Advances in Controllable Release Essential Oil Microcapsules and Their Promising Applications

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) have emerged as natural and popular ingredients used in the preparation of safe and sustainable products because of their unique characteristics, such as antibacterial and antioxidant activity. However, due to their high volatility, poorly solubility in water, and susceptibility to degradation and oxidation, the application of EOs is greatly limited. One of the promising strategies for overcoming these restrictions is encapsulation, which involves in the entrapment of EOs inside biocompatible materials to utilize their controllable release and good bioavailability. In this review, the microencapsulation of the controllable release EOs and their applications are investigated. The focus is on the antimicrobial mechanism of various EOs on different bacteria and fungi, release mechanism of microencapsulated EOs, and preparation research progress of the controllable EOs microcapsules. In addition, their applications are introduced in relation to the food, textiles, agriculture, and medical fields.

Application of Essential Oils on Active Packaging Systems

“…Encapsulating technologies were classified into two categories: those that use chemical processes such as complex coacervation, liposomes, solid nanoparticles, and ionic gelation and those that rely on physical processes such as spray drying, extrusion, and solvent removal [39]. In general, more than one of the above technologies is often used to produce the desired microcapsules [40].…”

Incorporation of ground mustard seeds in an active packaging film: structural properties and controlled release of allyl isothiocyanate

“…Incorporation of antimicrobial compounds into the packaging can control the diffusion from the material into the packaging headspace (for indirect contact packaging systems) or food products. Many studies explore the controlled release of compounds from essential oils (Maes et al ., 2019; Zhao et al ., 2023; Tian et al ., 2024). However, most release mechanisms occur with the swelling releasing system, in which the material absorbs the moisture, causing damage to structural properties and leading to a compound release from the materials (Siddiqui et al ., 2023).…”

Advances in Designing Essential Oil Nanoformulations: An Integrative Approach to Mathematical Modeling with Potential Application in Food Preservation

“…The diverse array of encapsulation techniques led to the development of encapsulants with superior barrier properties, controlled release mechanisms, and modified compatibility with different food products [7]. The precise manipulation of encapsulation parameters driven by computational insights has enabled the customization of encapsulation matrices for targeted delivery of EOs, ensuring their maximal efficacy as natural green preservatives [8,9].…”

“…Essential oil emulsions are formulations that combine EOs with water or other aqueous solutions. In addition, the formation of stable emulsions is essential to ensure that EOs are evenly distributed in the aqueous phase and do not separate over time [9]. There are several methods to prepare emulsions of EOs, such as the high-energy mixing method, lowenergy mixing method, microfluidization, phase inversion temperature method, surfactantassisted emulsification, and high-pressure homogenization [10,11].…”

“…There are several methods to prepare emulsions of EOs, such as the high-energy mixing method, lowenergy mixing method, microfluidization, phase inversion temperature method, surfactantassisted emulsification, and high-pressure homogenization [10,11]. Further, it is crucial to select an appropriate emulsifying agent, adjust the formulation ratios, and use suitable mixing techniques to achieve stable and long-lasting emulsions [9]. Moreover, the stability assessments of encapsulated EOs focus on their longevity during storage and subsequent incorporation into food matrices.…”