We provide R&D services to the manufacturers of dietary supplements to meet changing, diversifying expectations of consumers passionate about embracing health in many aspects of their lives.

Slow-release dietary supplements are not new to the market. But we are moving one step forward. Our CSO pioneered programmed-shell microcapsules with a controlled release function, a new way to deliver active substances.

Possessing unique microencapsulation capabilities, we can precisely programme the release time of active substances, achieving efficacy at an entirely different level. Our advanced microencapsulation technology produces smart programmed-shell microcapsules that can release active substances according to pre-defined scenarios:

Traditional formats such as tablets, hard capsules and soft gel capsules still dominate the mainstream dietary supplements industry. We want to change the entire technology game. With our delivery system innovation, we want to give consumers a new experience along with all the latest technology. We deliver active compounds into the body at the right place, in the right dosage and at the right time.

For dietary supplements to be effective, they must be taken in the right amount and at the right time. The doses required are usually high, involve a high frequency, often three times a day, and have a long onset of action, all of these are mainly due to low bioavailability. Adherence to a dietary supplement regime can be challenging. Many people suffer from “pill fatigue”, which leads to poor compliance and demand for novel formats.

We make it possible to replace multiple doses with only one intake. We can programme the opening of microcapsules and the release of active substances at a specific time. In practical terms, consumers will need to take a microencapsulated supplement only once, for example, in the morning, and microcapsules will release active compounds at the required time of the day.

To enable dietary supplements to survive the acidic environment of the stomach, they often come in large gelatin capsules or tablets with a protective shell. But taking large and multiple supplements may result in a pill burden. Numerous pills to swallow each day can be difficult and uncomfortable for some people, especially for those with dysphagia. Liquid or powder forms of supplements make it easier to swallow. However, problems can arise due to the inability of supplements to survive stomach acidity. The stomach’s acidic environment can reduce the bioavailability and effectiveness of a dietary supplement, and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

We solve this problem. Our microcapsules survive the stomach’s acidic environment and reach the intestines, where they are absorbed and delivered to the target tissues and organs. This results in increased bioavailability, absorption, and overall efficacy. The stability of our microcapsules at acidic pH is remarkable. They remain stable at pH < 6 for 9 hours and even more.

pH survivability

Probiotics present unique challenges for manufacturers. Probiotic bacteria need to survive manufacturing, transportation, storage and the journey through the stomach and the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract to confer health benefits to the host. The most common challenge associated with probiotics is pH survivability. To benefit the gut microbiome, living microorganisms must reach the intestines, where the nutrients are absorbed. However, the challenge is to survive the stomach’s low pH (acidic) environment and then exposure to the bile acids in the upper portion of the GI tract.

Unpleasant taste and odour

Vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements have a variety of health benefits but not always a pleasant taste or odour, posing a challenge for manufacturers. The tastes range from sulphurous to fishy to astringent and bitter or sour. Oils of natural origin, for example, fish oil and CBD oil, alpha-lipoic acid, butyric acid, caffeine and resveratrol, are just a few examples of such unpalatable substances.

This poses a problem as taste and smell are important factors in whether the product is accepted by consumers. If a supplement tastes bad, consumers may eliminate it from their regimen entirely. To mask the taste and odour, manufacturers often introduce expensive excipients – flavourings, sweeteners, colourings, and other masking agents, resulting in an increase in cost.

Low stability

The taste is not the only problem. Achieving stability is a complex challenge too. Many active substances, for example, vitamin C, folate and lutein, are inherently unstable. Exposure to humidity, oxygen, heat, sunlight and interactions with other compounds during processing and storage can further exacerbate instability, limit their shelf-life and decrease health benefits. The loss of nutrients during processing and storage leads companies to resolve the issue via overfortification, which is counterproductive as the extra nutrients eventually degrade, leading to wastage. Safety and efficacy are not the only reasons for ensuring product stability. Poor stability can result in an unappealing appearance, smell, or taste, impacting future purchasing choices by consumers.

Stability depends on the product form. Liquid forms present a higher risk of chemical reactions, and achieving their stability is challenging. With the rise of complex blends, stability becomes a major focus. The more ingredients are incorporated, the more reactions can happen.

Poor bioavailability

The bioavailability of many ingredients, such as curcumin, resveratrol, coenzyme Q10, and omega-3 fatty acids, is poor. Bioavailability plays a critical role in the efficacy of dietary supplements; however, many have low bioavailability and do not deliver on their therapeutic promise.

Bioavailability is a hot topic for manufacturers as the consumers’ demand for supplements with high bioavailability continues to grow. Consumers can maximise bioavailability (taking supplements with food or on an empty stomach, taking them a few hours apart or with supporting ingredients, etc.). However, there is a limit to how much their behaviour can impact efficacy. For manufacturers, achieving optimal bioavailability is not an easy task.

Solubility problem

Many dietary supplements suffer from low solubility, such as resveratrol, curcumin, and coenzyme Q10, decreasing their bioavailability. Solubility is one of the major barriers to bioavailability. Poor solubility remains an ongoing challenge in formulation development for dietary supplements, especially for powdered forms. Convenience is key for consumers, and easy-to-take formats, such as ready-to-mix powders, are growing driving demand for ingredients that can dissolve in water. But water-soluble products are often particularly difficult to make bioavailable.

Our advanced microencapsulation technology provides solutions to overcome these challenges and enhance the health benefits of active compounds. Our technology, in combination with customised delivery formats, will help manufacturers in their attempt to provide consumers with the highest possible efficacy. With our capacity to improve stability, bioavailability and delivery, we bring effectiveness to the next level.

Unpleasant taste or odour could be a deciding factor on whether consumers will buy a supplement again. Using food-grade polymers, our technology masks off-flavour notes and unappealing taste or colour, making redundant expensive flavourings, sweeteners, colourings, and other masking agents. Effectively sealing the contents, the microcapsules are invisible, tasteless and odourless.

Our technology prevents degradation by isolating and protecting active ingredients against oxidation, moisture, heat, sunlight and interactions with other compounds. It increases stability and shelf-life, making redundant overfortification and expensive packaging. Ultimately, extending shelf-life is a way to gain a competitive advantage. Logistics, distribution, sales, and retail are all easier to manage when a product has a longer shelf-life.

Our technology also significantly increases solubility and bioavailability. It results in improved efficacy, faster onset of action, lower doses, better user compliance and more health benefits.

But most importantly, and what makes us unique on the market is the controlled release function. Our cutting-edge technology provides a tool for the controlled and targeted delivery of active ingredients at the right time and at the right place.

We introduce a more efficient delivery system for transporting active substances to the desired location – microcapsules remain intact until they reach the target location. As such, our technology helps probiotics survive the transit through the harsh stomach environment to reach the gut alive – microcapsules remain intact in the stomach but dissolve in the small intestine.

Let us know what challenges you are facing and what you would like to improve. We will find a solution for you. We will help you produce dietary supplements that combine the benefits of multiple nutrients into a single ingredient source to create superior product performance.