We provide lab-to-market services to manufacturers of functional fabrics and clothing looking to innovate and increase the performance of their products.
We provide lab-to-market services to manufacturers of functional fabrics and clothing looking to innovate and increase the performance of their products.
We are pioneering programmed-shell microcapsules with a controlled release function, a new way to deliver active substances. By selecting appropriate polymers, we protect the encapsulated substance and ensure its release on demand:
We programme the microcapsules’ shells to release active substances with high precision (release at a specific time of the day).
We can programme the microcapsules’ shells to ensure the constant and prolonged release of active compounds over a long period of time, up to several months.
Active substances can be released slowly or immediately.
Active compounds are released under certain circumstances (release on demand). The microcapsule opening can be triggered by environmental conditions (change in temperature or pH), mechanical action (friction and other forces) or external stimuli (ultrasound, UV light).
Imagine your favourite scarf releasing nice perfume or bedsheets smelling of citrus oil, providing relaxation and stress-relieve. Or maybe you would like socks that prevent sweating but also smell nice or a fleece jacket that repels mosquitoes. Or an intelligent jacket that activates a cooling effect when you are hot and keeps you warm when it gets cold. What about a t-shirt that protects you from UV rays and moisture? Our advanced microencapsulation technology gives you many options for innovation and creating products with unique and specific features and benefits.
We can encapsulate practically any active substance, liquid, solid or gas, including small molecules and microelements.
For the shells, we can choose from a wide range of FDA-approved biocompatible and biodegradable polymers.
Unlike liposomes and emulsion droplets, our microcapsules are highly stable.
Our microcapsules can hold high volumes of ingredients (cargo-shell ratio up to 10:1).
Using microcapsules containing fragrances and essential oils, our advanced microencapsulation technology can be applied to various textile applications, for example, socks, tights, and underwear, as well as carpets and rugs, to mask odours or create the desired scent. Using our microencapsulation technology, you can create smart fabrics for bedsheets, pillow covers and mattresses, which deliver essential oils and fragrances for relaxation, stress relief and better sleep.
Fragrances and essential oils tend to volatilise during washing and drying. Microencapsulation of substances in a water-insoluble shell helps them survive repeated washing and release the fragrance for a long time, ensuring the scent’s durability.
Cosmetic and skincare ingredients can also be incorporated into the fabric of the clothing so that the natural movements of the body, pH, temperature and humidity trigger microcapsules to break up and liberate ingredients, making the skin slowly moisturised or have a pleasant smell, depending on the sought-after effect. Essential oils, moisturisers, antioxidants, and other substances can be used to provide refreshing, relaxing and moisturising effects or, on the other hand, to energise and revitalise.
Vitamins and minerals can also be incorporated into fabrics. For example, for sports clothing, microencapsulated arginine amino acids can enhance moisture absorption and keep the skin pH balanced.
Our microencapsulation technology offers the possibility to incorporate insect repellents into outdoor clothing, sleeping bags, camping tents, military uniforms, and hunting and fishing garments. The insect-repellent textile can become a revolutionary tool to control disease vectors, such as mosquitoes. Microencapsulation increases the anti-mosquito effect of mosquito nets by prolonging the release of the repellent agent. Essential oils (citronella, thyme, lemon or orange oils) can also be used as a safe alternative to DEET, which can cause toxic reactions.
In addition, microencapsulation makes it possible to create bee-repellent textiles using essential oils, such as lavender and fennel oils, as natural bee-repellents.
With pathogenic microorganisms becoming more resistant to antibiotics, functional fabrics possessing antimicrobial activity have great potential. Our technology makes it possible to develop microcapsules containing antibacterial and antifungal ingredients, such as tea tree oil, that can be applied to socks, tights, underwear, T-shirts, or sweatshirts. Antibacterial and antifungal properties not only prevent infections and sores but also control the bacteria that contribute to the odour – no more stinky feet.
Microcapsules with disinfectants can be applied to sofa coverings, cushions, rugs, carpets, curtains, or car seats, to satisfy the need of people allergic to dust mites. A promising option for hotels, restaurants, schools, theatres, or hospitals, they can also be combined with fragrances to create the desired scent.
Microencapsulation can also be used to create functional fabrics possessing acaricidal activity. Since synthetic acaricides, such as pyrethroids, pose a risk of neurotoxicity to humans, microencapsulating oils, such as red thyme oil, are a safe alternative.
Due to the risk of skin cancer associated with excessive sun exposure, fabric providing protection from harmful UV radiation is in high demand. Microencapsulation of anti-UV radiation agents creates a textile that blocks UV rays from reaching the skin and offers long-lasting UV protection.
Microencapsulation makes it possible to manage transpiration by incorporating antiperspirant ingredients into the textile. The resulting smart fabrics will wick moisture away from the skin for the greater comfort of the wearer. Moisture management agents can also be combined with the ingredients against skin irritations and abrasions.
Fire retardants applied to textiles to limit the flammability and release of toxic and corrosive gases often reduce the fabric’s softness. Microencapsulation can help overcome this problem and create functional clothes that are non-flammable and pleasant to wear.
There is a demand for fabrics that suit different climatic conditions, and microencapsulation technology is a promising tool. During hot temperatures or extensive physical exercise, perspiration is a body’s natural cooling mechanism. On the other hand, the resulting moisture needs to be rapidly evacuated when temperatures drop. Phase change materials (PCM) can improve thermal behaviour. But PCM transformation from solid to liquid states, and vice versa, deteriorates durability. Microencapsulation of PCM can solve this challenge.
Integrated into clothing, the microcapsules provide fabrics with the ability to respond to body temperature and create intelligent clothes with thermoregulation triggered by body heat. When you are hot, heat and sweat activate the cooling mechanism. When you get colder, sweat is reduced, and the cooling function is disactivated. This automatic thermoregulation technology helps keep the body in a comfort zone, protecting it from hyper and hypothermia and maintaining the optimal thermal balance.
Our technology can be used for thermal underwear, sportswear and footwear, and professional clothing for divers, firefighters, police officers, or sailors. The thermoregulation effect can improve the comfort of vehicle seats, ski suits, gloves, bedding accessories, or sleeping bags. The smart fabric will help keep you cool when you feel hot and provide warmth when you feel cold, offering thermal and moisture comfort.
Microencapsulation offers the possibility to create disposable textiles, adhesive plasters or compression dressings for dermatological application. The encapsulated bioactive substances are released from microcapsules into the outer skin layers to heal wounds and treat burns, injuries and dermatological diseases, such as skin ulcers and dermatoses.
In hospitals, microencapsulated antibacterial agents can be applied to surgical clothing, disposable booties, bedding and patient gowns to help fight hospital infections and ensure a hygienic environment. This is particularly beneficial for immobilised patients. Antibacterial agents can also be applied to adhesive bandages and clothes for patients who use wheelchairs to avoid skin infections.
In addition, the thermoregulated functional textile can be used for heating/cooling therapy.
These are just a few examples of the potential use of our advanced microencapsulation technology. There is a wide range of other applications and many active substances that can be applied to the fabrics to deliver a variety of properties.
Share with us what you have in mind. Our technology allows for a lot of creativity. We will help you create smart, highly technical clothing and functional fabrics for a variety of applications to meet consumer demand for advanced functionalities.