Recent trends in microencapsulation: A review

Abstract

Microcapsules are tiny capsules containing materials (such as adhesive or a medicine) that are released when the capsule is broken, melted or dissolved. The process of forming microcapsules is called microencapsulation. By the process of microencapsulation an active ingredient of interest can be isolated and kept unmodified for extended periods of time and be released (or not) upon a change of the surrounding environmental conditions to target specific needs. Various techniques of microencapsulation have been developed which have wide applications in various fields like pharmaceutics, biotechnology, agrochemical, food industries, cosmetics etc. This article is a review of microencapsulation, materials used in it, morphology of microcapsules, reasons for microencapsulation, new advanced techniques used in microencapsulation (their advantages and disadvantages), drugs incorporated in microcapsules and applications of microcapsules.