Encapsulator B-390 / B-395 Pro
 | BUCHI’s latest products – Encapsulator B-390 and B-395 Pro – are new systems for the immobilization of ...
... into a wide range of polymers. |
What is Encapsulation?
Encapsulation is the immobilization of active ingredients in a polymer matrix. The active compounds which are immobilized are for example enzymes, drugs, flavours & fragrances, vitamins, oils, cells or microbes.
There is a wide range of polymer matrices which can be utilized such as alginate, carrageen, cellulose sulphate, chitosan, gelatine or pectin, as well as waxes. The polymer matrix is used as a protection shield or as a barrier through which only specific compounds can diffuse.
Uniform beads and capsules at high reproducability rate are produced with the sophisticated Encapsulation technology provided by BUCHI. Their size is pre-selectable in the range of 0.15 mm to 2 mm with a spherical shape, a narrow size distribution (< 5% standard deviation) and a productivity of up to 6,000 beads per second.
Droplet formation
Droplet production with single nozzle
system for matrix encapsulation
Capsule formation
Core/shell capsule production with concentricnozzle
system in a one step procedure
Why encapsulation?
Encapsulation is gaining greater attention as a mild, continuous and scalable process, particularly used to protector stabilize drugs, microorganisms, enzymes or cells in a polymeric matrix.
The wide variety of polymer matrixes allows the construction of beads with specific features. Hydrogel matrixes have an open pore structure so that small hydrophilic molecules like peptides diffuse freely in and out.
However, small lipophilic molecules or large molecules like proteins remain immobilized in the matrix. The diffusion behaviour of molecules in and out the bead can be modified by the addition of a secondary membrane.
This possibility is very helpful in cell transplantation to reject the host immune system on the bead surface. Therefore foreign implanted cells are protected against the host immune system.
Biodegradable polymers allow the construction of slow release formulations. The uniform bead size, which is especially achievable with the Encapsulator, offers better modification options of the release profile.
