The Influence of polysorbate 80 on the size and press force of sodium alginate microcapsules

Abstract

Introduction Polysorbate 80 is a non-ionic emulsifying agent which can be used in food (10 mg/kg), cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals for stabilization of emulsions1. It is used for O/W emulsion2. The sodium alginate is a natural product from brown algae, forming gel, it is polysaccharide3. The microcapsules are a pharmaceutical form which can be applied for the protection of compounds such as volatile compounds (essential oil, extracts, etc.)4. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of polysorbate 80 on microcapsules and to adapt these results in the manufacture of microcapsules with essential oil. Materials and Methods Alginic acid sodium salt from brown algae (Sigma-Aldrich), calcium chloride dihydrate (Farmalabor), Tween® 80 (polysorbate 80) (Roth). Primary solution was prepared with sodium alginate (5 g of 4% solution), polysorbate (from 0 g to 1,5 g), and distilled water (10 ml). Microcapsules were prepared by using a medical syringe and calcium chloride solution (5%) as a crosslinker. The solution with capsules was stirred for 10 min. on magnetic stirrer, then, the capsules were filtrated with paper filter and washed with water. The diameter of capsules was measured for just manufactured and dried capsules by using a micrometer. The press force was measured with Texture Analyser (TA.XT.plus). The results are presented as mean ± SD, results were significant when p<0,05. Results 30 microcapsules were measured for each sample and the average of their size was calculated. The polysorbate 80 (tween) concentration has influence on microcapsules’ size. Both dried and non-dried capsules without the use of tween have the smallest diameter (0,73±0,15 mm and 2,297±0,16 mm, respectively). The 1,5 g of tween in sodium alginate solution has significant influence on capsules’ diameter. Capsules were about 28% and 21% bigger. No significant changes were observed after the press force was analyzed. Although the correlation between samples