title: Controlling the morphology and material characteristics of electrospray generated calcium alginate microhydrogels.
abstract: Electrospraying nano- and micro-particle fabrication is a one-step, non-invasive process, which has application in encapsulating of thermosensitive functional, bioactive materials and cells and making microhydrogels. This study investigates the effect of various electrospraying process parameters on the characteristics of calcium alginate microhydrogel particles. The alginate solution concentration, CaCl2coagulation bath concentration, voltage, nozzle diameter, distance between nozzle and collecting bath (D), alginate delivery pressure (∼H) were examined. The best droplet formation rate, in non-disperse dripping mode, was obtained at 8 kV using a 500 μm inner diameter nozzle tip, D = 8 cm, H = 20 cm. Morphology, swelling behaviour and texture analysis of the particles which were followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that 1.5-2% (w/v) CaCl2was the desirable concentration for hydrogels formation. Particle size range between 267 and 1500 μm could be obtained by the drip feed mode compared with 2.3-6 μm by the pressure-assisted electrospray through a coaxial head.
authors: a Food chemistry, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology , Mashhad , Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Mehregan Nikoo
authors: b Department of Food Nanotechnology, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology , Mashhad , Iran.
authors: Rassoul
authors: R
authors: Kadkhodaee
authors: b Department of Food Nanotechnology, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology , Mashhad , Iran.
authors: Behrouz
authors: B
authors: Ghorani
authors: c Department of food innovation , The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research , Lincoln , New Zealand.
authors: Hussam
authors: H
authors: Razzaq
authors: d School of Engineering , University of Lincoln , Brayford Pool , Lincoln , UK.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002122:Calcium Chloride
keywords: Electrospraying; alginate; drop formation; microencapsulation; microhydrogel; pressurised electrospraying