Protein Capsules

ended

In the ProtCap project, we will translate basic technology, developed in the context of the ERC project PhysProt, towards commercial applications. The technological focus will be on microscapsules assembled through microfluidic techniques from natural proteins. Encapsulation increasingly underlies the storage and formulation of active components and is a growing market which impacts areas from cosmetics to personal health-care. In this context, synthetic polymers are the standard material for forming the shells of microcapsules and other encapsulation platforms. We propose an orthogonal approach through the use of fully natural building blocks, proteins. Proteins are the fundamental building blocks of life, underpinning the formation of sophisticated materials and structures in nature through self-assembly. We have been able to demonstrate the ability to form robust capsules from a range of proteins of both plant and animal origin. This technique allows for improvements over existing commercially available approaches in terms of biocompatible and biodegradable products, and ability to undertake all processing steps under mild conditions in aqueous solution for processing sensitive cargo species. In the present project, we will establish the viability of the protein capsule technology in particular sectors and generate connections with key industrial players based on initial contacts established so far. A key component of this approach is the proposed work to demonstrate the encapsulation of technologically important high value cargo materials, a translational step which will allow us to move towards forging partnerships, and explore licensing of IP to existing industrial partners in the context of this project, or through providing the basis for setting up a dedicated entity to take forwards the commercialisation of this technology.