Microencapsulation: An Exhaustive Review On Techniques, Characterization & Challenges In Microencapsulation Process

Abstract

Microcapsule provides a constant release of the drug in therapeutic quantity. It also protect the drug from photolytic or enzymatic cleavage, that's why this is the best method for drug delivery of protein. The structural features of microcapsules are reveal by scanning electron microscopy. Aggregated microcapsules vary in shape and size because of external additional wall. The morphology of microcapsules can be described as: mononuclear, poly/multinuclear, matrix, multi-wall, and irregular. The drug is dissolved in matrix and is distributed uniformly throughout. The drug is strongly attached to the matrix and is released on degradation of the matrix. The diffusion of the drug is slow as compared with degradation of the matrix. Microencapsulation techniques are divided into three classes: chemical, physical, and physico-chemical methods. The challenges associated with microencapsulation are to determine the appropriate microencapsulation technique, to select the encapsulating materials (core and wall), and to optimize the conditions for producing high-efficiency microcapsules. This technology provides simple immobilization or entrapment to sophisticated and precise microcapsule formation. This field also goes vast in nutraceuticals, food ingredients as well as lives probiotic bacterial cells. The delivery of viable microencapsulated probiotic bacterial will become more importance in future.