Offer no. 21/10
Method for obtaining monodisperse pectin microgels using micro-flow system
- Summary:
The invention relates to microfluidic formulation of monodispersed pectin microbeads with potential industrial applications: food and pharmaceutical. According to the invention, the preparation method comprises the following steps: i) formation of droplets comprising aqueous solutions of pectin in a microdevice, ii) diffusion of crosslinking agents with a continuous phase to a dispersed phase (pectin droplets), iii) in situ extraction of pectin microbeads to the continuous phase without crosslinking agents and iv) collection and secondary gelation of microbeads. The developed method is characterized by simplicity and high reproducibility and provides production of monodisperse pectin microgels with a controlled size and morphology. The design of the developed system is simple and operates on inexpensive apparatus, materials and compounds that are commercially available and nontoxic. The current state of the art of pectin microgels formation is existed, however, the known methods do not guarantee of formation of particles monodispersion or a control over a process of emulsification (difficulties in controlling of the size and morphology). The potential utilization of pectin microgels/microbeads are e.g. controlled release drug delivery systems. Therefore, nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a model substance that was encapsulated in a pectin matrix. The study of NPs release enables characterization of gel microstructures that were obtained under various conditions.
- Inventors:
Dominika Ogończyk, Piotr Garstecki, Marta Siek
- Advantages / Innovative aspects:
- formation of pectin microparticles with an extensive control over their size and morphology
- the design of the developed system is simple and operates on inexpensive apparatus, materials and compounds that are commercially available and nontoxic
- the developed system can be a convenient tool for the industrial production of pectin microparticles
- Keywords:
pectin microparticles, pectin microbeads, microfluidics, encapsulation
- Field:
- Usage:
food or pharmaceutical industry (e.g. controlled release drug delivery systems)
- State of the progress:
stage of research
- Intellectual property rights:
Patent in Germany
- Publication URL:
