Hasil untuk "General. Including alchemy"

Polina Orlova, Sergei Sharikov, Vsevolod Frolov et al.

Iron deficiency anemia continues to pose a significant global health burden, necessitating the development of improved therapeutic delivery systems. This study investigates novel composite materials composed of organosilicon hydrogels and cross-linked sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin (SBECD) nanoparticles for the oral delivery of iron compounds. Two types of cross-linked SBECD nanoparticles were synthesized using 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate. These nanoparticles were characterized by DLS, NTA, and FTIR and possess size around 200–300 nm and negative zeta-potential around −35 mV with molecular weight 150–200 kDa. Various hydrogel matrices, including plain PMSSO hydrogels and modified versions with amino groups or silicate cross-links, are also described. The hydrogels were evaluated for their iron sorption capacity (up to 44% loading efficiency) and release kinetics for 3 h. The results demonstrate that cross-linked SBECD nanoparticles significantly enhance iron sorption and provide sustained release under simulated physiological conditions. Mathematical modeling indicated that the Higuchi model best describes the iron release kinetics. The findings suggest that the proposed composite materials hold considerable promise for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, offering an innovative approach to enhance therapeutic efficacy and minimize adverse effects.

Xingcan Li, Shengkai Qin, Bowei Xie et al.

The smart aerogel control technology based on thermochromic materials can dynamically adjust the emittance with temperature changes, which plays a significant role in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. This paper presents the design of the smart aerogel based on hollow VO₂ particles with excellent emittance modulation. The radiation characteristics of a single particle were calculated using the multi-sphere superposition T-matrix method, and the radiation characteristics of the aerogel were determined using the Monte Carlo method. The results indicate that when the radius of the hollow VO₂ particles is 1 μm and the shell thickness is 40 nm, the hollow particles display excellent thermal regulation. When the thickness of the VO₂ particle smart aerogel is 50 μm, with a volume fraction of 2.5%, the emittance of the adaptable aerogel can reach 51.295%, which provides a theoretical foundation for the further advancement of infrared smart aerogels to enhance their energy-saving performance.

Oscar G. Marambio, Lidia Álvarez, Héctor Díaz-Chamorro et al.

Hydrogel materials have become an efficient, bioactive, and multifunctional alternative with great potential for biomedical applications. In this work, photoactive films were successfully designed for optical processing, and their photoactivity was tested in photodynamic therapy (PDT), such as antimicrobial patches. The stimulus-response hydrogel films are made of a hydrophilic polymer based on vinyl monomers, specifically 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylamide (AAm), in a 1:1 molar ratio, along with the photochromic agent, 3,3-dimethylindolin-6′-nitrobenzoespiropirano (BSP), and a crosslinking agent, N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). These hydrogel films were successfully created using the photoinitiator 2-hydroxy-4′-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-methylpropiophenone (IRGACURE 2959), MBA, and BSP in different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mol%), which were later tested in photodynamic therapy (PDT) with the photosensitizer Ru(bpy)₂²⁺ against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. The results showed that, while free Ru(bpy)₂²⁺ needed concentrations of 4–8 µg/mL to eliminate methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) strains, only partial inactivation was achieved for methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains. The addition of the hydrogel films with BSP improved their effectiveness, lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to 2 µg/mL to fully inactivate MSSA and MRSA strains. These findings demonstrate that the combined use of hydrogel films containing BSP and Ru(bpy)₂²⁺ within a hydrogel matrix not only boosts antimicrobial activity but also highlights the potential of these photoactive films as innovative photosensitive antimicrobial coatings. This synergistic effect of <b><i>BSP</i></b> and Ru(bpy)₂²⁺ indicates that these materials are promising candidates for next-generation antimicrobial coatings and creative photosensitive materials.

Svetlana R. Derkach, Nikolay G. Voron’ko, Yulia A. Kuchina et al.

