Encapsulating lipids in self-assembled polymeric and inorganic matrix particles

Liquid liquids are attractive as carriers, and encapsulation and delivery systems for poorly water soluble/lipophilic compounds, e.g. for application as functional foods, vitamin supplements and pharmaceuticals. However, such lipid carriers are challenging to formulate as solid material products and are generally manufactured as soft gelatin capsules. These capsules require specific engineering facilities for manufacture, and in many cases do not have optimal stability/shelf life and cannot control the bioactivity or delivery properties. We have developed an alternative approach to encapsulate liquid lipids, i.e. by entrapment within a porous matrix structured microparticle, established through the assembly of inorganic or polymeric nanoparticles [1,2]. More specifically, these are prepared by drying (e.g. spray or freeze drying) a sub-micron lipid emulsion in the presence of inorganic (e.g. silica) or polymeric (e.g. PLGA) nanoparticles – see Fig. 1. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract