Hydrophobic Nutraceuticals Research Articles

Preparation and evaluation of novel Agriophyllum squarrosum starch nanoparticles for encapsulation of lycopene with enhanced retention rate and bioactivity during simulated in-vitro digestion.

In this study, we developed novel Agriophyllum squarrosum starch nanoparticles (ASSNPs) for the encapsulation of lycopene (LYC), aiming to enhance its stability and bioactivity under adverse environmental and digestive conditions. The small-granule starch extracted from A. squarrosum seeds was processed using ionic liquids (ILs) as an effective "green" solvent, followed by a systematic treatment involving ultrasonication and pullulanase to prepare the ASSNPs. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited small size, narrow particle size distribution, negative zeta potential, and high encapsulation efficiency of up to 64.3 %. The structures of ASSNPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These analytical techniques confirmed the successful encapsulation of LYC and revealed increased intermolecular interactions. Stability and degradation experiments demonstrated that the retention of the LYC in the complexes was significantly higher than that of the unencapsulated LYC, highlighting the superior protective effects of ASSNPs on the storage and digestive stability of LYC. This research elucidated the structural features of the complex between ASSNPs and LYC, underscoring the potential of ASSNPs as a food-grade delivery system. This approach offers a sustainable method for enhancing the bioavailability of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Preparation, characterization, stability and functional properties of andrographolide loaded kafirin/carboxymethyl cellulose composite particles using antisolvent precipitation method

Enhancing the oral bioavailability of hydrophobic nutraceuticals and protecting bioactive components through encapsulation systems has gained significant attention in food science. This study explored the preparation and characterization of kafirin (Kaf)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite nanoparticles for encapsulating andrographolide (AG) using the antisolvent precipitation method. The optimal Kaf to CMC mass ratio was identified as 4:1, resulting in nanoparticles with an average diameter of 146.4 nm. CMC markedly improved the water dispersibility of the nanoparticles compared to Kaf alone. The formation of these composite nanoparticles was mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. Compared to Kaf nanoparticles, the Kaf/CMC nanoparticles showed enhanced encapsulation efficiency, gastrointestinal release characteristics, and stability. Additionally, AG-loaded composite nanoparticles showed exhibited superior biological safety and anti-cancer effects, highlighting their potential for therapeutic applications. In conclusion, Kaf/CMC composite nanoparticles present a promising delivery system for hydrophobic nutraceuticals and drugs, contributing to advancements in drug delivery technologies and nutraceutical formulations.

Enhancing lutein stability and bioaccessibility with high internal phase emulsions stabilized by octenylsuccinylated starch

AbstractLutein possesses antioxidant properties and is a main component of the macular pigment, vital for infant eye and brain development. However, its use is constrained by its poor aqueous solubility and low stability. High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are valued in food development for encapsulating and protecting hydrophobic nutraceuticals. The objective of this study is to improve lutein's stability and bioaccessibility using HIPEs stabilized by biopolymer octenylsuccinylated starch (OSS). Three types of commercial OSS, including CAPSUL TA (CTA), HI‐CAP 100 (HC), and Purity Gum 2000, were tested for their emulsification properties in forming lutein HIPEs. Lutein HIPEs stabilized by 15%–25% CTA and 15%–30% HC had no phase separation and were selected for subsequent testing. After 21 days of storage at room temperature, lutein HIPEs showed higher lutein retention compared to free lutein. Lutein HIPEs stabilized with higher emulsifier concentrations (25% CTA and 30% HC) exhibited greater droplet diameter stability than those with lower concentrations. Additionally, lutein HIPEs significantly enhanced lutein retention under UV exposure and thermal stress. The in vitro bioaccessibility of lutein was highest in the HIPE stabilized by 20% CTA, reaching 54.36%. In conclusion, lutein HIPEs stabilized by 20% CTA demonstrated superior lutein stability and bioaccessibility, showing significant potential as an effective lutein delivery system.

