Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye

Abstract Encapsulation technologies have been utilized in laundry detergents mainly as formaldehyde-based capsules which are commonly used to encapsulate active compounds like fragrances, bluing agents and fluorescent whitening agents. Nevertheless, formaldehyde derived materials are toxic, carcinog...

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Main Authors: Yasmin Kabalan, Bartosz Tylkowski, Silvia De La Flor, Marta Giamberini, Xavier Montané
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05352-y
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author Yasmin Kabalan
Bartosz Tylkowski
Silvia De La Flor
Marta Giamberini
Xavier Montané
author_facet Yasmin Kabalan
Bartosz Tylkowski
Silvia De La Flor
Marta Giamberini
Xavier Montané
author_sort Yasmin Kabalan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Encapsulation technologies have been utilized in laundry detergents mainly as formaldehyde-based capsules which are commonly used to encapsulate active compounds like fragrances, bluing agents and fluorescent whitening agents. Nevertheless, formaldehyde derived materials are toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable leading to an increase in the microplastic pollution in oceans and consequently harming the marine life. Therefore, the researchers are currently tending towards the replacement of these components by biobased ones. In this work, we present the synthesis of capsules with more than one shell using biodegradable polymers to replace these materials. Moreover, the blue dye used in laundry detergent industry was successfully encapsulated in biodegradable capsules formed by an interpenetrating network of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) prepared using different conditions. Besides, the capsules were characterized to study their chemical, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties, to evaluate their water solubility, and to determine how the composition and the preparation methods can affect their properties. The novelty of this system lies in evaluating how modifying a previously reported system using poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and alginate as shells –achieved by replacing the PEGDMA diacrylic monomer with PEGDA– affects the morphology and properties of the resulting capsules. It has been shown that the capsules with PEGDA exhibited improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to the previously described system, which could make them more suitable for their intended applications.
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spelling doaj-art-e0de9dcc18d94a2ea151f1881439ba492025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-05352-ySynthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dyeYasmin Kabalan0Bartosz Tylkowski1Silvia De La Flor2Marta Giamberini3Xavier Montané4Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i VirgiliDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i VirgiliDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i VirgiliDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Rovira i VirgiliDepartment of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i VirgiliAbstract Encapsulation technologies have been utilized in laundry detergents mainly as formaldehyde-based capsules which are commonly used to encapsulate active compounds like fragrances, bluing agents and fluorescent whitening agents. Nevertheless, formaldehyde derived materials are toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable leading to an increase in the microplastic pollution in oceans and consequently harming the marine life. Therefore, the researchers are currently tending towards the replacement of these components by biobased ones. In this work, we present the synthesis of capsules with more than one shell using biodegradable polymers to replace these materials. Moreover, the blue dye used in laundry detergent industry was successfully encapsulated in biodegradable capsules formed by an interpenetrating network of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) prepared using different conditions. Besides, the capsules were characterized to study their chemical, morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties, to evaluate their water solubility, and to determine how the composition and the preparation methods can affect their properties. The novelty of this system lies in evaluating how modifying a previously reported system using poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and alginate as shells –achieved by replacing the PEGDMA diacrylic monomer with PEGDA– affects the morphology and properties of the resulting capsules. It has been shown that the capsules with PEGDA exhibited improved thermal and mechanical properties compared to the previously described system, which could make them more suitable for their intended applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05352-y
spellingShingle Yasmin Kabalan
Bartosz Tylkowski
Silvia De La Flor
Marta Giamberini
Xavier Montané
Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
Scientific Reports
title Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
title_full Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
title_fullStr Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
title_short Synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly(ethylene glycol) for the encapsulation of blue dye
title_sort synthesis and characterization of biobased capsules formed from interpenetrating networks of alginate and poly ethylene glycol for the encapsulation of blue dye
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-05352-y
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AT silviadelaflor synthesisandcharacterizationofbiobasedcapsulesformedfrominterpenetratingnetworksofalginateandpolyethyleneglycolfortheencapsulationofbluedye
AT martagiamberini synthesisandcharacterizationofbiobasedcapsulesformedfrominterpenetratingnetworksofalginateandpolyethyleneglycolfortheencapsulationofbluedye
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