Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SAMCAPS (Self-Assembled MicroCAPSules: Synthesis, Characterization, and Eco-friendly Application in Home Care Products)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-10-01 bis 2022-09-30
The goal of SAMCAPS is to address the current need for bio-degradable materials in everyday consumer goods such as home-care products, toiletries, cosmetics, by exploiting new eco-friendly materials and methods of encapsulation of beneficial actives. The purpose of encapsulation is the protection of actives from aggressive environments and their faster and/or controlled and/or targeted delivery, allowing a smart and efficient use of materials. The implementation of encapsulation technology in formulated consumable goods remains a challenge, especially in liquid products, for preventing the premature release of the active before the product is used. A common way around this issue is represented by core-shell encapsulation via the polymerization of aminoplast resins like melamine, which has allowed enormous progress on the manufacture of goods with superior delivery of actives (especially perfume products, drugs, fertilizers, and isolation materials). However, these are characterized by an inefficient environmental and biodegradability profile, and they are limited to release of active via pressure whilst there is a need for new and different release triggers, especially with dilution.
In this way, SAMCAPS tackles the challenge of the chemical industry, as a response to international undertakings such as the Paris Climate Act and the Europe 2020 policies for smart, sustainable and effective chemical use driving the growth of the industry. Our research program is focused on the training of four Early Stage Researchers for the creation of novel encapsulation systems with an improved environmental footprint. Thanks to the close collaboration of the two leading partners, Procter&Gamble and CSGI, our team can combine the fundamental scientific knowledge from academia with the applied scientific knowledge coming from industry. The project progresses through the synthesis and characterization of different types of stimuli-responsive, environmentally friendly polymers and their use in the protection and controlled delivery of actives. The capsule systems are tested in marketed products such as household goods and cosmetic products, thereby combining the development of new fundamental science with the understanding of the technical needs of a specific technology.
In this way, SAMCAPS tackles the challenge of the chemical industry, as a response to international undertakings such as the Paris Climate Act and the Europe 2020 policies for smart, sustainable and effective chemical use driving the growth of the industry. Our research program is focused on the training of four Early Stage Researchers for the creation of novel encapsulation systems with an improved environmental footprint. Thanks to the close collaboration of the two leading partners, Procter&Gamble and CSGI, our team can combine the fundamental scientific knowledge from academia with the applied scientific knowledge coming from industry. The project progresses through the synthesis and characterization of different types of stimuli-responsive, environmentally friendly polymers and their use in the protection and controlled delivery of actives. The capsule systems are tested in marketed products such as household goods and cosmetic products, thereby combining the development of new fundamental science with the understanding of the technical needs of a specific technology.
The first step of the project has entailed through bibliographic research to determine the appropriate polymers building blocks to be used for this project. These building blocks, either of natural or synthetic origin, have an assessed impact on environment and biodegradability as fundamental prerequisite. At the same time, commercial polymers with known biocompatibility and biodegradability profiles have been used for the proof-of-concept production of capsules, mainly via polymer self-assembly in aqueous environment. The appropriate methodologies have been adapted depending on the desired capsule morphology and size in the presence of the active to be encapsulated. Ultra-turrax homogenization, microfluidic techniques, spontaneous coacervation, and other methods have been considered. We have gained insights in the interactions between the polymers and the actives to be encapsulated, particularly some model perfume materials of natural origin, and the way these actives determine the capsule morphology, resistance to dilution, and stability over time. The physical-chemical characterization of these novel soft matter-based systems has been carried out by means of several available techniques, like several microscopy and scattering methods, to evaluate their morphology and physical properties, and to allow further optimization of the formation process.
The capsules have been introduced in model formulation media, in order to evaluate not only their stability in these concentrated surfactant solutions, but also the release mechanisms of the encapsulated actives. For example, the capsules obtained by means of coacervations can be easily disrupted to release their perfume payload by dilution, a process that can take place during the normal washing cycle of household washing machines. The release can be tracked using microscopy techniques also completed to microfluidics, and model fluorescent molecules mixed with the actives. The effect of medium composition, such as salt concentration, have been also investigated.
The microcapsules were tested for performance and deposition on various surfaces. At present, studies have been conducted on cotton and polyester fabrics. We observed that perfume molecules were deposited more on the hydrophilic cotton than on the hydrophobic polyester, with a further dependance on the molecular structure of the fragrance. This underlined once again the importance of the fragrant molecule’s nature not only on encapsulation but also on its deposition.
The capsules have been introduced in model formulation media, in order to evaluate not only their stability in these concentrated surfactant solutions, but also the release mechanisms of the encapsulated actives. For example, the capsules obtained by means of coacervations can be easily disrupted to release their perfume payload by dilution, a process that can take place during the normal washing cycle of household washing machines. The release can be tracked using microscopy techniques also completed to microfluidics, and model fluorescent molecules mixed with the actives. The effect of medium composition, such as salt concentration, have been also investigated.
The microcapsules were tested for performance and deposition on various surfaces. At present, studies have been conducted on cotton and polyester fabrics. We observed that perfume molecules were deposited more on the hydrophilic cotton than on the hydrophobic polyester, with a further dependance on the molecular structure of the fragrance. This underlined once again the importance of the fragrant molecule’s nature not only on encapsulation but also on its deposition.
SAMCAPS achieved many important results as a wide library of eco-friendly materials capable of forming microcapsules through energy-wise effective processes, protecting the active payloads with increased shelf-life thereby reducing waste, and delivering exceptional consumer benefit with negligible environmental impact. The chemistry sector benefitted from the innovation in natural and sustainable materials for consumable products brought about by SAMCAPS. At the same time, this project contributed to a resource-efficient Europe, through the development of highly qualified scientists, expert in the needs chemical industry of tomorrow, through the design of highly effective and functionalized materials via green methods, and efficient use of materials by encapsulation and targeted delivery of benefit agents in a broad variety of consumer good products. We believe that the ground-breaking and environmentally sustainable technologies developed through the exchange of knowledge between industry and academia will thereby translate into economic and societal value.