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、低成本的方法和系统，用于用厚度可控的薄液膜精确地封装液体芯材料。新方法允许广泛的“核-壳”组合，并能够设计表面活性的多层（液体/固体/胶体）胶囊。这种封装方法的一些优点包括1）简单和成本效益，即，它不需要昂贵的基础设施; 2）超高速、准确性和一致性; 3）包封生物活性材料的可能性。该封装系统在制药中具有应用，其中需要及时释放核心材料/药物以用于靶向药物递送和正确的时间。此外，该系统还可以将多种芯材涂覆不同的液体，并在同一“包裹”中交付。在食品加工中，这种封装方法可以帮助食品加工商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，并延长食品成分的保质期。该液体封装系统的其它应用包括营养品、农业、药妆品和个人护理产品。作为该市场评估资助的一部分，选定的顾问将进行彻底的市场分析，以确定最合适的市场机会，沿着与该技术在特定细分市场中应用相关的技术、营销和财务挑战。有利的市场评估结果将进一步指导1-对已确定市场感兴趣的核壳材料的开发，2-进一步增强当前原型和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.