Hydrogels have the ability to retain large amounts of water within their three-dimensional polymer matrices. These attractive materials are used in medicine and the food industry; they can serve as the basis for structured food products, additives, and various ingredients. Gelatin is one of widely used biopolymers to create hydrogels that exhibit biocompatibility and tunable rheological properties. In this study, we offer a comparative analysis of rheological properties of gelatin-based hydrogels (C = 6.67%), including mammalian gelatins from bovine and porcine skins and fish gelatins from commercial samples and samples extracted from Atlantic cod skin. Mammalian gelatins provide high strength and elasticity to hydrogels. Their melting point lies in the range from 22 to 34 °C. Fish gelatin from cod skin also provides a high strength to hydrogels. Commercial fish gelatin forms weak gels exhibiting low viscoelastic properties and strength, as well as low thermal stability with a melting point of 7 °C. Gelatins were characterized basing on the analysis of amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, and biopolymer secondary structure in gels. Our research provides a unique rheological comparison of mammalian and fish gelatin hydrogels as a tool for the re-evaluation of fish skin gelatin produced through circular processes.

Wei Guo, Xiaoyue Ding, Han Zhang et al.

The management of wound healing represents a significant clinical challenge due to the complicated processes involved. Chitosan has remarkable properties that effectively prevent certain microorganisms from entering the body and positively influence both red blood cell aggregation and platelet adhesion and aggregation in the bloodstream, resulting in a favorable hemostatic outcome. In recent years, chitosan-based hydrogels have been widely used as wound dressings due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, safety, non-toxicity, bioadhesiveness, and soft texture resembling the extracellular matrix. This article first summarizes an overview of the main chemical modifications of chitosan for wound dressings and then reviews the desired properties of chitosan-based hydrogel dressings. The applications of chitosan-based hydrogels in wound healing, including burn wounds, surgical wounds, infected wounds, and diabetic wounds are then discussed. Finally, future prospects for chitosan-based hydrogels as wound dressings are discussed. It is anticipated that this review will form a basis for the development of a range of chitosan-based hydrogel dressings for clinical treatment.

Sérgio R. S. Veloso, Mariangela Rosa, Carlo Diaferia et al.

Self-assembled peptide-based hydrogels have attracted considerable interest from the research community. Particularly, low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) consisting of amino acids and short peptides are highly suitable for biological applications owing to their facile synthesis and scalability, as well as their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and stability in physiological conditions. However, challenges in understanding the structure–property relationship and lack of design rules hinder the development of new gelators with the required properties for several applications. Hereby, in the plethora of peptide-based gelators, this review discusses the mechanical properties of single amino acid and dipeptide-based hydrogels. A mutual analysis of these systems allows us to highlight the relationship between the gel mechanical properties and amino acid sequence, preparation methods, or N capping groups. Additionally, recent advancements in the tuning of the gels’ rheological properties are reviewed. In this way, the present review aims to help bridge the knowledge gap between structure and mechanical properties, easing the selection or design of peptides with the required properties for biological applications.

S. McDonald, K. Wallis, M. Horowitz et al.

Background Stopping long-term (>12 months) antidepressant use can be difficult due to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Many people do not recognise withdrawal symptoms or understand how to minimise them while safely discontinuing antidepressants. To address the gaps, the authors developed the ‘Redressing long-term antidepressant use’ (RELEASE) resources, comprising a medicines information brochure, a decision aid, and drug- specific hyperbolic tapering protocols. Aim To explore patients’ acceptability of the RELEASE resources to optimise their use and impact. Design and setting A think-aloud interview study among adults with lived experience of long-term antidepressant use conducted in south-east Queensland, Australia, between November 2021 and June 2022. Method Participants were purposively sampled from general practices and interviewed face-to-face or via videoconferencing. Participants verbalised their thoughts, impressions, and feelings while engaging with each resource. Interviews were analysed using a deductive coding framework, including codes related to acceptability and optimisation. Interviews were analysed in a series of four tranches, with iterative modifications made to resources after each tranche. Results Participants (n = 14) reported the resources to be relevant, informative, motivational, and usable. Participants’ comments informed modifications, including changes to wording, content order, and layout. Several participants expressed frustration that they had not had these resources earlier, with one reporting the information could have been ‘life changing’. Many commented on the need for these resources to be widely available to both patients and doctors. Conclusion The RELEASE resources were found to be acceptable, useful, and potentially life changing. The effectiveness of these consumer-informed resources in supporting safe cessation of long-term antidepressants is currently being tested in general practice.

