Scalable hot melt extrusion for sustained release creatine matrices
Innovative hot melt extrusion and injection moulding techniques produce taste-masked creatine matrices using GRAS-compliant carriers. This scalable solution offers enhanced stability and flavor masking for food and beverage applications.
Overview
This technology introduces an advanced method of using hot melt extrusion (HME) and injection moulding to create sustained release creatine matrices. By employing generally recognized as safe (GRAS) compliant carriers such as zein, thermoplastic starch, or food-grade waxes, this solution effectively encapsulates creatine to mask bitterness and prevent hydrolytic conversion to creatinine. The resulting granules or moulded units serve as formulation-ready intermediates, compatible with various food and beverage products. This approach offers a significant improvement over traditional methods by ensuring dosage accuracy, batch consistency, and the ability to produce at a food-grade scale.
Technical specifications
- Encapsulation Process: Utilizes HME and injection moulding to encase creatine in GRAS-compliant carriers
- Materials Used: Zein, thermoplastic starch, and food-grade waxes
- Applications: Suitable for integration into beverages, semi-solids, and structured food systems
- Process Benefits: Continuous and scalable production methods, compatible with existing food-grade manufacturing infrastructure
- Characterization: Includes encapsulation efficiency, thermal analysis, particle size, and morphology studies
Technology readiness level
This technology is currently at TRL 3. The development plan includes four phases: formulation development and characterization, in vitro release and stability evaluation, format integration, and scale-up for manufacturing translation. Each phase is designed to progressively validate the technology's effectiveness and manufacturability.
About Technological University of Shannon
Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is a multi‑campus technological university spanning seven sites across Ireland’s Midlands and Midwest, combining applied research with strong industry engagement. Enterprise Ireland Technology Gateways on TUS campuses provide industry‑accessible labs, testbeds and prototyping with rapid routes to collaboration. A network of campus‑based enterprise and innovation centres offers incubation and co‑located collaboration space for startups and corporate R&D, while work placements are embedded across programmes and coordinated centrally for employers. Research is supported by national agencies such as Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Research Council, alongside European funding programmes. A dedicated Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation Office streamlines IP, licensing and spin‑out support.
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