Microchannel emulsification: A promising technique towards encapsulation of functional compounds

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional emulsification methods often rely on high energy, leading to potential degradation of sensitive compounds.
• Microchannel emulsification (MCE) offers a low-energy, precise method for droplet generation.
• Encapsulation of functional bioactives is crucial for their stability and delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of microchannel emulsification (MCE) for producing monodispersed emulsion droplets.
• To highlight the encapsulation of various functional bioactives using MCE.
• To discuss the scalability and industrial potential of MCE technology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized grooved-type and straight-through microchannel array plates for droplet generation.
• Investigated the encapsulation of diverse bioactives including vitamins, antioxidants, and phytosterols.
• Explored various delivery systems such as emulsions, polymeric particles, and lipid-based carriers.

Main Results:

• MCE successfully encapsulated a range of functional bioactives like beta-carotene, quercetin, and vitamin D.
• Bioactives were effectively incorporated into simple/multiple emulsions, polymeric particles, microgels, solid lipid particles, and vesicles.
• The droplet generation relies on spontaneous interface transformation, avoiding high shear stress.

Conclusions:

• MCE is a versatile and efficient technique for producing monodispersed droplets for bioactive encapsulation.
• The technology demonstrates significant potential for industrial-scale production with high throughput (>100 L/h).
• MCE offers a promising, low-energy approach for developing functional food ingredients and pharmaceutical delivery systems.