that maintains barrier properties even in moist environments, allowing for effective taste masking and delayed release of bioactive compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gelatin is used as microcapsule wall material to provide barrier properties, then the microcapsule can mask taste effectively, but the barrier properties are lost when exposed to moisture in the oral cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite wall material consisting of gelatin combined with other materials that provide moisture resistance. This composite structure maintains the barrier properties of gelatin while adding resistance to moisture degradation, allowing the microcapsule to maintain its integrity in the oral cavity environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the wall material by adjusting the composition ratio of gelatin to other materials, and by controlling the molecular weight and cross-linking density of the polymer matrix. These parameter changes enhance the wall's resistance to moisture while preserving its barrier function.
2Reliability
If the wall material is made more resistant to moisture, then barrier properties are maintained in oral cavity, but the microcapsule may not release the payload material effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates different functional zones within the wall structure: an outer layer with high moisture resistance to protect against oral cavity environment, and an inner layer with controlled porosity and lower barrier properties to allow gradual payload release. This local differentiation of material properties achieves both protection and release functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall material is designed to dynamically adjust its barrier properties in response to environmental conditions. The cross-linked polymer matrix can undergo conformational changes upon exposure to moisture, gradually opening up the structure to allow payload release while initially providing strong barrier protection.
3Productivity
If the microcapsule wall is made thinner to improve payload release, then diffusion occurs more readily, but the wall loses barrier properties when exposed to moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite wall structure where a thin gelatin layer is combined with a moisture-resistant polymer matrix. This composite design allows the wall to be thin enough to permit payload diffusion while the polymer component provides the necessary moisture resistance to maintain barrier properties in the oral cavity environment.
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 microcapsules exhibit a hexane extraction concentration of not more than 85% of the carrier-free concentration, ensuring effective taste masking and stability of bioactive compounds for extended periods, with concentrations remaining below 2 mg/ml after 168 hours, enhancing the delivery of bioactives in oral formulations.
Implementation Method 1
the combination is at least substantially hard at room temperature (roughly 25° C.) but at the higher temperatures of milling, the combination is sufficiently fluid to permit milling at the desired temperature
Implementation Method 2
dispersing the combination into a wall material, milling to a desired droplet size, and precipitating wall material onto the droplets to form a plurality of microcapsules
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are encapsulating methods and encapsulated products. A payload material may be encapsulated within a wall material. The carrier material and payload material form a combination that is at least substantially solid at room temperature but that is sufficiently fluid at milling temperature to permit milling and subsequent encapsulation. The payload material may be, for instance, a bitter tasting material. In some embodiments, the microcapsules will serve a taste masking function. In other embodiments, the microcapsules may be used where a slow release of the payload material is desired.