Microencapsulation of Bioactive Compounds: Techniques and Applications—Second Edition

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 3560

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato Street, 80-Cidade Universitária, Campinas 13083-862, SP, Brazil
2. Pluridisciplinary Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture, Chemistri of Natural Product Division, University of Campinas, Alexandre Cazelatto Avenue, 999, Paulínia 13148-218, SP, Brazil
Interests: nano- and microencapsulation; formulations; natural product chemistry; bioactive plant extracts; active compounds; isolation; purification; phytochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds generally provide benefits in whatever area they are applied. Their use has increasingly grown due to their great availability and variety in nature. These compounds are mainly used in foods, cosmetics, and medicines, and more recently they have been used in veterinary products, with a focus on healthiness, nutritional improvement, flavoring, coloring, preservatives, reducing the frequency of medication dosing, and increasing the bioavailability and permeability of formulations. However, in many cases, the biggest problem is related to their chemical instability. Microencapsulation has the advantage of correcting this problem. It is a process in which a material is protected by forming small particles, preventing their decomposition. It is a useful technology that prevents partial or total degradation, increases bioavailability, masks taste, and improves shelf life. Several microencapsulation techniques have been explored in recent years, used to preserve natural bioactive compounds. Proper selection of the technique and ingredients of a formulation can influence many aspects of the process and product quality. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to bring together the latest contributions and discoveries related to the technique of microencapsulation and emerging technologies in different processing industries.

Prof. Dr. Rodney Alexandre Ferreira Rodrigues
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microencapsulation techniques
  • biological activity
  • health benefits
  • bioactive compounds
  • wall materials
  • sensorial analysis
  • green extraction
  • physicochemical properties
  • emerging technologies
  • shelf life

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 1364 KiB  
Article
Impact of Microencapsulation on Ocimum gratissimum L. Essential Oil: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant Activities, and Chemical Composition
by Angela Del Pilar Flores Granados, Marta Cristina Teixeira Duarte, Nathan Hargreaves Noguera, Dyana Carla Lima and Rodney Alexandre Ferreira Rodrigues
Foods 2024, 13(19), 3122; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13193122 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1445
Abstract
Ocimum gratissimum (OG) is a species rich in essential oils (EO), which is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to encapsulate the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (OGE), determine its chemical composition, and evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities [...] Read more.
Ocimum gratissimum (OG) is a species rich in essential oils (EO), which is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to encapsulate the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum (OGE), determine its chemical composition, and evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against six pathogenic bacteria, comparing it with the free essential oil (OGF). The EO was extracted by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, and an oil-in-water emulsion was prepared using a combination of biopolymers: maltodextrin (MA), cashew gum (CG), and inulin (IN). The chemical profile was identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity with fluorescein (ORAC-FL) method, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) were determined by the microdilution method. Microparticles were formed using the spray-drying method, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 45.2%. The analysis identified eugenol as the main compound both before and after microencapsulation. The OGE microparticles demonstrated high inhibitory and bactericidal effects against S. aureus, S. choleraesuis, and E. coli, with MIC values of 500 µg·mL−1 and MBC values of 1000 µg·mL−1, as well as antioxidant activity of 1914.0 µmol-TE·g−1. Therefore, it can be inferred that the EO of OG maintained its antimicrobial and antioxidant effects even after microencapsulation by spray-drying, making it a promising natural ingredient. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 4864 KiB  
Article
Microencapsulation by Complex Coacervation of Lavender Oil Obtained by Steam Distillation at Semi-Industrial Scale
by István Székely-Szentmiklósi, Emőke Margit Rédai, Zoltán-István Szabó, Béla Kovács, Csilla Albert, Attila-Levente Gergely, Blanka Székely-Szentmiklósi and Emese Sipos
Foods 2024, 13(18), 2935; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13182935 - 17 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Lavender oil (LEO) is one of the most well-known essential oils worldwide which, besides its extensive application in aromatherapy, serves as raw material for various fields, including the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, several global requirements were established to warrant its quality. [...] Read more.
Lavender oil (LEO) is one of the most well-known essential oils worldwide which, besides its extensive application in aromatherapy, serves as raw material for various fields, including the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, several global requirements were established to warrant its quality. Microencapsulation represents an emerging technology widely applied for the preservation of essential oils, simultaneously providing new ways of application. In the current study, lavender oil was obtained from the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. on a semi-industrial-scale steam distillation system. According to the GC-MS investigation, lavender oil obtained in the third year of cultivation met the European Pharmacopoeia standards for linalyl acetate and linalool contents ≈38% and ≈26%, respectively. Microcapsules (MCs) containing the so-obtained essential oil were successfully produced by complex coacervation technology between gum arabic (GA) and three different grades of type-A gelatin (GE). Optical microscopic investigations revealed a significant difference in particle size depending on the gelatin grade used. The variation observed for coacervates was well reflected on the scanning electron micrographs of the freeze-dried form. The highest encapsulation efficiency values were obtained by UV-VIS spectrophotometry for microcapsules produced using gelatin with the medium gel strength. FT-IR spectra confirmed the structural modifications attributed to microencapsulation. According to the GC-MS analysis of the freeze-dried form, the characteristic components of lavender oil were present in the composition of the encapsulated essential oil. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop