Fabrication of electrospun and electrosprayed carriers for the delivery of bioactive food ingredients

Abstract

Electrospinning and electrospraying are simple and versatile technologies for the fabrication of fibers or particles, respectively. These processes are highly advantageous because they allow the use of aqueous solutions of food-grade polymers avoiding the use of toxic solvents. Moreover, the processing does not require the use of high temperatures, and therefore heat-sensitive compounds may be successfully encapsulated. Here, the use of electrospinning and electrospraying technologies for encapsulation of bioactive food compounds will be presented. Selected studies from the past 5 years are summarized, highlighting the potential applications of electrospun and electrosprayed materials in the development of novel functional foods.