Fabrication of self‐assembled (‐)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) ovalbumin‐dextran conjugate nanoparticles and their transport across monolayers of human intestinal epithelial Caco‐2 cells (1044.1)

Abstract

Nanoparticles have the potential to increase bioavailability of bioactive compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Ovalbumin was conjugated with dextran using Maillard reaction. The resultant conjugates were self‐assembled with EGCG to form EGCG ovalbumin‐dextran (O‐D) conjugate nanoparticles. Ovalbumin in EGCG O‐D conjugate nanoparticles were further crosslinked by glutaraldehyde. EGCG O‐D conjugate nanoparticles and crosslinked nanoparticles in the aqueous suspension had a particle size of 285 nm and 339 nm, and showed a spherical morphology. The loading efficiency of EGCG in these two nanoparticles was 23.4% and 30.0%, whereas the loading capacity was 19.6% and 20.9%, respectively. EGCG O‐D conjugate nanoparticles maintained the particle size of 183 nm‐349 nm in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 188 nm‐291 nm in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), whereas crosslinked nanoparticles had the particle size of 294 nm‐527 nm in SGF and 206 nm‐300 nm in SIF, respectively. Limited release of EGCG was observed in both nanoparticles systems in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids without and with digestive enzymes. EGCG O‐D conjugate nanoparticles significantly enhanced the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of EGCG on Caco‐2 monolayers compared to EGCG solution, suggesting that these nanoparticles may improve the absorption of EGCG.