We use dynamic molecular interactions to rethink how nutritional compounds are delivered, released, and absorbed.
Explore our technologyConventional delivery assumes a healthy gut. For billions of people, that assumption is wrong.
A silent global challenge with visible consequences.
Across performance, healthcare, and everyday nutrition.
of the global population is affected by micronutrient deficiencies.
of older adults in hospitals are at risk of malnutrition.
of endurance athletes experience GI distress during training and racing.
Why current solutions fall short:
No molecular-level responsiveness
Current systems offer one fixed barrier for every condition. Because the material cannot respond to pH, ionic strength, or enzymatic triggers, release becomes a consequence of barrier failure rather than a design parameter.
Loss of active compound before absorption
Burst release exposes the active compound to acid and enzymes in the stomach before it reaches the intestine, so much of the dose is degraded and lost before it can be absorbed.
Mechanical fragility
Shell integrity is compromised by thermal and shear stress during processing and storage. Once the barrier is cracked, its protective function cannot be restored.
Poor control over size and size distribution
Current microcapsules vary in diameter, resulting in uneven, unpredictable release. The lack of size control translates directly into an unstable release profile.
Product and shelf instability
Conventional microcapsules destabilize within complex food matrices and degrade throughout shelf storage, degrading the active compound before the product is ever consumed.
Why our approach delivers:
‘Smart’ microcapsules
The designed systems will enable nutrient release to be tuned in response to gastrointestinal conditions, such as pH and enzymatic activity, nutrient bioavailability, thereby increasing the nutritional effectiveness.
Protection of sensitive ingredients
The supramolecular network protects the active compound as it passes through the stomach, preventing premature exposure to acid and enzymes so the full dose reaches the site of absorption intact.
Self-healing architecture
The system is designed to maintain structural integrity during food processing stresses through dynamic crosslinking, reducing uncontrolled release caused by mechanical failure while remaining compatible with gastrointestinal conditions.
Simple, scalable process
Formulation and encapsulation occur simultaneously, integrating active ingredients directly into the capsule matrix in a single step. The fabrication process produces microcapsules with a narrow, controllable size distribution, giving consistent and predictable release.
Product and shelf stability
The supramolecular network stays stable within complex food matrices and throughout shelf storage, keeping the active compound protected and functional until the product is consumed.
Supramolecular chemistry, translated into precision nutrient delivery.
We build smart supramolecular hydrogel microcapsules for nutrients so they release precisely when and where the body can absorb them best.