Konstantin A. Milakin, Oumayma Taboubi, Jiřina Hromádková et al.

Polypyrrole-gelatin aerogels, containing magnetic barium ferrite (BaFe) particles, (PPy-G-BaFe) were synthesized by oxidative cryopolymerization and used as adsorbents for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous media. The removal was performed at pH 4, which was shown to be the optimal value, due to HCrO₄⁻ being the dominant species in these conditions and its more favorable adsorption and reduction compared to CrO₄²⁻, present at pH > 4. It was found that the presence of magnetic BaFe particles had no effect on the adsorption performance of PPy aerogels in terms of capacity and kinetics, which was attributed to its relatively low content in the composite. After the adsorption, the presence of chromium in the composites was confirmed by EDX and its electrostatic interaction with the adsorbent was pointed at by vibrational spectroscopy, corresponding to the accepted adsorption mechanism. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model pointing at chemisorption being the rate-limiting step. The adsorption isotherm data was best fitting with the Temkin model. The maximum adsorption capacity, calculated using the Langmuir model, was 255.8 mg g⁻¹ (the maximum experimental value was 161.6 mg g⁻¹). Additionally, the possibility of Cr(VI) adsorption in the presence of Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ as interfering ions was shown.

Yuan Zhang, Yong Wang, Ying Li et al.

The repair of skin injury has always been a concern in the medical field. As a kind of biopolymer material with a special network structure and function, collagen-based hydrogel has been widely used in the field of skin injury repair. In this paper, the current research and application status of primal hydrogels in the field of skin repair in recent years are comprehensively reviewed. Starting from the structure and properties of collagen, the preparation, structural properties, and application of collagen-based hydrogels in skin injury repair are emphatically described. Meanwhile, the influences of collagen types, preparation methods, and crosslinking methods on the structural properties of hydrogels are emphatically discussed. The future and development of collagen-based hydrogels are prospected, which is expected to provide reference for the research and application of collagen-based hydrogels for skin repair in the future.

Shin Yagihara, Seiei Watanabe, Yuta Abe et al.

So far, it has been difficult to directly compare diverse characteristic gelation mechanisms over different length and time scales. This paper presents a universal water structure analysis of several gels with different structures and gelation mechanisms including polymer gels, supramolecular gels composed of surfactant micelles, and cement gels. The spatial distribution of water molecules was analyzed at molecular level from a diagram of the relaxation times and their distribution parameters (<i>τ</i>–<i>β</i> diagrams) with our database of the 10 GHz process for a variety of aqueous systems. Polymer gels with volume phase transition showed a small decrease in the fractal dimension of the hydrogen bond network (HBN) with gelation. In supramolecular gels with rod micelle precursor with amphipathic molecules, both the elongation of the micelles and their cross-linking caused a reduction in the fractal dimension. Such a reduction was also found in cement gels. These results suggest that the HBN inevitably breaks at each length scale with relative increase in steric hindrance due to cross-linking, resulting in the fragmentation of collective structures of water molecules. The universal analysis using <i>τ–β</i> diagrams presented here has broad applicability as a method to characterize diverse gel structures and evaluate gelation processes.

Maja Benković, Ana Jurinjak Tušek, Tea Sokač Cvetnić et al.

Plant-based meat analogues are food products made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients that are intended to mimic taste, texture and appearance of meat. They are becoming increasingly popular as people look for more sustainable and healthy protein sources. Furthermore, plant-based foods are marketed as foods with a low carbon footprint and represent a contribution of the consumers and the food industry to a cleaner and a climate-change-free Earth. Production processes of plant-based meat analogues often include technologies such as 3D printing, extrusion or shear cell where the ingredients have to be carefully picked because of their influence on structural and textural properties of the final product, and, in consequence, consumer perception and acceptance of the plant-based product. This review paper gives an extensive overview of meat analogue components, which affect the texture and the structure of the final product, discusses the complex interaction of those ingredients and reflects on numerous studies that have been performed in that area, but also emphasizes the need for future research and optimization of the mixture used in plant-based meat analogue production, as well as for optimization of the production process.

Setthapong Senarat, Sarun Tuntarawongsa, Nutdanai Lertsuphotvanit et al.

