EFFECTS OF SELECTED VARIABLES ON THE EXTRACTABILITY OF OILS FROM COACERVATE CAPSULES

Recent Trends in Valorization of Food Industry Waste and By-Products: Encapsulation and In Vitro Release of Bioactive Compounds

Food by-products and waste are a boundless source of bioactives, nutraceuticals, and naturally occurring substances that are good for human health. In fact, a lot of by-products and wastes are generated by several food businesses. Therefore, waste management and by-product utilization are the most important aspects of the food sector. According to various studies, many bioactive compounds such as phenolics, carotenoids, and proteins can be recovered as feed stock from various industries' by-products and wastes using potential technologies. As a result, current trends are shifting attention to the sustainable valorisation of food sector waste management and by-products utilization. Thus, the circular economy principles have been applied to the field of food science. The aim of the circular economy is to ensure environmental protection and promote economic development while minimizing the environmental impact of food production. All of these aspects of the circular economy, at present, have become a challenging area of research for by-product valorisation as well. Hence, this review aims to highlight the emerging trends in the efficient utilization of food industry waste and by-products by focusing on innovative encapsulation techniques and controlled release mechanisms of bioactive compounds extracted from food industry waste and by-products. This review also aims to suggest future research directions, and addresses regulatory and toxicity considerations, by fostering knowledge dissemination and encouraging eco-friendly approaches within the food industry. This review reveals the role of encapsulation strategies for the effective utilization of bioactive compounds extracted from food industry waste and by-products. However, further research is needed to address regulatory and toxicity considerations of encapsulated bioactive compounds and health-related concerns.

Dehydration entropy drives liquid-liquid phase separation by molecular crowding

Complex coacervation driven liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biopolymers has been attracting attention as a novel phase in living cells. Studies of LLPS in this context are typically of proteins harboring chemical and structural complexity, leaving unclear which properties are fundamental to complex coacervation versus protein-specific. This study focuses on the role of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-a widely used molecular crowder-in LLPS. Significantly, entropy-driven LLPS is recapitulated with charged polymers lacking hydrophobicity and sequence complexity, and its propensity dramatically enhanced by PEG. Experimental and field-theoretic simulation results are consistent with PEG driving LLPS by dehydration of polymers, and show that PEG exerts its effect without partitioning into the dense coacervate phase. It is then up to biology to impose additional variations of functional significance to the LLPS of biological systems.

Microencapsulation of oils using whey protein/gum arabic coacervates

Microencapsulating sunflower oil, lemon and orange oil flavour was investigated using complex coacervation of whey protein/gum arabic (WP/GA). At pH 3.0-4.5, WP and GA formed electrostatic complexes that could be successfully used for microencapsulation purposes. The formation of a smooth biopolymer shell around the oil droplets was achieved at a specific pH (close to 4.0) and the payload of oil (i.e. amount of oil in the capsule) was higher than 80%. Small droplets were easier to encapsulate within a coacervate matrix than large ones, which were present in a typical shell/core structure. The stability of the emulsion made of oil droplets covered with coacervates was strongly pH-dependent. At pH 4.0, the creaming rate of the emulsion was much higher than at other pH values. This phenomenon was investigated by carrying out zeta potential measurements on the mixtures. It seemed that, at this specific pH, the zeta potential was close to zero, highlighting the presence of neutral coacervate at the oil/water interface. The influence of pH on the capsule formation was in accordance with previous results on coacervation of whey proteins and gum arabic, i.e. WP/GA coacervates were formed in the same pH window with and without oil and the pH where the encapsulation seemed to be optimum corresponded to the pH at which the coacervate was the most viscous. Finally, to illustrate the applicability of these new coacervates, the release of flavoured capsules incorporated within Gouda cheese showed that large capsules gave stronger release and the covalently cross-linked capsules showed the lowest release, probably because of a tough dense biopolymer wall which was difficult to break by chewing.

