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Eco-Friendly Fungal Chitosan-Silica Dual-Shell Microcapsules with Tailored Mechanical and Barrier Properties for Potential Consumer Product Applications.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Baiocco, Daniele 
Al-Sharabi, Mohammed 

Abstract

Commercial perfume microcapsules are becoming popular across the globe to fulfill consumers' demands. However, most of microcapsules rely on synthetic polymers and/or animal-sourced ingredients to form the shells. Therefore, replacement of the shell materials is imperative to minimize environmental microplastic pollution, as well as to meeting peoples' needs, religious beliefs, and lifestyles. Herein, we report a methodology to fabricate environmentally benign dual-shell (fungal chitosan-SiO2) microcapsules laden with fragrance oil (hexyl salicylate). Anionically stabilized oil droplets were coated with fungal chitosan via interfacial electrostatic interactions at pH 2, which were then covered by an inorganic coating of SiO2 produced via external alkaline mineralization of sodium silicate. Core-shell microcapsules with a spherical morphology were achieved. Under compression, dual-shell chitosan-SiO2 microcapsules yielded a mean nominal rupture stress of 3.0 ± 0.2 MPa, which was significantly higher than that of single-shell microcapsules (1.7 ± 0.2 MPa). After 20 days in neutral pH water, only ∼2.5% of the oil was released from dual-shell microcapsules, while single-shell microcapsules cumulatively released more than 10%. These findings showed that the additional SiO2 coating significantly enhanced both mechanical and barrier properties of microcapsules, which may be appealing for multiple commercial applications, including cosmetics and detergents.

Description

Publication status: Published

Keywords

40 Engineering, 4003 Biomedical Engineering

Journal Title

ACS Omega

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2470-1343
2470-1343

Volume Title

9

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
EPSRC (EP/V027727/1)