Solvent exchange-induced in situ forming gel (ISG) is currently an appealing dosage form for periodontitis treatment via localized injection into the periodontal pocket. This study aims to apply Eudragit L and Eudragit S as matrix components of ISG by using monopropylene glycol as a solvent for loading levofloxacin HCl for periodontitis treatment. The influence of Eudragit concentration was investigated in terms of apparent viscosity, rheological behavior, injectability, gel-forming behavior, and mechanical properties. Eudragit L-based formulation presented less viscosity, was easier to inject, and could form more gel than Eudragit S-based ISG. Levofloxacin HCl-loading diminished the viscosity of Eudragit L-based formulation but did not significantly change the gel formation ability. Higher polymer loading increased viscosity, force-work of injectability, and hardness. SEM photographs and µCT images revealed their scaffold formation, which had a denser topographic structure and less porosity attained owing to higher polymer loading and less in vitro degradation. By tracking with fluorescence dyes, the interface interaction study revealed crucial information such as solvent movement ability and matrix formation of ISG. They prolonged the drug release for 14 days with fickian drug diffusion kinetics and increased the release amount above the MIC against test microbes. The 1% levofloxacin HCl and 15% Eudragit L dissolved in monopropylene glycol (LLM15) was a promising ISG because of its appropriate viscosity (3674.54 ± 188.03 cP) with Newtonian flow, acceptable gel formation and injectability (21.08 ± 1.38 N), hardness (33.81 ± 2.3 N) and prolonged drug release with efficient antimicrobial activities against <i>S. aureus</i> (ATCC 6538, 6532, and 25923), methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> (<i>MRSA</i>) (<i>S. aureus</i> ATCC 4430), <i>E. coli</i> ATCC 8739, <i>C. albicans</i> ATCC 10231, <i>P. gingivalis</i> ATCC 33277, and <i>A. actinomycetemcomitans</i> ATCC 29522; thus, it is the potential ISG formulation for periodontitis treatment by localized periodontal pocket injection.

Konstans Ruseva, Katerina Todorova, Tanya Zhivkova et al.

The study reports the synthesis and characterization of novel triple stimuli responsive interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on two polyzwitterionic networks, namely of poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) and poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate). The zwitterionic IPN hydrogel demonstrates the ability to expand or shrink in response to changes in three “biological” external stimuli such as temperature, pH, and salt concentration. The IPN hydrogel shows good mechanical stability. In addition, other important features such as non-cytotoxicity and antibiofouling activity against three widespread bacteria as <i>P. Aeruginosa</i>, <i>A. Baumanii,</i> and <i>K. Pneumoniae</i> are demonstrated. The in vivo behavior of the novel zwitterionic IPN hydrogel suggests that this smart material has very good potential as a biomaterial.

Nils Stamm, Kristin Glotzbach, Andreas Faissner et al.

Cationic gels have seen increasing interest in recent years for 2D cell cultivation since they may represent an alternative to the well-known RGD-peptide motif functionalized gels. However, few hydrogel systems with adjustable cationic strength have been fabricated and investigated so far. In this work, eight gels with defined concentrations of cationic groups, two of which also contained the RGD peptide, were prepared from three well-defined, soluble precursor copolymers with thiol-functionalities and PEGDA3500 as a crosslinker via thiol-ene chemistry. Live/dead stainings of U-251-MG cells on the hydrogels with different concentrations of the cationic motif were made after 3 days and 7 days of cultivation. The results show a high dependence of the number of adhesive cells and their morphology, cluster versus spread cells, on the concentration of cationic groups in the gel. This effect was more pronounced when the gels were not further dialyzed before usage. In addition, a synergistic effect of the two motifs, cationic group and RGD peptide, could be demonstrated, which together induce stronger cell adhesion than either motif alone.

Abdul Shakur Khan, Kifayat Ullah Shah, Mohammed Al Mohaini et al.

