- Ingredients and Food
Microencapsulation
Protection and controlled release of ingredients and active compounds
Advanced technology at industrial scale
Microencapsulation enables, through the coating of substances from an ingredient or active compound, the development of products with advanced properties such as reduced degradation, controlled release, prolonged release over time, or targeted delivery to a specific site in the body.
This technology provides effective protection for sensitive active compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes or essential oils, against external agents. By preventing their degradation or interaction with other substances, it ensures that these components maintain their stability and effectiveness over time, optimising their performance and enabling their application in a wide range of products, from functional foods to cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
Benefits and applications
- Protection of active ingredients
Protects active substances from external factors such as light, moisture and oxygen, which is essential for the stability of volatile and sensitive compounds such as pharmaceuticals, vitamins or enzymes.
- Controlled release
- Prolonged release
Provides a sustained effect over time, whether for an active compound in the body or for a flavour or aroma that lasts longer.
- Ingredient compatibility
- Improved stability and shelf life
Microencapsulation enhances stability and extends the shelf life of substances, preventing premature degradation.
- Taste and odour masking
Helps mask unpleasant tastes and odours, improving consumer acceptance.
- Precise dosing
Enables the delivery of an exact and controlled amount of an active ingredient at the right time and under optimal conditions for its absorption or effect.
- Improved solubility
Encapsulation can improve the solubility of compounds with low solubility in water or in oily media.
- Sustainable alternative
Biodegradable microcapsules, environmentally friendly and safe for human health.
Microencapsulated products
At AINIA, we offer advanced solutions tailored to the needs of different sectors and industries, working with a wide range of products:
- Vitamins and antioxidants
- Pigments and colourants
- Peptides and proteins
- Essential oils, fatty acids and natural extracts
- Fragrances and perfumes
- Probiotics and prebiotics
- Microalgae
- Enzymes and active pharmaceutical ingredients
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Microorganisms for agricultural biocontrol
- ARN
Cutting-edge technology tailored to your sector
- Adaptation of active compounds and ingredients for their incorporation into food matrices, enabling the development of enriched or functional foods with advanced properties.
- New functional ingredients with enhanced absorption and bioavailability of nutrients and health supplements (e.g. bread fortified with microencapsulated iron).
At AINIA, we have worked on products such as:
- Incorporation of probiotics and use of bioactive peptides in dairy products
- Omega-3 fortification in bakery products
- Incorporation of natural antioxidants, calcium and vitamins in beverages
- Fibre enrichment in meat products
- Addition of vitamins and minerals in processed foods
- Use of plant extracts in energy bars
- Bread fortified with microencapsulated iron
- Taste masking of off-flavour actives and controlled intestinal release
The European Green Deal aims to promote the efficient use of resources through a clean and circular economy. One of its key pillars is the “Farm to Fork” strategy, which seeks to “ensure safe and nutritious food and feed, a high level of animal and plant health and welfare, and clear information on the origin, content, labelling and use of food.”
Among the measures to achieve this is a 50% reduction in the use of agricultural pesticides by 2030. It also aims to reduce the use of fertilisers by 20% within the same timeframe. The development of biofertilisers, natural pesticides, elicitors and agricultural biocontrol agents represents one of the most promising solutions that microencapsulation offers to this sector.
At AINIA, we have developed products such as:
- Biofertilisers and control agents
- Controlled-release natural pesticides
- Protected, active and viable microorganisms over time
- Elicitors
At AINIA, we have worked on products such as:
- A prototype of an active bio-packaging solution developed from sugars derived from juice wastewater. We produced microcapsules containing antioxidant compounds, which were incorporated into PHB material used to manufacture active packaging capable of delaying oxidation processes in packaged juice.
- Extracts and additives incorporated into the polymer prior to extrusion to enable controlled release and resistance to thermal conditions
At AINIA, we apply the latest advances in microencapsulation solutions for cosmetic products, combining different technologies (atomisation, gelation, supercritical fluid encapsulation, liposomes, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles), as well as a wide range of coating materials, considering factors such as odour masking, efficiency and improved shelf life of ingredients.
At AINIA, we have worked on:
- Masking strong odours from extracts and vitamins
- Improving properties such as taste, colour and flavour
- Targeted delivery to specific cells
- Micro- and nanocapsules to enhance topical penetration
- Protection of extracts, polyphenols, etc.
At AINIA, we add value
AINIA has more than 15 years of experience in developing encapsulated products with advanced properties, from laboratory scale to industrial scale, as well as in designing specialised industrial equipment for microencapsulation.
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We are currently developing ingredients for cosmetic formulations using an innovative double microencapsulation system, combining our extensive expertise in biotechnology with our specialisation in microencapsulation process design.
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Through our multiple lines of work and research, we offer a comprehensive service for the development of microencapsulated products, from initial studies to final testing phases, including scale-up studies, pilot trials, industrial production and the design of specific industrial equipment tailored to each microencapsulation process.
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We are experts in conducting ad hoc efficacy studies using cell models, applying cell culture and tissue engineering techniques to evaluate the performance of various bioactive ingredients, such as antioxidants, whitening agents or anti-inflammatory compounds.
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