Abstract
Yeast glucan particles (YGPs) are biopolymeric hollow shells obtained from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) cells by removing internal organelles and cell wall components apart from β-glucans. Due to their biocompatibility and size in the micrometer range, YGPs could be used as a naturally sourced material in areas such as functional foods, drug delivery or biomedical imaging. In such applications, it is important to know the particle suspension stability and the release kinetics of encapsulated molecular payload under different environmental conditions. The present work reports on the preparation and characterization of YGPs and the measurement of the diffusion rate of several water-soluble bioactive substances with varying molecular weight (caffeine, vitamin B12 and BSA) across the glucan wall as function of temperature and pH. The release rate constant has been evaluated by means of a mathematical model and its temperature dependence was found to be linear in the range from 10 to 60°C at pH 7.4 despite a glass transition of particulate β-glucan at 46°C.
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