3d-printed hydrogel for targeted intestinal vitamin delivery
Innovative 3D-printed hydrogel designed for targeted intestinal vitamin delivery, using a pH-responsive core-shell structure to protect and release vitamins effectively. Offers personalized, multiphase vitamin delivery through coaxial printing technology.
Overview
This solution presents a groundbreaking approach to vitamin delivery via a 3D-printed hydrogel designed to release vitamins specifically in the intestine. By utilizing a coaxial 3D printing technique, this technology fabricates a pH-responsive "entero-supplement" that ensures vitamins are protected from stomach acid and released in the small intestine for optimal absorption. The innovation lies in its dual payload delivery system that combines a fat-soluble vitamin in a Pickering emulsion and a water-soluble vitamin in a gelatin–trehalose matrix.
Technical specifications
- Core composition: The core contains a stable Pickering emulsion with a fat-soluble vitamin, stabilized by pea protein isolate and inulin particles, as well as a dissolved water-soluble vitamin.
- Shell structure: Encapsulated by a gelatin–pectin shell, instantly crosslinked by calcium chloride during printing, providing structural integrity.
- Release mechanism: Designed to withstand stomach acid and dissolve at the neutral pH of the small intestine.
- Customization: Enables personalized vitamin doses by adjusting digital models and ink formulations.
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating that it has been validated at a laboratory level. The next steps include process optimization and in-vitro validation to confirm the pH-triggered release mechanism and ensure ingredient integrity.
About Texas A&M University, College Station
Texas A&M University in College Station is a comprehensive public research university and the flagship of The Texas A&M University System, combining broad academic strengths with a strong applied‑research culture. Industry collaborates on the Texas A&M‑RELLIS campus—an integrated education, research and testing environment that supports large‑scale experimentation and proving grounds—and through the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s facilities in Bryan‑College Station. A statewide extension network connects university expertise to companies and communities across all Texas counties, enabling rapid piloting and deployment. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, USDA and DoD, alongside state and industry sponsorship. Texas A&M Innovation provides IP management, licensing and commercialization pathways across the system.
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