Electrohydrodynamic atomization assisted encapsulation of bioactive compounds

Electrohydrodynamics atomization (Electrospraying) is a versatile technique toproduce microspheres or beads from various materials by means of electricalforces. Electrospraying has numerous advantages over traditional methodsin encapsulation: there is high encapsulation efficiency without unfavorabledenaturation of bioactive molecules and an enhanced control over the sizedistribution of particles. This technique could be used for encapsulating bioactivemolecules such as proteins, enzymes, vitamins, polyphenols, drugs and sensitiveingredients, for lots of purposes such as masking the bitter test of compounds,sustained releasing, the stability of compounds during process or shelf life offoods, etc. Living cells and spores could be encapsulated by this method forbioenvironmental purposes. Beads can be made by a wide range of food gradeand natural biodegradable polymers including alginate, starch, carrageenan,chitosan zein, etc., which makes their use suitable in the development of newfoods with enhanced properties and characteristics. Encapsulation by thismethod also achieves the ability of sustained and controlled release of bioactivecompounds by foods, and increasing the effectiveness of such compounds alongthe time.