Laboratory Services
Encapsulation techniques using Fluid Bed
- Coating of powder ingredients (1–5 kg)
- Agglomeration of powder ingredients (1–5 kg)
- Granulation through emulsion drying (1–5 kg)
- Agglomeration of powder ingredients (1–5 kg)
- Granulation through emulsion drying (1–5 kg)
Encapsulation techniques using Spray Drying
- Spray drying of liquid solutions rich in solids (20–100 g)
- Spray-chilling encapsulation of active ingredients in fats and high-melting waxes (20–100 g)
- Spray-chilling encapsulation of active ingredients in fats and high-melting waxes (20–100 g)
Other Encapsulation Techniques
- Coacervation of lipophilic ingredients: in liquid or powder form through spray drying
- Ionotropic gelation: in wet form or dried using fluid bed
- Solid lipid nanoparticles
- Nano- and microemulsions, which can also be dried into powders/granules
- Ionotropic gelation: in wet form or dried using fluid bed
- Solid lipid nanoparticles
- Nano- and microemulsions, which can also be dried into powders/granules
Analytical Techniques
- Quantification of lipophilic active ingredients through extraction and gravimetric analysis
- Quantification of active ingredients through spectrophotometric analysis
- UV–VIS spectrophotometry
- Analysis of oxidation state of edible oils: hydroperoxides and para-anisidine values
- Quantification of total polyphenols (Folin–Ciocalteu method)
- Quantification of total flavonoids
- Analysis of antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS)
- Simulated gastrointestinal digestion (analysis of release in salivary, gastric, and intestinal phases, including prolonged digestion)
- Quantification of glucose and in vitro glycemic index analysis through starch digestion
- Quantification of total proteins
- Analysis of residual moisture in powders
- Analysis of total solids in solutions
- Analysis of water solubility of powders
- Analysis of water dispersibility of powders
- Contact angle measurement to assess powder hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity
- Powder density: bulk and tapped
- Powder flowability (Carr index)
- Powder cohesiveness (Hausner ratio)
- Surface and interfacial tension analysis of surfactants with calculation of the CMC (critical micelle concentration) through tensiometer
- Microparticle size analysis in liquid using Mastersizer 3000 (Malvern Panalytical)
- Nanoparticle analysis in suspension using Zetasizer (Malvern Panalytical): particle size analysis (expressed by intensity, volume, or number); polydispersity index; surface charge (zeta potential)
- Particle size and concentration analysis per mL using Nanosight
- Particle morphology analysis via optical microscopy
- Surface analysis of particles and granules using a USB stereomicroscope
- pH measurement of solutions and suspensions
- Solvent evaporation or liquid concentration using an industrial rotary evaporator (Büchi)
- Homogenization of suspensions or solutions (Ultraturrax, high-frequency homogenizer, high-pressure homogenizer)
- Quantification of active ingredients through spectrophotometric analysis
- UV–VIS spectrophotometry
- Analysis of oxidation state of edible oils: hydroperoxides and para-anisidine values
- Quantification of total polyphenols (Folin–Ciocalteu method)
- Quantification of total flavonoids
- Analysis of antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS)
- Simulated gastrointestinal digestion (analysis of release in salivary, gastric, and intestinal phases, including prolonged digestion)
- Quantification of glucose and in vitro glycemic index analysis through starch digestion
- Quantification of total proteins
- Analysis of residual moisture in powders
- Analysis of total solids in solutions
- Analysis of water solubility of powders
- Analysis of water dispersibility of powders
- Contact angle measurement to assess powder hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity
- Powder density: bulk and tapped
- Powder flowability (Carr index)
- Powder cohesiveness (Hausner ratio)
- Surface and interfacial tension analysis of surfactants with calculation of the CMC (critical micelle concentration) through tensiometer
- Microparticle size analysis in liquid using Mastersizer 3000 (Malvern Panalytical)
- Nanoparticle analysis in suspension using Zetasizer (Malvern Panalytical): particle size analysis (expressed by intensity, volume, or number); polydispersity index; surface charge (zeta potential)
- Particle size and concentration analysis per mL using Nanosight
- Particle morphology analysis via optical microscopy
- Surface analysis of particles and granules using a USB stereomicroscope
- pH measurement of solutions and suspensions
- Solvent evaporation or liquid concentration using an industrial rotary evaporator (Büchi)
- Homogenization of suspensions or solutions (Ultraturrax, high-frequency homogenizer, high-pressure homogenizer)
Our specialties
Customized products for specific performance
Our laboratory is the heart of the activity, and experience and creativity create a perfect mix, giving excellent results: our microcapsules, or microspheres, are 100% biodegradable.
Each of our projects arises from a specific need: whether a market need or a customer request, the goal is always to introduce a new technology.
Quality
We collaborate with research institutes to always be at the forefront.
We constantly search for solutions with low environmental impact, and thanks to this policy, we have developed solutions protected by patents, thus guaranteeing maximum quality and protection of the production processes of our capsules and spheres.
Completeness
We offer customized formulations of micro and nanoencapsulated products, processing of prototypes, simulation of their functionality, evaluation of release dynamics, and consultancy on process scale-up and industrialization.
Flexibility
We offer customized services based on the product you intend to create or the problem you must solve. This is possible because we structure a series of analyses to evaluate the stability of an encapsulated product and its active ingredient in specific conditions to offer personalized and effective formulations.
From concept to patent
The phases of the project
Design
Tailor-made solutions from scratch.
Do you want to create an innovative product but still need to develop the exact ideas? We at Sphera can follow you throughout the entire brainstorming process to design and build the product you are looking for.Starting from your business objectives or intuition, we will formulate the best way to add value to your existing products or create entirely new ones. From idea to design, know-how to marketing, we invent a competitive technological solution ready to be placed on the market .
Research and development
From the idea to the prototype.
Feasibility studies and prototyping are the first things we dedicate ourselves to when we start a project. We listen to your ideas, objectives, and the needs that your ingredients and materials may present. How do your molecules behave in different situations? What do they need to protect it from - heat or acidity? How can we ensure that they are released when needed?We evaluate different technical approaches and test many formulations, creating laboratory-scale prototypes (30-50 g). After an analysis and characterization phase, the samples are sent to you with a complete technical report. We then decide which stability studies to perform: stress tests, release studies, simulated digestion for nutraceuticals and foods, cellular studies, and more. Once the ideal solution has been found, we move on to the pilot production of microcapsules and microspheres and then to industrialization.
Pilot production
Just before the perfect solution.
After carefully evaluating the results obtained with the prototypes, we select and optimize the winning approaches to prepare for the pilot phase. What is it about? It is the pre-industrial production phase: a sort of ultimate "test" with which we refine all the parameters and verify the validity of the processes for industrialization. Thanks to the systems, technologies, and our collaborations, we can prepare the pilot phase with a production of microcapsules and microspheres ranging from 2 to 25 kg, following all the procedures of large-scale production. This allows us to test the entire process in natural conditions and to check how the formulation behaves within a context other than the laboratory.The industrialization process
Here comes your product
Once the testing phase is concluded - and all your requests have been satisfied - the formulation moves on to the industrialization process, in which we can reproduce all laboratory techniques on a large scale. But more importantly, we can support you should you choose to bring nano and microencapsulated manufacturing into your facilities. Here, we transfer the right know-how to your team to manage all processes.In the case of entirely innovative technologies, we guarantee assistance in all phases of creating the product line and finding the most effective, easy, and profitable solution for your business. Our entire team has always aimed for unique and competitive products on the market: this is the result.
Patents and licenses
