Microcapsules having multiple shells and method for the preparation thereof

Abstract

Single-core and multi-core microcapsules are provided, having multiple shells, at least one of which is formed of a complex coacervate of two components of shell materials. The complex coacervate may be the same or different for each shell. Also provided are methods for making the microcapsules.

1 . A multi-core microcapsule comprising: (a) an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each primary microcapsule comprising a core and a first shell surrounding said core; (b) a second shell surrounding said agglomeration; and (c) a third shell surrounding said second shell; at least one of said first, second and third shells comprising a complex coacervate. 
     
     
         2 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first, second and third shells comprises a complex coacervate. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first, second and third shells comprises the same complex coacervate. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third shells comprises a complex coacervate that is different than a complex coacervate that forms one of the other shells. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said complex coacervate comprises at least one polymer component selected from the group consisting of: a protein, a polyphosphate, a polysaccharide, gum arabic, alginate, chitosan, carrageenan, pectin, cellulose and cellulose derivatives. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 5 , wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of gelatine type A, gelatine type B, soy proteins, whey proteins, milk proteins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third shells comprises a complex coacervate between gelatine A and at least one polymer component selected from the group consisting of gelatine type B, polyphosphate, gum arabic, alginate, chitosan, carrageenan, pectin and carboxymethylcellulose. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third shells is a complex coacervate between gelatine A and polyphosphate. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional shell surrounding said third shell. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one additional shell surrounding said third shell comprises a complex coacervate. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first second and third shells comprises an antioxidant. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third shells comprises one or more hydrophobic components selected from the group consisting of waxes, oils, resins, and fats. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third shells comprises a complex coacervate that is cross-linked with a cross-linker. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , wherein said cores comprise at least 50% of the total mass of the multi-core microcapsule. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-core microcapsule according to  claim 1 , having an exterior average diameter of from about 1 μm to about 2000 μm, and wherein said first shells have an average diameter of from about 40 nm to about 10 μm. 
     
     
         16 - 45 . (canceled)