ClosePerfecting new methods for encapsulation of oil-bearing formulations in natural spherical matrices from plant sources
The encapsulation of products, micro-organisms, of genetically modified or somatic embryos requires trapping these in matrices without removing their activity and/or preventing their growth and development.
The commonest raw material used for encapsulating particles in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic industries is gelatine. Objections are often made to the use of gelatine, because of its animal origins (it is a substance extracted from animal tissues). Consumers prefer natural plant-based products for ideological reasons (e.g. vegetarians), religious reasons (Kosher foodstuffs) or on preventative grounds following recent crises involving dioxins, mad cow disease, hormones, foot and mouth etc.
In our project the idea is to replace the gelatinous medium used with our aromatic oleo-capsules by another natural support material, but one which is of plant origin, such as alginate, pectin, chitosan etc.
Our objective is to carry out scientific research in order to perfect one or more techniques for industrial scale production of natural capsules of plant origin which have a high degree of biocompatibility.
Industrial encapsulation, micro-encapsulation and bio-encapsulation applications are still limited. The aim of this project is to make use of work carried out in cooperation between various potential partners - biotechnologists and university researchers involved in encapsulation, and businesses handling day-to-day problems (health concerns; problems of contamination, toxicity and disease; consumer demands etc.).