Ceramisphere

The Ceramisphere Technology involves the room-temperature encapsulation of active molecules in silica (or other ceramic) micro-spheres. The micro-spheres provide protection to the encapsulated molecules and can be used to transport and deliver them to specific destinations.

Traditionally, very high temperatures are required for the synthesis of ceramics, but Ceramisphere’s process enables synthesis of ceramic particles at room temperature or below, thereby enabling their use for the encapsulation of a very wide range of molecules.

There are many other, seemingly competitive, technologies for the encapsulation and release of molecules, but most are organic, as opposed to inorganic, and none has all the advantages that ceramics can provide. Most importantly, these advantages include the fact that ceramics, such as silica, are extreme durable and chemically inert, thereby providing exceptional protective capability.

• Intrinsic advantages of the ceramic (e.g. silica) matrix include high mechanical resistance, chemical inertness, negligible toxicity and biocompatibility
• Silica matrix provides maximum protection of, and minimal interaction with, the payload
• A very wide range of active molecules can be encapsulated and released, including both hydrophilic (soluble in water) and hydrophobic (poorly soluble in water) materials, fragile bio-molecules (such as proteins, peptides, DNA and RNA), pharmaceuticals, biocides, pesticides, insecticides, nutrients, fragrances, etc
• Encapsulation at room temperature (or lower) for temperature-sensitive materials
• Control over particle size: either micro- or nano-particles (10 nm – 100 microns diameter) can be produced
• Homogenous distribution of the payload throughout the particle
• True controlled release based on diffusion of the active molecule out of the matrix (not just dependent on degradation of the matrix)
• Control over the release rate: hours to months
• Fully biodegradable: Silica particles dissolve at physiological pH in a dilute environment

Sol-Gel chemistry encapsulates active molecules by building a porous silica (glass) or ceramic oxide matrix around them. A Sol-Gel solution is created by combining: (1) a ceramic precursor, (2) the active ingredient that is to be encapsulated, and (3) water. As soon as the water is added, polymerisation starts and a ceramic gel is created.

Some other encapsulation methods construct the particle first and then load it with the active material. The Ceramisphere process actually constructs the molecular mesh of the matrix around the material as the particle is being formed with a pore-size that is 'tailor-made' to suit the payload and a particle size to suit the specific application. The payload can then be released in a controlled way, without having to rely on external environmental factors.

Emulsion polymerisation is easily scalable due to the compartmentalisation of the reactions inside the emulsion droplets.

A total of 6 patent families have been filed, covering a range of different processes for the encapsulation and controlled release of active molecules from ceramic particles. The exact process used, depends on the nature of the molecule to be encapsulated. The original “umbrella” patent has been granted in a number of countries including the USA and Europe.

In addition, three patents have been filed covering the application of the technology to three different commercial opportunities.