Study on ferritin glycation with dextran: Physicochemical characterization and its application in the delivery of resveratrol

Abstract

Ferritin exhibits promising prospects for nanoencapsulation applications, however, its susceptibility to environmental factors as a standalone carrier necessitates further consideration. In this study, the recombinant human H-chain ferritin (rHuHF) was modified with dextran (Dex) to enhance its physicochemical and functional properties. Moreover, the glycated rHuHF cavity was utilized for the encapsulation of resveratrol (Res). The results demonstrated that the glycoconjugates (Dex–rHuHF) achieved the highest grafting degree of 34.71% under the following conditions: Dex molecular weight of 40 kDa, mass ratio of rHuHF to Dex at 1:2, pH value of 7.8, relative saturation humidity of 79%, reaction temperature at 50 °C, and reaction time of 30 h. Dex interacted with rHuHF and exhibited protective effects on rHuHF under extremely acidic conditions. Each Dex–rHuHF cavity encapsulated approximately 22 Res molecules with an encapsulation rate of 10.84%. The Dex–rHuHF–Res nanoparticles displayed excellent photothermal stability and sustained release properties. Furthermore, the Dex–rHuHF–Res simulated digesta showed enhanced abilities in scavenging DPPH free radicals and inhibiting α-glucosidase activity. This work investigated the impact of Dex on the physicochemical properties of rHuHF and developed a novel approach by grafting Dex onto rHuHF for encapsulating hydrophobic substances like resveratrol, which holds potential applications in water-based food and nutraceutical formulations.