Biocompatible Wax-Based Microcapsules with Hermetic Sealing for Thermally Triggered Release of Actives

We present a microfluidic approach that utilizes temperature-responsive and biocompatible palm oil as the shell material in microcapsules to simultaneously achieve hermetic sealing as well as on-demand temperature-triggered release of the encapsulated actives. Unlike common paraffin waxes (e. g., eicosane), microcapsule shells comprising palm oil do not form pores or cracks during freezing and provide a hermetic seal, a nearly perfect seal that separates the core containing the actives from the surrounding environment over a prolonged period of time. This allows effective isolation and protection of complex cargoes such as small molecules with high diffusivity, strong acids, and cosmetic actives including niacinamide. Moreover, the palm oil shell melts above the defined melting temperature, allowing the ondemand release of the encapsulated actives. Furthermore, palm oil is biocompatible, is edible, and leaves a minimal footprint when used in personal care and cosmetic products, offering new perspectives in the design of microcapsules for cosmetic applications.

Automated summary

The study presents a microfluidic approach using temperature-responsive and biocompatible palm oil as the shell material in microcapsules for hermetic sealing and on-demand temperature-triggered release of encapsulated actives. The palm oil shell prevents pores or cracks formation during freezing, providing a nearly perfect seal that effectively isolates and protects the encapsulated materials. Furthermore, the biocompatible nature of palm oil allows for new perspectives in microcapsule design for cosmetic applications.