Abstract

In recent years, microcapsules have found diverse applications in many areas of science and technology. The inherent advantages of microcapsules, such as small size, high surface area, large inner volume, selectivity, and tunability, have led to applications for tailored microcapsules as drug delivery vehicles, microreactors, catalyst supports, and encapsulants. This review provides an overview of the commonly used techniques for the fabrication of novel microcapsules and emerging applications for these elegant materials. The basic concepts and major issues with respect to the preparation strategies and applications are briefly introduced, and examples from several outstanding research programs are highlighted. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the cutting-edge research activities on microcapsules.

Keywords: Microcapsules, Fabrication, Application, Encapsulation, Surfactant, Polystyrene–polydivinylbenzene (PSTY-PDVB), particle-stabilized emulsion, Colloidosomes, microfluidic, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions