Starch Nanovesicles and Nanomicelles

Starch nanovesicles (SNVs) and nanomicelles (SNMs) are smaller structures, each below 200 nm, and they are used as nanocarriers for drugs/active ingredients. The current chapter analyzed the methods to produce SNVs and SNMs, as well as their applications. SNVs have a bilayer structure (membrane-bound) that allows them to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, whereas SNMs are composed of a core-shell structure, primarily to encapsulate hydrophobic substances. These nanomaterials have been produced through grafting and self-assembly. To date, no food applications of SNVs and SNMs have been informed in the literature. Most of the applications have been focused on medicine.