Shellac Gum/Carrageenan Alginate-Based Core-Shell Systems Containing Peppermint Essential Oil Formulated by Mixture...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Colloid Science

Background:

• Encapsulation of active ingredients like peppermint essential oil is crucial for controlled release.
• Inverse ionotropic gelation offers a method for creating core-shell systems.
• Alginate, shellac gum, and carrageenan are polymers with potential for encapsulation matrices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of alginate, shellac gum, and carrageenan on the properties of peppermint essential oil encapsulated systems.
• To evaluate the swelling behavior and oil content of core-shell capsules.
• To explore the potential of mixture design for tailoring essential oil release profiles.

Main Methods:

• Core-shell capsules encapsulating peppermint essential oil were prepared using inverse ionotropic gelation.
• A mixture design approach was employed to study the influence of polymer composition (alginate, shellac gum, carrageenan).
• Capsule size, shape, oil content, and swelling behavior were analyzed after preparation and drying.

Main Results:

• Capsules exhibited initial rounded shapes and sizes between 3.8-4.5 mm, reducing by over 50% after drying.
• Peppermint essential oil content ranged from 14.84% to 33.75%.
• Carrageenan significantly increased swelling ratio up to 360%, whereas shellac gum decreased it to 21%.

Conclusions:

• Carrageenan is a promising excipient for enhancing capsule swelling, while shellac gum imparts hydrophobicity.
• Mixture design is a suitable approach for developing advanced formulations with controlled essential oil release.
• Optimizing polymer combinations allows for tailored properties in encapsulated systems.