Biodegradable Protein-Polysaccharide Microcapsule Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing encapsulation technologies using polymer shells for active substances are not easily biodegradable, leading to persistent microplastics, which is a drawback as they do not degrade easily under ambient conditions.
Innovation Solution
Microcapsules with a shell composed of negatively charged proteins, positively charged polysaccharides, and optionally an inorganic salt capable of crosslinking via non-covalent bonds, encapsulating non-aqueous liquid active substances immiscible with water, providing excellent release profiles and degradability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer shells are used for encapsulation, then encapsulation stability is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates leading to persistent microplastics
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is constructed as a composite material comprising both protein and polysaccharide components, combining the structural stability benefits of polymers with the biodegradability of natural materials. This composite structure maintains encapsulation integrity while enabling environmental degradation, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and biodegradability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the shell from synthetic polymers to natural protein-polysaccharide composites. This parameter change transforms the material properties to achieve both desired stability and improved biodegradability, eliminating microplastic persistence while maintaining functional performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If non-covalent crosslinking is used, then shell stability is improved, but crosslinking strength deteriorates compared to covalent bonds
Solution Approach 1:
Inorganic salt ions serve as intermediary agents that facilitate crosslinking between protein and polysaccharide components through non-covalent interactions. These ionic intermediaries enable stable shell formation with appropriate flexibility, balancing structural integrity with biodegradability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the bonding mechanism from strong covalent bonds to controlled non-covalent crosslinking mediated by inorganic salts. This parameter change in bonding type provides sufficient shell stability while maintaining material flexibility and biodegradability, resolving the strength-stability trade-off.
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 offer stable formulations with controlled release profiles and degrade easily, preventing the formation of microplastics, thus addressing the persistence issue of traditional polymer-based encapsulation technologies.
Implementation Method 1
iii) optionally an inorganic salt IS capable of crosslinking components protein PR and polysaccharide PS via formation of non-covalent bonds
Implementation Method 2
i) at least one protein PR that is overall negatively charged, ii) at least one polysaccharide PS that is overall positively charged
Data Source
AI summary
Microcapsule having a shell and a core, wherein said core contains a non-aqueous liquid, said non-aqueous liquid being one or more liquid (at 21° C.) active substances or one or more active substances dissolved in a solvent S, solvent S being immiscible with water, and wherein said shell contains i) at least one protein PR that is overall negatively charged, ii) at least one polysaccharide PS that is overall positively charged, and iii) optionally an inorganic salt IS capable of crosslinking components protein PR and polysaccharide PS via formation of non-covalent bonds.