Adv Polym Sci (2013) 254: 269–296
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_202
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 16 March 2013
Biopolymeric Micro- and Nanoparticles:
Preparation, Characterization and Industrial
Applications
Anil Kumar Anal and Alisha Tuladhar
Abstract One of the most important industrial applications of the interfacial
properties of biopolymeric complexes such as protein–polysaccharide interactions
is the formation of microcapsules, microparticles, nanocapsules and/or
nanoparticles. Nanogel formation results from the ability of protein–polysaccharide
complexes to form a solid film around the droplets containing the product to be
encapsulated (microcapsules) and also the possibility of entrapping solvent
molecules into the coacervate (microgels). The first, based on the complex coacervation of two oppositely charged biopolymers, consists of the entrapment of a
solvent containing the molecule to be encapsulated in the structure of the coacervate. In this case, the microencapsulated product can be either in the core of the
complex or in the wall, resulting in some retention problems. The second method of
microencapsulation, and the most widespread, is to produce an emulsion stabilized
with proteins. The dispersed oil droplets contain the desirable oil-soluble products
to be encapsulated (aroma, drugs, cells, etc.). After addition of a polysaccharide, the
interfacial coacervation between the protein and the polysaccharide around the oil
droplets induces the formation of microcapsules, which are subsequently dried.
This type of microencapsulation is referred to as interfacial coacervation. Its main
advantage resides in the location of the encapsulated material in the core of the
microcapsule.
Keywords Biopolymer Á Characterization Á Industrial applications Á Micro-/
nanoparticles Á Preparation
A.K. Anal (*) and A. Tuladhar
Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, KlongLuang,
Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
e-mail: anilkumar@ait.ac.th; anil.anal@gmail.com
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_202
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 16 March 2013
Biopolymeric Micro- and Nanoparticles:
Preparation, Characterization and Industrial
Applications
Anil Kumar Anal and Alisha Tuladhar
Abstract One of the most important industrial applications of the interfacial
properties of biopolymeric complexes such as protein–polysaccharide interactions
is the formation of microcapsules, microparticles, nanocapsules and/or
nanoparticles. Nanogel formation results from the ability of protein–polysaccharide
complexes to form a solid film around the droplets containing the product to be
encapsulated (microcapsules) and also the possibility of entrapping solvent
molecules into the coacervate (microgels). The first, based on the complex coacervation of two oppositely charged biopolymers, consists of the entrapment of a
solvent containing the molecule to be encapsulated in the structure of the coacervate. In this case, the microencapsulated product can be either in the core of the
complex or in the wall, resulting in some retention problems. The second method of
microencapsulation, and the most widespread, is to produce an emulsion stabilized
with proteins. The dispersed oil droplets contain the desirable oil-soluble products
to be encapsulated (aroma, drugs, cells, etc.). After addition of a polysaccharide, the
interfacial coacervation between the protein and the polysaccharide around the oil
droplets induces the formation of microcapsules, which are subsequently dried.
This type of microencapsulation is referred to as interfacial coacervation. Its main
advantage resides in the location of the encapsulated material in the core of the
microcapsule.
Keywords Biopolymer Á Characterization Á Industrial applications Á Micro-/
nanoparticles Á Preparation
A.K. Anal (*) and A. Tuladhar
Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, KlongLuang,
Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
e-mail: anilkumar@ait.ac.th; anil.anal@gmail.com