Application of Biopolymers in Controlled Delivery Systems for Nutraceutical Products and Functional Foods

Abstract

Natural biopolymers have attracted the curiosity of the scientific community as matrixes for application in controlled release systems, especially in the food industry. Numerous active compounds have been encapsulated or incorporated in polymeric matrixes for food fortification, supplementation and preparation of nutraceutical products. The controlled release systems, namely the microencapsulated ones have become a challenging methodology to design new materials. The microencapsulated systems can be used to increase the effectiveness of many active compounds in industry, allowing the reformulation of a large number of products, improving and giving them better and new properties. In this chapter, the applicability of the controlled release systems in nutraceuticals products and functional foods using biopolymers as encapsulating agents is discussed. The main microencapsulation methods, the most relevant biopolymers used as wall materials, the controlled release mechanisms, and the models used to evaluate the release are presented. Finally, some potential applications of controlled delivery systems in food are discussed.