Abstract
BackgroundNanoparticles assembled from food-grade calcium carbonate have attracted attention because of their biocompatibility, digestibility, particle and surface features (such as size, surface area, and partial wettability), and stimuli-responsiveness offered by their acid-labile nature.ResultsHerein, a type of edible oil-in-water Pickering emulsion was structured by calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3 NPs; mean particle size: 80 nm) and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) for delivery of lipophilic drugs and simultaneous oral supplementation of calcium. The microstructure of the as-made CaCO3 NPs stabilized Pickering emulsion can be controlled by varying the particle concentration (c) and oil volume fraction (φ). The emulsification stabilizing capability of the CaCO3 NPs also favored the formation of high internal phase emulsion at a high φ of 0.7–0.8 with excellent emulsion stability at room temperature and at 4 °C, thus protecting the encapsulated lipophilic bioactive, vitamin D3 (VD3), against degradation. Interestingly, the structured CaCO3 NP-based Pickering emulsion displayed acid-trigged demulsification because of the disintegration of the CaCO3 NPs into Ca2+ in a simulated gastric environment, followed by efficient lipolysis of the lipid in simulated intestinal fluid. With the encapsulation and delivery of the emulsion, VD3 exhibited satisfying bioavailability after simulated gastrointestinal digestion.ConclusionsTaken together, the rationally designed CaCO3 NP emulsion system holds potential as a calcium-fortified formulation for food, pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.
Highlights
Nanoparticles assembled from food-grade calcium carbonate have attracted attention because of their biocompatibility, digestibility, particle and surface features, and stimuli-responsiveness offered by their acid-labile nature
Among the vast variety of materials, food-grade calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has gained attention as a Pickering emulsifier, in the food, pharmacy, and medical industries [14], as it is of substantial importance for three main reasons: (1) CaCO3 is a recognized food additive and pharmaceutical ingredient that is advantageous for its low-cost and availability in large quantities [3]; (2) CaCO3 particles can impart acid-responsive properties into the Pickering emulsion it stabilizes by virtue of its acid-soluble nature [15]; (3) functional properties can be added to the Pickering emulsion after converting C aCO3 particles into absorbable calcium ions once exposed to gastric acid [16]
The C signal was negligible for the CaCO3 NPs due to the background noise generated from the carbon supporting film of the copper grid
Summary
Nanoparticles assembled from food-grade calcium carbonate have attracted attention because of their biocompatibility, digestibility, particle and surface features (such as size, surface area, and partial wettability), and stimuli-responsiveness offered by their acid-labile nature. Among the vast variety of materials, food-grade calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has gained attention as a Pickering emulsifier, in the food, pharmacy, and medical industries [14], as it is of substantial importance for three main reasons: (1) CaCO3 is a recognized food additive and pharmaceutical ingredient that is advantageous for its low-cost and availability in large quantities [3]; (2) CaCO3 particles can impart acid-responsive properties into the Pickering emulsion it stabilizes by virtue of its acid-soluble nature [15]; (3) functional properties (calcium fortification and acid neutralization capacity) can be added to the Pickering emulsion after converting C aCO3 particles into absorbable calcium ions once exposed to gastric acid [16]. In-depth understanding of how the particle characteristics, such as the density, size, and surface properties, affect its gastric digestion behavior is necessary given that oral ingestion is the preferred route for CaCO3 Pickering emulsions
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