Characteristics, physicochemical stability and in vitro release of curcumin-loaded glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibrils: Effects of molecular weight of saccharide

The goal of this study is to fabricate glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibrils as efficient curcumin nano-delivery systems to enhance its water solubility, storage stability against environmental stress, chemical stability and in vitro antioxidant activity, which can widely be applied in real food products. Glycosylation exhibited almost no impacts on the morphology of bovine serum albumin nanofibril as revealed by atomic force microscopy, regardless of saccharide types. Glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibrils possessed nanometric diameter (less than 15 nm) and micrometric length (1–1.5 μm). Glycation further enhanced the surface hydrophobicity of bovine serum albumin nanofibrils and its curcumin binding capacity. Water solubility of curcumin was sharply enhanced with bovine serum albumin nanofibril-based nanocarriers and curcumin-bovine serum albumin nanofibrils-glucose exhibited the highest aqueous solubility (50.2%). There was a strong positive proportion between curcumin solubility and surface hydrophobicity of bovine serum albumin nanofibril-based nanocarriers. Fluorescence data demonstrated that the formation of curcumin-glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibril nanocomposites was mainly through hydrophobic interactions. All three glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibrils were resistant to pH variation, high salt and heating. The chemical stability of curcumin was remarkably enhanced through glycation and there was a negative correlation between the chemical stability of curcumin and molecular weight of saccharides. Antioxidant capacities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power) of curcumin were dramatically soared through complexation with three glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibrils and the antioxidant activity of glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibril was negatively correlated with the molecular weight of saccharides. The release of curcumin in bovine serum albumin nanofibril nanocomposites could be controlled through glycation. Generally, this research indicates that the glycated bovine serum albumin nanofibril would be employed to load, stabilize, and deliver hydrophobic nutraceuticals and expand the food application.

High internal phase double emulsions stabilized by modified pea protein-alginate complexes: Application for co-encapsulation of riboflavin and β-carotene

The application of many hydrophilic and hydrophobic nutraceuticals is limited by their poor solubility, chemical stability, and/or bioaccessibility. In this study, a novel Pickering high internal phase double emulsion co-stabilized by modified pea protein isolate (PPI) and sodium alginate (SA) was developed for the co-encapsulation of model hydrophilic (riboflavin) and hydrophobic (β-carotene) nutraceuticals. Initially, the effect of emulsifier type in the external water phase on emulsion formation and stability was examined, including commercial PPI (C-PPI), C-PPI-SA complex, homogenized and ultrasonicated PPI (HU-PPI), and HU-PPI-SA complex. The encapsulation and protective effects of these double emulsions on hydrophilic riboflavin and hydrophobic β-carotene were then evaluated. The results demonstrated that the thermal and storage stabilities of the double emulsion formulated from HU-PPI-SA were high, which was attributed to the formation of a thick biopolymer coating around the oil droplets, as well as thickening of the aqueous phase. Encapsulation significantly improved the photostability of the two nutraceuticals. The double emulsion formulated from HU-PPI-SA significantly improved the in vitro bioaccessibility of β-carotene, which was mainly attributed to inhibition of its chemical degradation under simulated acidic gastric conditions. The novel delivery system may therefore be used for the development of functional foods containing multiple nutraceuticals.

Casein-quaternary chitosan complexes induced the soft assembly of egg white peptide and curcumin for ulcerative colitis alleviation

Soft assembly of peptide and curcumin (Cur) molecules enables functional integration by finding dynamic equilibrium states through non-covalent interactions. Herein, we developed two soft assembly systems, curcumin-egg white peptides (Cur-EWP) aggregations (AGs) and Cur-EWP-casein-quaternary chitosan (Cur-EWP-CA-QC) nanoparticles (NPs) to comparatively investigate their therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis in mice and elucidate their underlying mechanism. Results revealed that Cur-EWP AGs, despite gastrointestinal tract instability, exhibited a propensity for swift accumulation within the colorectal region, enriching mucus-associated and short-chain fatty acid (SCAF)-producing bacteria, restoring the intestinal barrier damage. Whereas, Cur-EWP-CA-QC NPs, benefiting from their remarkable stability and exceptional mucosal adsorption properties, not only enhanced permeability of Cur and EWP in the small intestine to activate the immune response and boost tight junction protein expression but also, in their unabsorbed state, regulated the intestinal flora, exerting potent anti-inflammatory activity. Soft assembly of peptides and hydrophobic nutraceuticals could synergize biological activities to modulate chronic diseases.

