An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic microbeads

By changing the composition of these materials’ building blocks, researchers can optimize properties such as hydrophobicity (ability to repel water), mechanical strength, and pH sensitivity. One property the team targeted, with an eye to using the polymer to add nutrients to food, was the ability to dissolve when exposed to acidic environments such as the stomach. The researchers showed that they could use particles of the polymer to encapsulate vitamins A, D, E, and C, as well as zinc and iron. Many of these nutrients are susceptible to heat and light degradation, but the team found that the particles could protect them from boiling water for two hours. They also showed that even after being stored for six months at high temperature and high humidity, more than half of the encapsulated vitamins were undamaged. To demonstrate the particles’ potential for fortifying food, the researchers incorporated them into bouillon cubes—a common ingredient in Africa, where nutrient deficiencies a ... Read full article.