Hybrid coacervate capsules

A process for preparing a hybrid coacervate capsule which comprises:

• (a) mixing a solution of a first polymer with a first dispersion of at least one type of solid particles at a temperature that is above the gelling temperature of the first polymer, wherein the first polymer adsorbs onto the at least one type of solid particles to produce a second dispersion of particle/polymer complexes;
• (b) adding a solution of a second polymer to the second dispersion, wherein the second polymer interacts with the particle/polymer complexes to form hybrid complex coacervates containing homogeneously distributed particulate inclusions, wherein the first polymer is gelatine and the second polymer is gum arabic and wherein the gelatine and gum arabic are present in a weight ratio of 1.5;
• (c) adding a core material to the hybrid complex coacervates, wherein the hybrid complex coacervates deposit as a coating layer around the core material active/solution interface to form core/shell capsules each containing the core material encapsulated by a hybrid coacervate shell;
• and
• (d) reducing the temperature of the core/shell capsules to a temperature that is below the gelling temperature of the first polymer;
• (e) optionally, cross-linking the hybrid coacervate shells of the capsules, wherein the hybrid coacervate shell has a dry matter composition such that the ratio of the total mass of solid particles to total mass of the first and second polymers is between 0.01 and 1.85.