Preparation and characterization of biocompatible oil-loaded polyelectrolyte nanocapsules

The aim of this work was to develop a novel preparation method for polyelectrolyte nanocapsules. The prepared capsules have a three-layer polyelectrolyte shell and a core consisting of medium-chain triglycerides. The preparation is based on a high-pressure homogenized emulsion that is stabilized by a modified starch, followed by the stepwise addition of the additional layer components chitosan and lambda-carrageenan. Producing polyelectrolyte nanocapsules with an average size of 130 nm without alternating with separation steps resulted in an efficient preparation technique. The characterization of the nanocapsules by zeta-potential, light-scattering techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission electron microscopy played a major role. All ingredients are nontoxic and biocompatible. These properties could be extremely useful to the food or pharmaceutical industry for incorporating lipophilic substances. The encapsulation may be beneficial regarding improved stability and protection capability of labile substances.