Hydrocolloid capsules filled with inert gas for sustainable packaging and food applications sustainable loose-fill packaging technology

The study demonstrated that hydrocolloid formulations can be engineered to create hollow gas-containing capsules with tailored mechanical and physical properties suitable for packaging applications. Changes in formulation composition and capsule preparation parameters strongly influence the final capsule structure, density, compressibility, mechanical resistance, and stability, enabling on-demand design of application-specific systems. The dry capsules, typically ranging from several millimeters in size and visually resembling conventional loose-fill packaging materials, were successfully developed and demonstrated במסגרת a completed university Proof of Concept (POC) project. The technology is supported by Intellectual Property (IP). An additional and still-developing branch of the technology focuses on non-dried edible capsules intended for food applications. In this form, the hydrocolloid capsules can be produced in different sizes, textures, colors, and tastes, and incorporated into liquid, semi-solid, gelled, or solid food systems. These edible hollow capsules may serve as texture-modifying inclusions and as carriers for flavors, aromas, nutrients, colors, or other active ingredients, allowing dynamic modification of food texture, sensory perception, and nutritional characteristics. The food-related applications remain under continued research and development.