An encapsulating agent is a material that forms a shell or coating around a core material, to protect and preserve its properties. Encapsulating agents are used in various industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture to provide protection, preservation, and controlled release of active ingredients. Examples of encapsulating agents include gum arabic, gelatin, and modified starches.
Yes, native starch can act as an encapsulating agent. Starch has the ability to form a hydrated gel matrix, which can entrap and protect active ingredients, such as flavors, fragrances, and bioactive compounds, and release them in a controlled manner. However, the efficacy of native starch as an encapsulating agent can be limited by its poor stability, limited resistance to high temperature and pH, and poor compatibility with some encapsulated materials. Modified starches, such as cross-linked and modified starches, can overcome these limitations and offer improved encapsulation performance.
Modified starch can be used as an encapsulating agent in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries to protect active ingredients from degradation, to mask unpleasant tastes or odors, and to control the release of ingredients. The ability of modified starch to encapsulate depends on its chemical structure, degree of substitution, and its properties such as viscosity, stability, and gelling ability. Some commonly used modified starches for encapsulation include cationic, anionic, and crosslinked starches.
Modified starches are used as encapsulating agents in a range of applications such as food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial products. They are used to protect and preserve active ingredients such as flavors, fragrances, vitamins, and nutrients. In the food industry, modified starches are used as encapsulating agents for spices, flavors, and colors. In the pharmaceutical industry, modified starches are used as a carrier for controlled release of active ingredients. In the cosmetic industry, they are used to encapsulate fragrances, pigments and other ingredients. Industrial applications include the encapsulation of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.