The currently available topical formulations of tacrolimus have minimal and variable absorption, elevated mean disposition half-life, and skin irritation effects resulting in patient noncompliance. In our study, we fabricated tacrolimus-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) that were converted into a gel for improved topical applications. The SLNs were prepared using a solvent evaporation method and characterized for their physicochemical properties. The particle size of the SLNs was in the range of 439 nm to 669 nm with a PDI of ≤0.4, indicating a monodispersed system. The Zeta potential of uncoated SLNs (F1–F5) ranged from −25.80 to −15.40 mV. Those values reverted to positive values for chitosan-decorated formulation (F6). The drug content and entrapment efficiency ranged between 0.86 ± 0.03 and 0.91 ± 0.03 mg/mL and 68.95 ± 0.03 and 83.68 ± 0.04%, respectively. The pH values of 5.45 to 5.53 depict their compatibility for skin application. The surface tension of the SLNs decreased with increasing surfactant concentration that could increase the adherence of the SLNs to the skin. The release of drug from gel formulations was significantly retarded in comparison to their corresponding SLN counterparts (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Both SLNs and their corresponding gel achieved the same level of drug permeation, but the retention of the drug was significantly improved with the conversion of SLNs into their corresponding gel formulation (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) due to its higher bioadhesive properties.

Min Liu, Jingling Zhu, Xia Song et al.

Smart hydrogels that can respond to external stimuli such as temperature and pH have attracted tremendous interest for biological and biomedical applications. In this work, we synthesized two alginate-<i>graft</i>-poly(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) (Alg-<i>g</i>-PNIPAAm) copolymers and aimed to prepare smart hydrogels through formation of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between the negatively charged Alg-<i>g</i>-PNIPAAm copolymers and the positively charged chitosan (Cts) in aqueous solutions. The hydrogels were expected to be able to respond to both temperature and pH changes due to the nature of Alg-<i>g</i>-PNIPAAm and chitosan. The hydrogel formation was determined by a test tube inverting method and confirmed by the rheological measurements. The rheological measurements showed that the PEC hydrogels formed at room temperature could be further enhanced by increasing temperature over the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAAm, because PNIPAAm would change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic upon increasing temperature over its LCST, and the hydrophobic interaction between the PNIPAAm segments may act as additional physical crosslinking. The controlled release properties of the hydrogels were studied by using the organic dye rhodamine B (RB) as a model drug at different pH. The PEC hydrogels could sustain the RB release more efficiently at neutral pH. Both low pH and high pH weakened the PEC hydrogels, and resulted in less sustained release profiles. The release kinetics data were found to fit well to the Krosmyer–Peppas power law model. The analysis of the release kinetic parameters obtained by the modelling indicates that the release of RB from the PEC hydrogels followed mechanisms combining diffusion and dissolution of the hydrogels, but the release was mainly governed by diffusion with less dissolution at pH 7.4 when the PEC hydrogels were stronger and stabler than those at pH 5.0 and 10.0. Therefore, the PEC hydrogels are a kind of smart hydrogels holding great potential for drug delivery applications.

Raliat O. Abioye, Caleb Acquah, Pei Chun Queenie Hsu et al.

Egg white protein hydrolysate generated with pepsin was investigated for the presence of peptides with self-assembly and hydrogelation properties. Incubation of the hydrolysates for 16 h resulted in aggregates with significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) lower free amino nitrogen and sulfhydryl contents, and higher particle diameter and surface hydrophobicity compared to the hydrolysates. LC-MS/MS analysis of the aggregates resulted in identification of 429 ovalbumin-derived peptides, among which the top-six aggregation-prone peptides IFYCPIAIM, NIFYCPIAIM, VLVNAIVFKGL, YCPIAIMSA, MMYQIGLF, and VYSFSLASRL were predicted using AGGRESCAN by analysis of the aggregation “Hot Spots”. NIFYCPIAIM had the highest thioflavin T fluorescence intensity, particle diameter (5611.3 nm), and polydispersity index (1.0) after 24 h, suggesting the formation of β-sheet structures with heterogeneous particle size distribution. Transmission electron microscopy of MMYQIGLF, and VYSFSLASRL demonstrated the most favorable peptide self-assembly, based on the formation of densely packed, intertwined fibrils. Rheological studies confirmed the viscoelastic and mechanical properties of the hydrogels, with IFYCPIAIM, NIFYCPIAIM, VLVNAIVFKGL, and VYSFSLASRL forming elastic solid hydrogels (tan δ < 1), while YCPIAIMSA and MMYQIGLF formed viscous liquid-like hydrogels (tan δ > 1). The results provide valuable insight into the influence of peptide sequence on hydrogelation and self-assembly progression, and prospects of food peptides in biomaterial applications.

