Green biopolymers from by-products as wall materials for spray drying microencapsulation of phytochemicals

Abstract Background Spray drying is still the most important technique for the microencapsulation of bioactive ingredients. It makes possible to create easy-handling powdered microcapsules from liquid material in one simple and easy-scalable operation. However, the selection of proper wall material is crucial to obtain high retention of biological activity, high encapsulation efficiency, beneficial physical properties, high bioavailability and storage stability (both in terms of physical and biological properties). Scope and approach During last decade there was a trend to apply new types of biopolymers as wall materials, as additional compounds or as complete substitutions to conventionally used maltodextrins and gum arabic. Such approach provides new “clean label”, “green label” and health-promoting properties to the obtained microcapsules. Moreover, it creates also new possibilities for waste valorization. On the other hand, there is still a question about the technological suitability and properties of such biopolymers applied as wall materials. The review summarizes the investigations done in this topic during last decade. Key findings and conclusions the delivery of additional health benefits with wall materials and sustainable methods to obtain them, is a current trend in spray drying encapsulation.