Oral low molecular weight heparin delivery by microparticles from complex coacervation

As low molecular weight heparins exhibit limited oral absorption they usually have to be administered parenterally. Their strong negative charge appears to be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome in order to increase oral absorption. Complex coacervation has been proposed as a microencapsulation technique for increased oral drug absorption on the basis of charge compensation. Optimized tinzaparin/acacia gum mixture were coacervated with either gelatin A or B leading to microparticles with monodispersed size distribution, good fluidity and high encapsulation rates (>90%), while mean particle size varied between 5 and 20 microm, respectively, depending on the gelatin type. Tinzaparin was homogeneously distributed throughout the particle matrix and anti-Xa activity was maintained during preparation and storage. Drug release occurred in dependency of the pH triggering the dissociation between tinzaparin/acacia and gelatin. Cell binding experiments on Caco-2 led to slightly increased adhesion of gelatin A microparticles compared to gelatin B (A: 3.5+/-0.3%; B: 2.5+/-0.3%; solution: 1.9+/-0.1%), while drug transport did not differ from free tinzaparin solution. In-vivo results demonstrated an oral bioavailability of about 4.2+/-2.9% with gelatin B particles while gelatin A led to no absorption of tinzaparin. In conclusion, tinzaparin microparticles exhibited excellent particle properties in vitro and demonstrate potential for a formulation increasing the oral bioavailability of low molecular weight heparins.

Gum Arabic−Chitosan Complex Coacervation

The formation of electrostatic complexes of gum Arabic (GA) with chitosan (Ch), two oppositely charged polysaccharides, as a function of the biopolymers ratio (RGA/Ch), total biopolymers concentration (TBconc), pH, and ionic strength, was investigated. The conditions under which inter-biopolymer complexes form were determined by using turbidimetric and electrophoretic mobility measurements in the equilibrium phase and by quantifying mass in the precipitated phase. Results indicated that optimum coacervate yield was achieved at RGA/Ch = 5, independently of TBconc at the resulting pH of solutions under mixing conditions. High coacervate yields occurred in a pH range from 3.5 to 5.0 for RGA/Ch = 5. Coacervate yield was drastically diminished at pH values below 3.5 due to a low degree of ionization of GA molecules, and at pH values above 5 due to a low solubility of chitosan. Increasing ionic strength decreased coacervate yield due to shielding of ionized groups.

Structural analysis of microparticles by confocal laser scanning microscopy

This study demonstrates the potential of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as a characterization tool for different types of microparticles. Microparticles were prepared by various methods including complex coacervation, spray drying, double emulsion solvent evaporation technique, and ionotropic gelation. Protein drugs and particle wall polymers were covalently labeled with a fluorescent marker prior to particle preparation, while low molecular weight drugs were labeled by mixing with a fluorescent marker of similar solubility properties. As was demonstrated in several examples, CLSM allowed visualization of the polymeric particle wall composition and detection of heterogeneous polymer distribution or changes in polymer matrix composition under the influence of the drug. Furthermore, CLSM provides a method for three-dimensional reconstruction and image analysis of the microparticles by imaging several coplanar sections throughout the object. In conclusion, CLSM allows the inspection of internal particle structures without prior sample destruction. It can be used to localize the encapsulated compounds and to detect special structural details of the particle wall composition.

Visualization and quantification of polymer distribution in microcapsules by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was employed in order to characterize microcapsules. Microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation: gelatin and arabic gum were labelled with fluorescent markers. In the capsule wall a homogeneous distribution for both gelatin and arabic gum throughout the capsule wall was depicted. By the use of CLSM and a computational image analysis the quantification of the labelled polymer in the wall material was possible. Adding fluorescently labelled casein as a macromolecular model compound to the coacervation process, a gradiental distribution in the wall material was observed with highest concentration of casein at the oil-wall interface. The influence of casein concentration on its deposition behaviour in the capsule wall was imaged successfully and thereafter quantified by computational image analysis.

Characterization of microcapsules by confocal laser scanning microscopy: structure, capsule wall composition and encapsulation rate

The potential of confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) has been evaluated for characterizing microcapsules. The aim was to visualize the polymer distribution within the particle wall, and to localize and to quantify the encapsulated oil phase. Microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation: the oil phase, gelatine, and arabic gum were labelled with fluorescent markers. For all compounds it was proved that fluorescence labelling did not alter physico-chemical properties critical to the encapsulation process. Labelling of the inner oil phase allowed us to identify and to localize, three-dimensionally, the encapsulated compound. A homogeneous distribution for both gelatine and arabic gum throughout the capsule wall was observed. The addition of fluorescently labelled casein as a macromolecular model compound to the coacervate resulted in an inhomogeneous distribution of casein within the wall material, the highest concentration of casein was found at the oil-wall interface. To determine the encapsulation rate, CLSM pictures of the microcapsule samples were acquired using different fluorescence labels for the microcapsule wall polymers and the incorporated oil phase, respectively. By applying computational image analysis, the volumes of the different phases were calculated. Comparing the results of non-destructive image analysis with those obtained by degradation, extraction and chemical analysis, a linear relation was found with correlation coefficients better than 0.980.

