From design to industrial scale processing of food grade NAnoCOntainers for NUtrient encapsulation (NACONU)

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 9085.1;6 PFLS-LS

Short description (German)

From design to industrial scale processing of food grade NAnoCOntainers for NUtrient encapsulation (NACONU)

Short description (English)

From design to industrial scale processing of food grade NAnoCOntainers for NUtrient encapsulation (NACONU)

Abstract (German)

Based on polysaccharides, polypeptides and/or polyesters as building blocks of biopolymers, biodegradable, food grade and amphiphilic block copolymers shall be designed and synthesized, allowing for the formation of nano to micron size vesicle structures for encapsulation of functional components (FCs), in particular nutrients. For shaping and filling the Vesicle Containers (V-Cons) processing technology shall be developed on lab scale and a selected optimized concept scaled-up to pilot scale. The shaping/filling mechanism shall be based on the initial generation of a lamellar phase system which shall then be transferred into a vesicle phase of narrowly size distributed (mono-disperse) V-Cons, entrapping solutions/dispersions of the functional components (FCs). The phase transition from lamellar to vesicle structures shall be performed by applying tailored flow stresses in the flow through ¿micro-fluidics¿ devices (micro-channel), porous media (membrane pores) and/or in shear/elongation flow gaps. For selected flow configurations scaling laws shall be investigated based on a coupled approach taking experimental data, numerical simulation and modelling results into account. Tests substances (functional ingredients) will be encapsulated within the vesicles in order to test their mechanical stability and release kinetics. Finally the process for vesicle formation / encapsulation shall be scaled up the pilot scale and test trials carried out.