Micro- &
Nanoencapsulation
Services
Presentation
About us
Micro- &
Nanoencapsulation
Services
Supramolecular
NanoChemistry &
Materials Group
Catalan Institute of
Nanotechnology
Catalan Institute of
Nanotechnology (ICN)
The Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology (ICN) is a non-profit private
foundation created in 2003 by the Ministry of Universities, Research and
Information Society of the Catalan Government (DIUE) and the
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). It is part of CERCA, the
network of Research Centres launched by the Catalan Government as a
cornerstone of its long-term strategy to foster development of a knowledgebased economy.
ICN's research lines focus on the newly discovered physical and
chemical properties that arise from the fascinating behaviour of
matter at the nanoscale.
Supramolecular
NanoChemistry & Materials
The Supramolecular NanoChemistry & Materials (NANOup) group was
set up in 2009 by ICREA Research Prof Daniel Maspoch. It comprises 5
senior researchers, 6 PhD students and 1 project manager.
NANOup uses supramolecular chemistry to explore new materials
and applications (in close collaboration with several private
companies)
in
diverse
areas,
including
microand
nanoencapsulation, drug-delivery systems, contrast agents, and
novel sensors and magnetic platforms.
NANOup
team
ICREA Prof. Daniel
Maspoch
Group Leader
Dr. Inhar Imaz
RyC Researcher
Dr. Nereida Mejías
Dr. Kyriakos Stylianou Dr. Sonia García
Marie Curie Fellow Contracted Post-Doc Senior Technician
Marta Rubio
ICN Fellow
Carlos Carbonell
Contracted PhD
Àngels Ruyra
Ramón Areces
Fellow
Iván Burneo
SENESCYT
Fellow
Arnau Carné
FI Fellow
Dr. Mary Cano
Researcher
Marta González
Project Manager
Javier Ariñez
FPU Fellow
Research Lines
Nanoscale
Supramolecular
Materials
Supramolecular
Nanostructures
on Surfaces
Micro- and
Nanoencapsulation
Technologies
Micro- and Nanoencapsulation Technologies
Packaging micro- or nanoparticles of solid, liquid or gas (the core or
active substance) within a secondary material (the matrix or shell),
to form nano- or microcapsules
The core material is protected by a
shell and only delivered when needed.
Triggered release (pH, T, pressure)
Target release (site recognition)
Sustained release (shell decomposition)
Functional advantages
Protect core material
Change properties (increase solubility, mask taste, etc.)
Aesthetic improvements
Decrease toxicity (reduce required dose; local release)
Reduce costs
Micro- & Nanoencapsulation Services
Our mission:
To help private companies and public research institutes to
develop novel encapsulation products
we provide a complete
product development
service
From the lab to the market:
We design and fabricate new products, based on in-house
technology, and assist collaborators with scaling-up.
Design
Development
Quality Control
Scale-up to
Commercial
Quantitites
Our expertise
We have developed diverse types of micro- and nanocapsules
to match each industrial sector and application. These differ by
their membrane, which is carefully selected to suit the
customer’s needs. Depending on the final application, the
membrane can be further optimised.
Core
Shell
 Hydrophobic liquids
 Polymers:
 Aqueous solutions
natural (polysaccharides, proteins, etc.),
 Solids
 Emulsions
synthetic (polyamides, polyesters, polyureas, polyurethanes,
urea/melamine-formaldehyde resin, polystyrene, etc.),
 Dispersions
semi synthetic (chitosan, cellulose, starch, etc.)
 Gases
 Lipids: cholesterol, phospholipids
 Inorganic materials: SiO2
Protect core material
• Prevent environmental oxidation or deactivation
• Separate incompatible materials
Modify properties of the
core material
• Mask organoleptic properties like color, taste, odor of substances
• Safe handling of toxic cores
Convert liquids to freeflowing solids
• Reduce handling costs
Controlled and targeted
release of encapsulated
cores
• Improve adhesion, penetration or recognition of tissues and cells
• Reduce active doses, and therefore, potential toxicity/side-effects
Modify core material via
release
• Provide sustained release  maintain optimal concentration
• Provide triggered release based on environmental changes (T, pH)
• Marketing & product aesthetics
Develop novel products
• Enable more stable, efficient and biocompatible products, based
on nanocapsules
Our capabilities
We can encapsulate core materials in different polymer membranes.
Encapsulation protects the active component in the core, enables
controlled release and reduces or eliminates toxicity.
+
In-situ, interfacial & radical polymerisation
• Melamine-formaldehyde, polyurethane, styrene, polyurea,
polyamides, polyesters, silica, ethylcellulose
Simple and complex coacervation
• Gelatin, acacia and glutaraldehyde
• Casein, chitosan, PVA
Liposomes & Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
• Lipid-cake hydration and homogeneisation by extrusion, ultrasound
•
Emulsions
• Nanoemulsions, double emulsions
• Polymeric surfactants
Spray-drying
• Particle miniaturisation (300 nm to 100µm)
• Encapsulate peptides, drugs or food ingredients
Our equipment
Through specialised facilities—some of which are unique in
Spain—we offer high-level technical assistance to collaborate
with external partners, including for commercial R&D.
 Equipment for synthesis
 Pilot plant
 Characterisation
Nanochemistry Lab
Spray-drying
Extrusion
Rotary evaporator
Freezer (-80 ºC)
Lyophiliser
Ultracentrifuge
Nanospray Spray Drier
(Büchi)
Mini Spray Drier (Büchi)
Particle miniaturisation
LIPEXTM extruder
(Northern Lipids)
Liposome preparation
at 10 mL scale
High pressure
homogenisation
Pilot plant
reactor
M-110L Microfluidiser
Processor
High-shear fluids
processing
Microfluidics
Dispermat CN
0.5 to 40 L
Dissolver
Bench scale mixers
Overhead stirrers
Ultraturrax (IKA)
Ultrasound probe
Full physical
characterisation
Full chemical
characterisation
Study of the release
IR, UV, Elemental analysis,
EDX, TOF-SIMS,
X-ray powder diffraction
Viscosimeter
Direct
Visualisation
4 mm
SEM
TEM
Cryo-TEM
Rupture force &
deformability studies
Nanoindentator
Porosity studies
BET
Stability studies
Turbiscan
Mastersizer
Size determination
DLS
SEM
Custom solutions
With
extensive
experience
and
knowledge in the microencapsulation
field, we can solve your technical
problems in any industrial sector.
We can help you to protect solid particles
or liquid droplets and ensure controlled
release of the active components.
Nutrition
Textiles
Drugs
Construction
Cosmetics
Agriculture
Nanotechnology does not always involve expensive equipment or
rare materials: it can often be incorporated into existing industrial
processes with minimal capital investment.
We are already working with several companies to
develop
new
commercial
products
and
techniques that incorporate Nanotechnology:
 Fragrance encapsulation for detergents and softeners
 Biocide encapsulation for paintings
 Disinfectant encapsulation for clinical surfaces disinfection
 Enzymatic encapsulation
 Peptide micronisation
 Capsules for self-repairing wood
 Development of encapsulating matrices using metal-organic
systems
 Encapsulation of phage & inmunostimulants in liposomes and
in polysaccharide & biocompatible polymers
Questions on encapsulation? Feel free to contact us!
Thank you for your attention!
Group Leader, NANOUP
daniel.maspoch@icn.cat
Micro- and Nanoencapsulation Technologies Leader, NANOUP
mary.cano@icn.cat