Use of gelatin-acacia coacervate containing benzocaine in topical formulations

The in vitro release of a drug from topical formulations depends on the concentration of the drug in the formulation, the solubility of the drug in the base, the diffusion coefficient of the drug in the vehicle, and the partition coefficient of the drug between the vehicle, and the release medium. Incorporation of both complexing agents and cosolvents into such formulations has been used to enhance the in vitro release of a drug from topical formulations. In this investigation, a novel approach to enhance the in vitro release of benzocaine from different ointment formulations has been introduced. In this study, benzocaine was microencapsulated using gelatin-acacia complex coacervation technique. Various weight fractions of the coacervate, 5, 10, and 20% (w/w), were incorporated into both oleaginous and absorption bases. The in vitro release characteristics of benzocaine from the resulting ointments were studied using a modified USP Dissolution Apparatus 2. A plot of the cumulative amount of drug released (7-8%) per unit surface area versus (time)(1/2) was linear. Microscopic studies of the formulations revealed that the coacervates maintained their integrity in the formulation during the preparation and storage of the dosage form. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies indicated that the drug existed in the crystalline state in all formulations including those at a low drug load (0.5% w/w). DSC was also used to determine the solubility of the drug in the formulation. The rate and extent of drug release was higher in the absorption base as compared to the oleaginous base.

A method to control particle size of cellulose acetate trimellitate microspheres

A method for controlling microsphere particle size by regulating the ratio of polymer to solvent concentration and volume fraction, for an emulsion-solvent removal type of microencapsulation system, has been investigated. Viscosity of the external phase was kept constant by using light mineral oil in all experiments. Viscosity of the polymer solution, the internal phase, was modified by changing the ratio of the polymer to solvent concentration. Microspheres were obtained by adding the internal phase to the external phase and stirring the mixture for 30 min. A non-solvent was then added to the system to harden the polymer and recover the microspheres. Polymer concentration was modified by adding extra solvent to the mineral oil, just before the addition of the internal phase and also by adding extra solvent to the polymer phase. Similar, but not identical, results were obtained in both of these systems. A plot of particle size versus polymer to the solvent ratio resulted in sigmoidal curves. The term solvent means the solvent available to the polymer after mixing with mineral oil. A separate curve was obtained for each polymer concentration used in the experiments. When the internal phase volume fraction was incorporated as a variable in the plot of particle size, the three sigmoidal curves merged into a single curve, irrespective of the polymer concentration. The equation developed for controlling the particle size, as a function of polymer and solvent concentration and phase volume ratio, also was tested in systems that contained tartrazine as a model drug. Dissolution experiments were carried out and dissolution rate was correlated to particle size. Microspheres size was controlled by polymer and solvent concentration and phase volume ratio.

Encapsulation of food ingredients

Microencapsulation is a relatively new technology that is used for protection, stabilization, and slow release of food ingredients. The encapsulating or wall materials used generally consist of starch, starch derivatives, proteins, gums, lipids, or any combination of them. Methods of encapsulation of food ingredients include spray-drying, freeze-drying, fluidized bed-coating, extrusion, cocrystallization, molecular inclusion, and coacervation. This paper reviews techniques for preparation of microencapsulated food ingredients and choices of coating material. Characterization of microcapsules, mechanisms of controlled release, and efficiency of protection/stabilization of encapsulated food ingredients are also presented.

Effect of viscosity and interfacial tension on particle size of cellulose acetate trimellitate microspheres

The influence of the viscosity of the internal and external phases and the interfacial tension between the two phases, in the emulsion type of microencapsulation system was investigated. The viscosity of mineral oil (external phase) was measured by a capillary viscometer and the viscosity of cellulose acetate trimellitate solution (internal phase) was measured by a Brookfield viscometer. The viscosity of the two phases were measured prior to mixing and at 5 and 60 min after mixing the phases. It was observed that the viscosity of the mineral oil phase prior to mixing had little effect on the average diameter of the microspheres, until a high concentration of light mineral oil was used. A graph of viscosity ratio of the internal phase to the external phase shows that a minimum viscosity ratio may be required before particle size increases. Results are discussed with respect to viscosity effects of mineral oil and polymer solution, as influenced by the solvent uptake by the mineral oil. The interfacial tension between the two phases was measured by pendant drop method. Interfacial tension was measured at 5 and 60 min after the two phases came in contact. The interfacial tension between the mineral oil and polymer solution ranged up to 7 dyne/cm and the particle size was not affected appreciably by the interfacial tension. Particle size and morphological analysis of the microspheres were determined using microscopy and scanning electron microscope.

