Essential Oils Encapsulated in Zeolite Structures as Delivery Systems (EODS): An Overview

Area of Science:

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Essential oils (EO) possess valuable olfactory, physicochemical, and biological properties, leading to diverse industrial applications.
• Growing demand for natural and sustainable products increases interest in EO for their physiological effects.
• EO are inherently unstable, prone to degradation and loss, limiting their practical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of essential oils, their benefits, and functional properties.
• To discuss the encapsulation of essential oils within zeolite structures.
• To highlight essential oil delivery systems (EODS) based on zeolites for therapeutic and aromatherapy applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on essential oil properties and applications.
• Exploration of zeolite materials as host matrices for encapsulation.
• Analysis of existing essential oil delivery systems using zeolites.

Main Results:

• Essential oils exhibit significant potential across various sectors, including cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.
• Zeolites offer a cost-effective and non-toxic solution for stabilizing essential oils due to their microporous structure.
• Encapsulation in zeolites enhances the stability and controlled release of essential oils.

Conclusions:

• Essential oil encapsulation in zeolites presents a promising strategy to overcome stability issues.
• Zeolite-based EODS are viable for advanced healthcare and aromatherapy applications.
• This approach supports the development of more stable and effective natural products.