Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effects of chitosan (CS)-tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles (NPs) on the stability, antioxidant activity, and bioavailability of astaxanthin (ASX). ASX-loaded CS-TPP NPs (ACT-NPs) prepared by ionic gelation between CS (0.571 mg/mL) and TPP (0.571 mg/mL) showed 505.2 ± 184.8 nm, 20.4 ± 1.2 mV, 0.348 ± 0.044, and 63.9 ± 3.0% of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency, respectively. An in vitro release study confirmed that the release of ASX in simulated gastric (pH 1.2) and intestinal (pH 6.8) fluid was prolonged within ACT-NPs. The in vitro antioxidant activities of ACT-NPs were significantly improved compared with free ASX (FA) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the cellular and in vivo antioxidant analysis verified that ACT-NPs could enhance the cytoprotective effects on the BHK-21 cell line and demonstrate sustained release properties, leading to prolonged residence time in the rat plasma. The results suggest that the stability, antioxidant properties, and bioavailability of ASX can be effectively enhanced through encapsulation within CS-TPP NPs.
Highlights
ASX-loaded CS-TPP NPs (ACT-NPs) prepared by ionic gelation between CS (0.571 mg/mL) and TPP (0.571 mg/mL) showed 505.2 ± 184.8 nm, 20.4 ± 1.2 mV, 0.348 ± 0.044, and 63.9 ± 3.0% of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency, respectively
Because of the protective effects of the wall materials and the increased surface areas arising from nanosized carriers, nanoencapsulation has been widely used for potential delivery systems to enhance the solubility, stability, and absorption of bioactive materials [10]
The ACT-NPs were formulated by various ratios of the cationic CS and anionic TPP
Summary
ASX-loaded CS-TPP NPs (ACT-NPs) prepared by ionic gelation between CS (0.571 mg/mL) and TPP (0.571 mg/mL) showed 505.2 ± 184.8 nm, 20.4 ± 1.2 mV, 0.348 ± 0.044, and 63.9 ± 3.0% of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and encapsulation efficiency, respectively. The results suggest that the stability, antioxidant properties, and bioavailability of ASX can be effectively enhanced through encapsulation within CS-TPP NPs. Astaxanthin (3,30 -dihydroxy-β-β0 -carotene-4-40 -dione, ASX), a natural carotenoid pigment generally abundant in marine organisms including shrimp, crab, shuck, and salmon, is an efficient natural antioxidant [1]. In spite of the various beneficial effects, poor aqueous solubility, which results in a low in vivo absorption rate, has been reported as a constraint to ASX’s application as a potential functional material in food [5]. Nanoencapsulation is the technology of entrapping one bioactive compound within a nanosized structure made of the other wall materials [9]. Because of the protective effects of the wall materials and the increased surface areas arising from nanosized carriers, nanoencapsulation has been widely used for potential delivery systems to enhance the solubility, stability, and absorption of bioactive materials [10]. Several studies applying various types of nanoencapsulation techniques to ASX have been reported, such as poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) [11] and lipid-based nanocarriers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