Phase separation induced in gelatin-base coacervation systems by addition of water-soluble nonionic polymers I: Microencapsulation

A microencapsulation procedure in which water-soluble nonionic polymers (especially, polyethylene oxide or polyethylene glycol) were added to gelatin-base coacervation systems is described. The advantages of this method are: (a) The addition of a small amount of polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylene oxide (PEO) to a complex coacervation system (e.g., gelatin-acacia) allows microencapsulation to occur over an expanded pH region (pH 2-9 in gelatin-acacia). (b) These polymers induce phase separation in an aqueous solution of gelatin alone and enable the preparation of gelatin-coated microcapsules not only in the vicinity of the isoelectric point (pH 9.0), but over a wide pH range (pH 5.5-9.5). (c) Spherical single-seeded microcapsules can be obtained.

Pectin-gelatin complex coacervates I: Determinants of microglobule size, morphology, and recovery as water-dispersible powders

The pectin-gelatin complex coacervate system was evaluated and characterized. The effects of final pH, mixing pH, colloid ratio, and solution concentration were investigated. A recovery procedure yielding microglobules of a controlled and uniform size in dry powder form which were readily revertible in water to a polydispersed suspension was developed. The effect of various conditions and additives on the recovery morphology and size of the microglobules was evaluated.

Effect of capsule size on permeability of gelatin-acacia microcapsules toward sodium chloride

The effect of capsule size on the permeability of gelatin-acacia microcapsules toward sodium chloride was investigated. Gelatin-acacia microcapsules containing olive oil were prepared by phase separation. The encapsulated olive oil was extracted with acetone and the acetone-loaded microcapsules dispersed in acetone were fractionated by a series of mesh screens. The core material of acetone than was replaced by water. The permeability of each capsule fraction toward sodium chloride was estimated from the change in electrical conductance with time of the mixture of microcapsule suspension and sodium chloride solution. The permeability decreased with decreasing capsule size. Structured water in and around the capsule wall may be the cause of the observed size effect.

In vitro and in vivo release of microencapsulated chlorothiazide

Microcapsules of chlorothiazide were prepared by the complex coacervate technique using gelatin and acacia as the wall-forming materials. The release of drug from the microcapsules and compressed tablets of microcapsules were studied in vitro and in vivo. In vitro dissolution was characterized by a rapid release of drug followed by a slower, more sustained release. The effects of pH and concentration are discussed. In vivo release of drug was determined from urine, and the volume of urine passed was studied.

Electrophoretic properties of sulfamethoxazole microcapsules and gelatin-acacia coacervates

The electrophoretic properties of sulfamethoxazole microcapsules and the coacervates prepared by gelatin-acacia coacervation were investigated. The effects of the parameters in the microcapsule preparation, such as the coacervation pH, amount of formaldehyde used for hardening, and drying method of the coacervates, on the zeta-potential of the resultant microcapsules were clarified. The Büchner effect was observed in coacervates in an electric field, which indicated that the coacervate wall was flexible. The zeta-potential versus pH curves of the coacervates appeared on the upper side of the plain sulfamethoxazole, while those of the microcapsules dried conventionally shifted to the lower side due to the denaturation of the gelatin in the microcapsule wall, which occurred during drying. Spray drying increased the denaturation of gelatin, which imparted a negative charge to the spray-dried microcapsules. Formalization of the coacervates refined the electrophoretic behavior of the microcapsules, depending on the amount of formaldehyde used. The zeta-potential of the plain sulfamethoxazole also was measured in the simulated coacervation solution to analyze the mechanism of coacervation electrophoretically.

Micromeritic properties of sulfamethoxazole microcapsules prepared by gelatin-acacia coacervation

Micronized sulfamethoxazole particles were microencapsulated using the gelatin-acacia complex conacervation method. The effects of the coacervation pH and the amount of formaldehyde used on the micromeritic parameters of the microcapsules were investigated. The particle-size and the wall thickness distributions were log-normal forms. As the pH was increased, the particle size decreased (8.5-28.5 micrometers). The porosity of various pH-adjusted microcapsules was between 0.158 and 0.277. The particle size of formalized microcapsules was larger than that of the unformalized microcapsules because formalization prevents shrinking of microcapsules during the dehydration and drying process. A smooth surface appeared on the unformalized microcapsule, but a net-like wrinkled structure was observed upon scanning the formalized one. Moreover, folding and invaginating structures were found on the spray-dried microcapsules. The optimum coacervation pH value was 3.5, at which the highest core content was obtained (77.5% w/w). Approximately 6.73 microgram of formaldehyde remained in 1 g of the microcapsules formalized with 50 ml of formaldehyde. The crystalline sulfamethoxazole in the microcapsules prepared by spray drying the coacervate slurries was changed into the amorphous form, while the microcapsules dried in the conventional manner showed the same sulfamethoxazole form as the starting substance.

