microencapsulation is a process in which tiny particles or droplets are surrounded by a coating to give small capsules, of many useful properties. in general, it is used to incorporate food ingredients, enzymes, cells or other materials on a micro metric scale. microencapsulation can also be used to enclose solids, liquids, or gases inside a micrometric wall made of hard or soft soluble film, in order to reduce dosing frequency and prevent the degradation of pharmaceuticals. in a relatively simple form, a microcapsule is a small sphere with a uniform wall around it. the material inside the microcapsule is referred to as the core, internal phase, or fill, whereas the wall is sometimes called a shell, coating, or membrane. some materials like lipids and polymers, such as alginate, may be used as a mixture to trap the material of interest inside. most microcapsules have pores with diameters between a few micrometers and a few millimeters. the coating materials generally used for coating are: