abgekapselt

Abgekapselt is the past participle of the German verb abkapseln, meaning to encapsulate or to enclose. In scientific and technical language, abgekapselt describes something that has been enclosed within a capsule or sealed off by a surrounding coating, barrier, or shell. It can denote physical encapsulation as well as a resulting state of isolation.

Etymology: ab- (away, off) plus kapseln (to capsule, to enclose). The noun Kapsel refers to a capsule or shell, and the adjective abgekapselt characterizes the state of having such encapsulation.

Applications: In biology and medicine, abgekapselt is used for cells, pathogens, or drug delivery systems that possess a capsule-like layer. Encapsulated bacteria have a polysaccharide capsule that can protect them from immune defenses. In pharmacology and materials science, micro- or nanoencapsulation creates abgekapselte delivery systems that protect active ingredients and allow controlled release. In botany and technology, it can describe seeds, spores, or components enclosed within a protective shell or coating.

The term appears mainly in technical writing and is used as an attributive or predicative adjective. Related concepts include kapsel, kapselbildung, and mikroverkapselung.