Preparation and evaluation of microencapsulated ion-exchange resin beads

Ion-exchange resin beads in the benzoate form were coated by several microencapsulation techniques to alter and improve characteristics, especially the control of drug release, of this type of drug delivery system. The most successful techniques included polymer-polymer interaction, temperature change, and nonsolvent addition. The microencapsulated beads then were studied with respect to the release rate of the organic anion to determine the effects of microencapsulation. The release rate of the organic anion could be controlled over a wide range, depending on the encapsulating material characteristics. Factors affecting the extent and rate of release as result of microencapsulation are discussed.

The effect of microcapsule size on the oxidative decomposition of core material

The factors that affect the size of microcapsules and the oxidation of their benzaldehyde core have been examined. The pH of the preparation changed the overall size of the microcapsules which reached a maximum diameter at pH 4.1. The size of the core droplets also varied with the preparative pH and their oxidation rate depended on the bulk droplet size rather than their surface area. A rapid oxidation of benzaldehyde associated with the microcapsule wall resulted in a preliminary peak in the oxidation curve. Explanations for these phenomena are discussed.

Characteristics of medicated and unmedicated microglobules recovered from complex coacervates of gelatin-acacia

Medicated and unmedicated microglobules prepared from complex coacervates of Type A gelatin and acacia were recovered as water-insoluble powders consisting of discrete units, which were spontaneously revertible to highly disperse systems when suspended in water or physiological electrolyte solutions. Spherical microglobules containing up to 15% (w/w) sulfamerazine had a nominal diameter of 30 micron in aqueous suspension. Larger but irregularly shaped products containing up to 45% (w/w) sulfamerazine were also recovered. The relationships of the weight of sulfamerazine added per coacervate batch to weight yield and percent (w/w) included sulfamerazine of the microglobules were both linear.

Microencapsulation of phenobarbital by spray polycondensation

A new method for the microencapsulation of solids is described. It is based on the polycondensation of amphiphilic and, thus, tensioactive precondensates on a melamine-formaldehyde base on the surface of suspended particles during spray drying. A film-forming agent, preferably one that reacts chemically with the resin, is indispensable for spray drying and also for the formation of an efficient membrane around the drug particles. The resulting microcapsules are essentially spherical and have, after appropriate curing, a sustained-release effect in vitro. The factors that most influence the formation and properties of the microcapsules are the composition (qualitative and quantitative), pH, and viscosity of the suspension.

The in vitro evaluation of gelatin coacervate microcapsules

Microcapsules of sulphadiazine have been prepared by the simple gelatin coacervation technique, using sodium sulphate as coacervating agent. The free flowing microcapsular material was hardened with formalin. There is no direct relation between particle size and sulphadiazine concentration nor between different starting gelatin percentages. The effects on size of hardening time, temperature and sampling time are small. In vitro dissolution studies show that first order release characteristics are exhibited by all the hardened materials. Temperature and pH effects indicate the dissolution of the sulphadiazine itself to be the controlling step rather than the rate of diffusion through the microcapsule wall.

Gelatin coacervate microcapsules containing sulphamerazine: their preparation and the in vitro release of the drug

An improved method is described for the preparation of gelatin coacervate microcapsules containing sulphamerazine as a fine deflocculated powder. The factors which control both the coacervation step and the recovery of the microcapsules are discussed. The in vitro release of sulphamerazine from microcapsules of different wall thickness which had been hardened by formaldehyde under different conditions has been studied. The method of preparation gave a high percentage of encapsulated material in comparison with other recovery techniques.

Role of pH in the coacervation of the systems: gelatin-water-ethanol and gelatin-water-sodium sulphate

Phase boundary determination, coacervate volume measurements and analysis of the phases have been made to assess the influence of pH on the coacervation of gelatin solutions by ethanol and sodium sulphate. Coacervation was found to be pH dependent. In the ethanol system coacervation was noticeable only within a pH range in the vicinity of the isoionic point; at other pH values either a viscous gel phase or floccules occurred. In the sodium sulphate system, coacervation occurred at all pH values examined. The effect of pH in changing the overall charge on the gelatin molecule is explained in relation to the formation of gelatin coacervates. Finally, the role of the coacervate phase in the microencapsulation of oil and solid particulates is discussed.