Reactive Amphiphilic Compound Microencapsulate Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microencapsulation methods require high concentrations of external emulsifying agents and solvents to achieve small capsule sizes, and often result in unstable encapsulates that aggregate or break easily, especially in biological or saline environments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of an interphase with a reactive amphiphilic compound that self-emulsifies and reacts to form a polymer wall, using a prepolymer with NCO functional groups and a polyamine to create stable, small-sized microencapsulates without external emulsifying agents, allowing for high concentrations and stability in biological fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If high concentrations of external emulsifying agents are used to obtain small capsule sizes, then capsule size is reduced, but the stability of the microencapsulates deteriorates and they aggregate or break easily
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes external emulsifying agents from the system and replaces them with a reactive amphiphilic compound that is integrated into the polymer wall structure. This extraction of harmful external agents while maintaining the necessary emulsification function resolves the contradiction between achieving small capsule size and maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the emulsification function with the structural polymer wall by incorporating a reactive amphiphilic compound that becomes part of the polymer chain. This compound simultaneously provides the amphiphilic properties needed for emulsification and the structural integrity needed for stability, eliminating the need for separate external emulsifying agents.
2Length of moving object
If high concentrations of external emulsifying agents are used to obtain small capsule sizes, then capsule size is reduced, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple functions into a single reactive amphiphilic compound that serves as both the emulsifying agent and the structural component of the polymer wall. This merging eliminates the need for separate external emulsifying agents and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining small capsule size.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactive amphiphilic compound performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the emulsifying agent during capsule formation, becomes part of the polymer wall structure, and provides the amphiphilic properties needed for stability in biological environments. This multi-functionality reduces manufacturing complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If external emulsifying agents are used to form microencapsulates, then encapsulation is achieved, but the microencapsulates become unstable in biological or saline environments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts external emulsifying agents from the system and replaces them with a reactive amphiphilic compound that is covalently bonded into the polymer wall. This eliminates the instability caused by external agents while maintaining encapsulation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite polymer wall structure that incorporates the reactive amphiphilic compound as an integral part of the polymer chain. This composite structure combines the encapsulation properties of the polymer with the amphiphilic stability properties of the reactive compound, ensuring stability in biological environments.
4Ease of operation
If conventional emulsification methods are used, then emulsion is formed, but high energy-intensive stirring is required
Solution Approach 1:
The reactive amphiphilic compound provides self-emulsification properties that enable emulsion formation without requiring high-energy intensive external stirring. The compound's inherent amphiphilic nature allows it to spontaneously organize at the interface and stabilize the emulsion with minimal mechanical input.
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
This method enables the production of stable, small-sized microencapsulates that do not aggregate and maintain their structure in biological environments, reducing the need for external emulsifying agents and energy-intensive stirring, while allowing for efficient encapsulation of sensitive active ingredients.
Implementation Method 1
an interphase is formed that comprises a reactive amphiphilic compound, where the amphiphilic compound is a prepolymer of the polymer that will form the wall of the microencapsulate
Implementation Method 2
the amphiphilic compound has at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic functional group in a chain that is sideways with respect to the chain that joins both main functional groups
Implementation Method 3
the main functional groups of the amphiphilic compound are NCO functional groups, able to form urethane and/or urea type bonds, where the second phase comprises a second compound, where the second compound comprises at least two functional groups that react with the main functional groups of the amphiphilic compound, to form the polymer
Implementation Method 4
forming a polymer that forms the wall of the microencapsulate
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for producing a microencapsulate and corresponding reactive amphiphilic compound, microencapsulate and composition. Method for producing a polymeric, amphiphilic, highly functionalisable and versatile microencapsulate/nanoencapsulate, which comprises 2 stages: dispersing a first liquid phase in a second liquid phase forming an emulsion, in this way said first phase remains dispersed in said second phase, and polymerising a polymer that forms the wall of the microencapsulate. Between both phases an interphase is formed with a a reactive amphiphilic compound, which is a prepolymer of the polymer. The amphiphilic compound has two more main functional groups that react in the subsequent polymerisation to produce the polymer. These two main functional groups are separated from each other by between 4 to 12 links. The amphiphilic compound has at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic functional group in one chain which is sideways with respect to the chain that links both main functional groups.