The Oxford-based distributor Sibelius recently announced the merger with the start-up from the University of Birmingham responsible for the proprietary liposome manufacturing technology.
The technology has been branded EncapSure and will serve nutraceutical manufacturers seeking diferentiated, high-performance liposomal ingredients, Chris Meaney, global sales and marketing director at Sibelius told NutraIngredients.
“The partnership brings together the natural ingredient discovery and development expertise of Sibelius with LipoActive’s proprietary liposomal manufacturing technology,” said Meaney. “It is designed to improve absorption, stability and overall performance.”
The collaboration will also enable LipoActive to benefit from Sibelius’ established sales, marketing, and operational infrastructure.
As part of the partnership, the companies have established a UK-based R&D and production facility in Birmingham to support formulation development, scale-up, and manufacturing.
They also plan a US production site, expected to be operational by mid-2026, to support international customers and drive global expansion. The US production site should simplify the supply chain, reduce customer lead times, and eliminate tariff uncertainty for North American customers, Meaney explained.
Heat-free liposomal delivery with fewer excipients
The EncapSure platform differs from existing liposomal delivery systems already used in nutraceuticals in that the production process is heat-free, avoiding the risk of heat-damaging the integrity of active molecules, Meaney explained.
“Additionally, we have reduced excipients compared to other technologies, especially ones that require a drying process,” he said. “These are the key differentiations with the EncapSure technology and are proprietary to the business.”
Commonly used excipients such as silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, baking agents, polypropylene glycerol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) can raise regulatory issues in certain countries. By using excipients that are widely accepted worldwide, the company aims to ensure broader global compatibility.
Although liposomal technology has existed for around 50 years, LipoActive believes the process can be significantly improved. The process involves two steps: forming liposomes and transforming them into powder.
While LipoActive uses standard sunflower-derived phosphatidyl-choline and phosphatidyl-serine to build liposomal structures, it has introduced a new approach that forms liposomal bubbles without vibration, crushing, or pressure — conventional forces can destabilize active ingredients. Instead, LipoActive’s method temporarily destabilizes only the encapsulating materials, keeping the active ingredients stable—a technique the company is seeking to patent.
For the second step, LipoActive avoids traditional drying methods such as freeze drying, belt drying, or spray drying, which can damage delicate liposomes. Instead, they developed a proprietary process to convert liposomes into powder without heat or freezing and is also pursuing patent protection for this method.
Merger targets high-bioavailability botanicals
While the merger will allow for the production of a wide range of products, the focus will be on botanicals that need a boost in bioavailability, Meaney said, some of which are lycopene, curcumin and astaxanthin.
“These all have bioavailability challenges which can be addressed by our technology,” he explained.
Meaney expects demand for high-bioavailability delivery systems to continue rising in the coming years, noting that “there is a need for technological developments in the nutraceutical space, which is why bringing LipoActive onboard with the EncapSure technology is so appealing”.
EncapSure will serve both premium and mass-market brands, Meaney added. While pricing will vary by ingredient, the company says its delivery process remains affordable for most brands and manufacturers, with the active ingredient itself being the main cost driver.
Peter Leyland, CEO of Sibelius Natural Products, added: “By combining our ingredient development capabilities with LipoActive’s advanced liposomal technology, we are creating a powerful platform to deliver nutraceutical ingredients that meet the growing demand for efficacy, quality, and scientific credibility.”
