OSA Starch-Chitosan Coacervate Microencapsulation for Microbial Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Microbial cultures, such as lactic acid bacteria, are sensitive to environmental stresses during freezing and freeze drying, leading to viability loss, and existing cryo/lyo protectants provide limited storage stability, especially at elevated temperatures, necessitating expensive refrigeration that is not always feasible.

Innovation Solution

The use of complex coacervates formed by octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch and chitosan for microencapsulation, which creates a protective electrostatic complex to shield microbial cultures, allowing for enhanced storage stability at elevated temperatures without the need for refrigeration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cryo/lyo protectants are used during freezing and freeze drying, then microbial culture viability is partially protected, but storage stability at elevated temperatures remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidenvironmental stress sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite protective system combining OSA starch and chitosan in a complex coacervate structure. This composite material provides both cryoprotection during freezing and enhanced storage stability at elevated temperatures, overcoming the limitations of single-component cryo/lyo protectants. The synergistic interaction between starch and chitosan creates a multi-functional protective matrix that addresses both freezing stress and thermal storage challenges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the protective matrix by controlling the coacervation process to form a specific complex structure. By adjusting parameters such as pH, ionic strength, and component ratios during coacervation, the system creates a protective environment that maintains microbial viability while providing thermal stability during storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If extended storage of microbial cultures is performed at ambient or elevated temperatures, then storage accessibility is improved, but microbial culture viability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage accessibilityVSAvoidviability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The complex coacervate structure acts as a pre-formed protective cushion that shields microbial cultures from environmental stresses before storage begins. The OSA starch-chitosan matrix is prepared in advance to create a protective microenvironment that prevents viability loss during extended storage at ambient temperatures, eliminating the need for refrigeration while maintaining high viability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If refrigeration is used for extended storage of microbial cultures, then viability is maintained, but cost and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviabilityVSAvoidrefrigeration infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The microencapsulated microbial cultures provide self-service protection through their inherent stability in the complex coacervate structure. The OSA starch-chitosan matrix creates a self-contained protective system that maintains viability without requiring external refrigeration infrastructure, allowing the cultures to be stored stably at ambient temperatures and eliminating dependency on expensive cooling facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If sequential addition of coacervation components is performed, then protective complex formation is enhanced, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective complex stabilityVSAvoidprocess steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-dissolving OSA starch and chitosan in appropriate solvents and adjusting their properties before the actual coacervation process. This preparation step ensures that when the components are mixed sequentially, the protective complex forms efficiently and reliably. The preliminary preparation of components with appropriate concentrations and pH levels simplifies the subsequent coacervation process while maintaining high protective complex stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 microencapsulation method maintains high viability of microbial cultures during dry processing and extended storage at elevated temperatures, reducing viability loss and eliminating the requirement for refrigerated storage, thus broadening their application in various products.

Implementation Method 1

The method relies on complex coacervation in which sequential addition of coacervation components results in the electrostatic formation of a protective complex to shield the entrapped microbial culture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoacervation: Coacervate

Implementation Method 2

sequential addition of coacervation components results in the electrostatic formation of a protective complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic interaction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS20230323332A1Microencapsulation of microbial culture using octenyl succinic anhydride starch-chitosan complex coacervate

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 CHR HANSEN AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to microencapsulated microbial cultures with high storage stability and methods for producing these. In particular, the present invention relates to microbial cultures formulated in complex coacervates comprising octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starch and chitosan, products comprising such formulations.