Market Assessment for liquid-liquid encapsulation method and system

滑铁卢大学(UW)的研究人员开发了一种新颖、简单且低成本的方法和系统，用于用厚度可控的薄液膜(S)精确地封装液芯材料。这种新方法允许广泛的“核-壳”组合，并使表面活性多层(液体/固体/胶体)胶囊的设计成为可能。这种包埋方法的一些优点包括：1)简单和成本效益高，即不需要昂贵的基础设施；2)超高速、准确和一致；3)可以包埋生物活性物质。这种封装系统在制药中有应用，其中需要及时释放核心材料/药物以进行靶向药物递送和适当的时间。此外，该系统使多种核心材料能够涂上不同的液体，并以相同的“包裹”递送。在食品加工中，这种封装方法有可能帮助食品加工者保护敏感的食品成分，避免营养损失，利用其他敏感成分，将时间释放机制纳入其配方中，并延长食品成分的保质期。这种液体封装系统的其他应用包括营养食品、农业、化妆品和个人护理产品。作为这项市场评估拨款的一部分，被选中的顾问将进行全面的市场分析，以确定最合适的市场机会，以及与在特定细分市场应用该技术相关的技术、营销和财务挑战。有利的市场评估结果将进一步指导1-已确定市场感兴趣的核壳材料的开发，2-进一步改进当前的原型，以及3-制定商业化战略并吸引早期投资。

University of Waterloo (UW) researchers have developed a novel, simple and low-cost method, and system for accurately encapsulating a liquid core material with a thin liquid film(s) with controllable thickness. The new method allows a wide range of "core-shell" combinations and enables the design of surface-active, multi-layered (liquid/ solid/ colloid) capsules. Some advantages of this encapsulation method include 1) simplicity and cost-effectiveness, i.e., it does not require expensive infrastructure; 2) ultra-high speed, accuracy, and consistency; 3) possibility of encapsulating bio-active materials. This encapsulation system has applications in pharma where the timely release of core material/drug is needed for targeted drug delivery and the right time. In addition, the system enables multiple core materials to be coated with different liquids and delivered in the same "parcel". In food processing, this encapsulation method can potentially help food processors protect sensitive food components and avoid nutritional loss, utilize otherwise sensitive ingredients, incorporate time-release mechanisms into their formulations and extend the shelf life of food ingredients. Other applications of this liquid encapsulating system include nutraceuticals, agriculture, cosmeceuticals, and personal care products.As part of this Market Assessment grant, the selected consultant will perform a thorough market analysis to identify the most suitable market opportunities along with technical, marketing and financial challenges associated with the application of the technology in a particular market segment. A favorable market assessment result will further guide 1- the development of core-shell materials of interest to the identified markets, 2- further enhancement of the current prototype and 3- formulate the commercialization strategy and attract early stage investments.