Encapsulation is here used for masking strong taste in medicines for oral delivery, e.g. in syrups or chewing tablets for children.
Spray drying makes it possible to encapsulate API particulates into larger particles. Or the API can be masked on the molecular level. Biodegradable excipients and the API are dissolved and/or suspended. Subsequently the feed is atomized and spray dried into a powder.
An interesting alternative approach is spray congealing, where the API is melted or mixed with molten excipients, and the powder particles produced by atomization and cooling. Another reason for encapsulation may be for “modified release” of the API, where the drug is released at a constant rate over a prolonged period of time.