SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Microencapsulation Technologies

Examples of Shell Materials

Analytical Capabilities

Custom Design

Product Applications

Previously Encapsulated Materials

Microencapsulation Requirements Form

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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has more than 50 years experience in microencapsulation and controlled release. Custom-made microspheres and microcapsules are provided to customers in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, consumer and personal care products, agricultural, veterinary medicine, industrial chemicals, biotechnology, biomedical, and sensor industries.

Microencapsulation Technologies

Physical Methods of Encapsulation

• Spray drying

• Spray chilling

• Rotary disk atomization

• Fluid bed coating

• Stationary nozzle coextrusion

• Centrifugal head coextrusion

• Submerged nozzle coextrusion

• Pan coating

Chemical Methods of Encapsulation

• Phase separation

• Solvent evaporation

• Solvent extraction

• Interfacial polymerization

• Simple and complex coacervation

• In-situ polymerization

• Liposome technology

• Nanoencapsulation

Examples of Shell Materials

• Proteins

• Polysaccharides

• Starches

• Waxes

• Fats

• Natural and synthetic polymers

• Resins

Analytical Capabilities

• Particle size analyzer

• Optical and electron microscopes

• Dissolution tester

• Hardness tester

• Viscometer

• D’Nouy ring or Wilhelmy plate tensiometer

• Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)

• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

• High performance liquid chromatographs (HPLC)

• Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)

• Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)

• Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS)

• Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer

Custom Microencapsulation Design

	Consumer products improved by the use of encapsulation include paints, cosmetics, deodorants, detergents, toothpastes, and shampoos.

• Broad size range of capsules: 100 nm to 6 mm

• Broad range of payload: up to 95 percent

Product Applications

Improved Stability/Masking of Active Ingredients

• Heat

• Chemical

• Oxidative

• Shelf-life stability

• Odor, color and/or taste masking

Unique Release Mechanisms

• Controlled, sustained, delayed, targeted release

• Enteric, thermal, pressure, osmotic, pH-induced, pulsatile release

• Biodegradable or salt-induced release

• Oral, injectable, pulmonary, intranasal, implantable drug delivery

Previously Encapsulated Materials

If you are interested in finding out more about SwRI microencapsulation and controlled release capabilities and how we can help you, please fill out and submit the Microencapsulation Requirements form.

For more information about microencapsulation and controlled release technologies and capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Joseph T. Persyn at jpersyn@swri.org or (210) 522-2691, or James Oxley, Ph.D., at joxley@swri.org or (210) 522-2913.
 

| Microencapsulation, Nanomaterials & Process Engineering Department | Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

July 03, 2008