Co-encapsulation of curcumin and piperine in whey protein isolate fibrils improves their water dispersibility and antioxidant activity

In this study, whey protein isolate (WPI) fibrils prepared by acid heat treatment for different times (5, 10, 15, or 20 h) were used for the co-encapsulation and co-delivery of curcumin (Cur) and piperine (Pip). Co-encapsulation of both nutraceuticals in the fibrils significantly improved their water dispersibility, chemical stability, and antioxidant activity. For instance, the water dispersibility of Cur and Pip in native WPI solutions was around 47.0% and 47.5%, respectively. In contrast, the water dispersibility of the same two nutraceuticals in WPI fibrils (15 h treatment) was 94.3% and 66.6%, respectively. The nutraceutical-loaded WPI fibrils did not undergo significant flocculation or precipitation after 14 d storage at 25 °C. After encapsulation, the DPPH free radical scavenging ability of the Cur-Pip combination experienced a surge, rising from approximately 35.4% to 72.0%. The Stern-Volmer quenching constants (Ksv) of Cur-WPI (3.03 × 104 M−1) and Pip-WPI (7.08 × 104 M−1) were much smaller than those of Cur-WPI fibrils (3.88 × 104–4.69 × 104 M−1) and Pip-WPI fibrils (8.26 × 104–9.41 × 104 M−1), indicating that the nutraceuticals bind stronger to the protein fibrils than to the native protein molecules. In summary, WPI fibrils have the capability to encapsulate, protect, and deliver hydrophobic nutraceuticals, suggesting their suitability for application in functional foods and beverages.

The influence of unique interfacial networks based on egg white proteins for the stabilization of high internal phase Pickering emulsions: Physical stability and free fatty acid release kinetics

This study was oriented towards the impacts of unique interfacial networks, formed by glycosylated and non-glycosylated egg white proteins, on the characteristics of high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs). Glycosylated egg white protein particles (EWPG) manifested a more compact protein tertiary structure and amplified surface hydrophobicity, forming durable coral-like networks at the oil-water interface. The non-glycosylated egg white protein particles (EWP) could form spherical cluster interfacial networks. Raman spectroscopy analysis illuminated that EWPG could exhibit better interactions with aliphatic amino acids via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The release of free fatty acid (FFA) from both HIPPEs followed the first-order kinetic model with a combination of diffusion. EWPG-stabilized HIPPEs demonstrated superior physical stability and cellular antioxidant activity. This research shed light on the promising prospects of HIPPEs as promising amphiphilic delivery systems with capabilities to co-deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic nutraceuticals and amplify their intracellular biological potency.

Co-encapsulation of curcumin and anthocyanins in bovine serum album-fucoidan nanocomplex with a two-steppH-driven method.

Curcumin (CUR) and anthocyanins (ACN) are recommended due to their bioactivities. However, their nutritional values and health benefits are limited by their low oral bioavailability. The incorporation of bioactive substances into polysaccharide-protein composite nanoparticles is an effective way to enhance their bioavailability. Accordingly, this study explored the fabrication of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fucoidan (FUC) hybrid nanoparticles using a two-step pH-driven method for the delivery of CUR and ACN. Under a 1:1 weight ratio of BSA to FUC, the point of zero charge moved from pH ⁓ 4.7 for BSA to around 2.5 for FUC-coated BSA, and the formation of BSA-FUC nanocomplex was pH-dependent by showing the maximum CUR emission wavelength shifting from 546 nm (CUR-loaded BSA-FUC at pH 4.7) and 544 nm (CUR/ACN-loaded BSA-FUC nanoparticles at pH 4.7) to 540 nm (CUR-loaded BSA-FUC at pH 6.0) and 539 nm (CUR/ACN-loaded BSA-FUC nanoparticles at pH 6.0). Elevated concentrations of NaCl from 0 to 2.5 mol L-1 caused particle size increase from about 250 to about 800 nm, but showing no effect on the encapsulation efficiency of CUR. The CUR and ACN entrapped, respectively, in the inner and outer regions of the BSA-FUC nanocomplex were released at different rates. After incubation for 10 h, more than 80% of ACN was released, while less than 25% of CUR diffused into the receiving medium, which fitted well to Logistic and Weibull models. In summary, the BSA-FUC nanocomposites produced by a two-step pH-driven method could be used for the co-delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nutraceuticals. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Design, characterization and digestibility of β-carotene-loaded emulsion system stabilized by whey protein with chitosan and potato starch addition

