Herein, five distinct degrees of polymerization (DP n‾) of debranched starch (DBS) were separated from native corn starch based on their differential solubility in aqueous/ethanol solutions of different volumetric ratios (1:1.5 and 1:3). Compared with the DBSP (DP n‾ 24.53 and DP n‾ 19.36), DBSs (DP n‾ 8.85 and DP n‾ 7.32) were found to have an amorphous crystal structure, resulting in lower thermal stability and an inability to form a complex with iodine. Furthermore, the proportion of rapidly digestible starch (RDS) in DBSP decreased, while the proportions of slow-digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) increased. Additionally, the starch microparticles (SMPs) self-assembled from DBSp exhibit a larger particle size and a more regular shape than those formed by DBSs. Moreover, DBS-based SMPs (DBS-SMPs) with the maximum encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in DBSP3.0 (20) reached 88.67% and 22.35%, respectively. The EGCG loaded in EGCG@DBS-SMPs exhibited excellent radical scavenging activity.
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