Polymer-surfactant complexes for microencapsulation of vitamin E and its release

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Vitamin E microencapsulation is crucial for enhancing its stability and bioavailability.
• Traditional methods face challenges in achieving efficient encapsulation and controlled release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, practical approach for microencapsulating vitamin E directly from oil-in-water emulsions.
• To utilize a preformed polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex as both an emulsion stabilizer and a microcapsule precursor.
• To create core-shell microcapsules with enhanced vitamin E sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex (sodium polystyrene sulfonate/dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) for emulsion stabilization and microcapsule formation.
• Applied a layer-by-layer technique to build polyelectrolyte shells around oily cores.
• Characterized emulsions and microcapsules using dynamic and equilibrium interfacial tension, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential measurements, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and Cryo-SEM.
• Monitored vitamin E release kinetics using UV-vis spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• The polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex effectively stabilized oil-in-water emulsions and acted as a precursor for microcapsule shell formation.
• Layer-by-layer assembly successfully produced core-shell microcapsules with oily cores and polyelectrolyte shells.
• Characterization confirmed the structure and stability of the microcapsules.
• Vitamin E release kinetics demonstrated progressive enhancement of sustainability with shell development.

Conclusions:

• The developed microencapsulation technique is effective and practical for vitamin E.
• The novel use of a polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex offers a versatile approach for creating stable microcapsules.
• This method holds significant potential for applications in the cosmetic and food industries due to improved vitamin E sustainability.