General Data
E.g. nomenclature, origin, chemical structure, molecular weight, branched or linear, toxicity for humans.

Economy
Availability, prices, suppliers (for laboratory or technical scale, different purities).

Mechanical Properties
Stability under different conditions (temperature, pH, salt, etc.), abrasion, cut-off of gels, long-term stability, degradability, diffusional coefficients, standard characterisation procedures.

Encapsulation Mechanism
Molecules, polymers, or ions used for particle formation (e.g. counter ions for ionotropic gel formation, polymers suitable for polyelectrolyte complex formation).

Encapsulation Procedure
Standard recipes, equipment or machinery for particle formation, workability.

Biocompatibility
Experience in combination with enzymes, cells, etc., toxicity for biocatalysts, biodegradability.

Shape
Shapes of particles able to be formed (beads, foils, fibres, cubes, irregular forms).

Modifications
Possible chemical or physical procedure for modifying the properties of polymers/materials after encapsulation, e.g. cross-linking.

Applications
Known and possible applications (cells, enzymes, animal or plant cells), scale, links to users.

Legal Status
Allowance in food, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical applications, known applications in these fields, FDA permission, GRAS status, links to official lists or puplic authorities.

Literature
Authoritative literature (reviews, working instructions).

Contacts and Links
Links to authoritative scientists and working groups, links to related web-sites.