Keumkyung Kuk, Lukas Gregel, Vahan Abgarjan et al.

Micron-sized hard core-soft shell hybrid microgels are promising model systems for studies of soft matter as they enable in-situ optical investigations and their structures/morphologies can be engineered with a great variety. Yet, protocols that yield micron-sized core-shell microgels with a tailorable shell-to-core size ratio are rarely available. In this work, we report on the one-pot synthesis protocol for micron-sized silica-poly(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) core-shell microgels that has excellent control over the shell-to-core ratio. Small-angle light scattering and microscopy of 2- and 3-dimensional assemblies of the synthesized microgels confirm that the produced microgels are monodisperse and suitable for optical investigation even at high packing fractions.

Safaa Kader, Esmaiel Jabbari

There is a need to develop novel cytocompatible hydrogels for cell encapsulation and delivery in regenerative medicine. The objective of this work was to synthesize isocyanato ethyl methacryloyl-functionalized sericin and determine its material properties as a natural hydrogel for the encapsulation and delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regenerative medicine. Sericin extracted from silk cocoons was reacted with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) or methacrylic anhydride (MA) to produce sericin urethane methacryloyl (SerAte-UM) or sericin methacryloyl (SerAte-M, control) biopolymers, respectively. The hydrogels produced by photo-crosslinking of the biopolymers in an aqueous solution were characterized with respect to gelation kinetics, microstructure, compressive modulus, water content, degradation, permeability, and viability of encapsulated cells. The secondary structure of citric acid-extracted sericin was not affected by functionalization with IEM or MA. SerAte-UM hydrogel was slightly more hydrophilic than SerAte-M. The gelation time of SerAte-UM hydrogel decreased with an increasing degree of modification. The photo-polymerized SerAte-UM hydrogel had a highly porous, fibrous, honeycomb microstructure with an average pore size in the 40–50 µm range. The compressive modulus, swelling ratio, and permeability of SerAte-UM hydrogel depended on the degree of modification of sericin, and the mass loss after 21 days of incubation in aqueous solution was <25%. Both SerAte-UM and SerAte-M hydrogels supported viability and growth in encapsulated MSCs. The SerAte-UM hydrogel, with its higher hydrophilicity compared to SerAte-M, is promising as a matrix for encapsulation and delivery of stem cells in tissue engineering.

Andrea Foglio Bonda, Alessandro Candiani, Martina Pertile et al.

Peppermint essential oil is encapsulated by inverse ionotropic gelation in core–shell systems, composed of alginate (ALG) alone or alginate with shellac gum (SHL) and/or carrageenan (CRG). A mixture design approach is used to evaluate the correlation between the formulation composition and some properties of the final products. Immediately after the preparation, capsules appear rounded with a smooth and homogeneous surface, having a similar particle size ranging from 3.8 mm to 4.5 mm. The drying process, carried out at 40 °C in an oven for 3 h, reduces capsules’ diameters by at least 50% and has a negative impact on the shape of the systems because they lose their regular shape and their external membrane partially collapses. The peppermint essential oil content of dried capsules is between 14.84% and 33.75%. The swelling behaviour of the systems is affected by the composition of their outer shell. When the external membrane is composed of alginate and shellac gum, the capsule ability to swell is lower than that of the systems containing alginate alone. The swelling ratio reaches 31% for alginate capsules but does not exceed 21% if shellac is present. Differently, when the second polymer of the shell is carrageenan, the swelling ability increases as a function of polymer concentration and the swelling ratio reaches 360%. In the case of systems whose outer membrane is a polymeric ternary mixture, the swelling capacity increases or decreases according to the concentrations of the individual polymers. The obtained results suggest that carrageenan could be a useful excipient to increase the swelling behaviour of the systems, while shellac gum makes the system shell more hydrophobic. The use of a mixture design (i.e., the use of ternary diagrams and related calculations), in which each single component is chosen to provide specific properties to the final mixture, could be the right approach to develop improved formulations with a tailored essential oil release profile.