The physicochemical properties and gastrointestinal fate of β-carotene-loaded emulsions and emulsion gels were examined. The emulsion was emulsified by whey protein isolate and incorporated with chitosan, then the emulsion gels were produced by gelatinizing potato starch in the aqueous phase. The rheology properties, water distribution, and microstructure of emulsions and emulsion gels were modulated by chitosan combination. A standardized INFOGEST method was employed to track the gastrointestinal fate of emulsion systems. Significant changes in droplet size, zeta-potential, and aggregation state were detected during in vitro digestion, including simulated oral, stomach, and small intestine phases. The presence of chitosan led to a significantly reduced free fatty acids release in emulsion, whereas a slightly increasing released amount in the emulsion gel. β-carotene bioaccessibility was significantly improved by hydrogel formation and chitosan addition. These results could be used to formulate advanced emulsion systems to improve the gastrointestinal fate of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

High internal phase emulsions stabilized by pea protein isolate-EGCG-Fe3+ complexes: Encapsulation of β-carotene

Protein complexes have great potential for forming and stabilizing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) loaded with bioactive compounds. In this study, we investigated the potential of three types of complexes, namely pea protein isolate (PPI), PPI-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and PPI-EGCG-Fe3+, to form and stabilize HIPEs with a 75% oil phase volume fraction. Initially, the impact of pH and emulsifier type on emulsions performance was investigated. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and particle size analysis showed that all three complexes could form HIPEs that remained stable under acidic and neutral conditions. These emulsions contained uniform oil droplets coated by a layer of the complexes. Notably, the PPI-EGCG-Fe3+ complexes formed HIPEs with the highest thermal and storage stability, which was attributed to the denser and thicker interfacial coatings. These emulsions also protected encapsulated β-carotene from degradation when exposed to light and thermal stress conditions. Furthermore, we measured lipid digestion and β-carotene bioaccessibility in the emulsions using an in vitro digestion model. The PPI-EGCG-Fe3+ stabilized emulsions not only exhibited slow fatty acid release but also enhanced β-carotene bioaccessibility (46.5%) under simulated small intestine conditions. This study demonstrates the potential of using protein-polyphenol-Fe3+ complexes to form and stabilize HIPEs, which may then be used to enhance the bioaccessibility and bioactivity of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Preparation of sodium alginate/Cur-PLA hydrogel beads for curcumin encapsulation

The low bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds, however, limits their medicinal use. Hydrogel beads made of biopolymers can be employed as controlled delivery systems and as a carrier to carry curcumin molecules. In this study, encapsulation of curcumin is done within the hydrogel by using Polylactic acid. The prepared SA/Cur-PLA and SA/Cur beads were examined using FTIR, SEM, TGA, NMR, and, XRD to study the interaction between drug and polymer. The developed bead's curcumin encapsulation efficiency was found to be 81.47 % in SA/Cur-PLA. Curcumin's release kinetics have been studied in systems (SGF, pH 1.2, and SCF, pH 7.4) that simulate oral consumption, which possess good pH sensitivity. The in vitro drug release studies of SA/Cur-PLA beads suggest that the curcumin release was significantly increased in a controlled manner and within 12 h, the cumulative release of curcumin was accomplished. In vitro hemolysis study shows a 7.93 % hemolysis rate which suggests that the produced bead is hemocompatible. For SA/Cur-PLA and SA/Cur, cytotoxicity evaluation and antimicrobial study was performed. Results show that both hydrogels are cytocompatible and antimicrobial in nature. It was found that biopolymer-based hydrogel beads enhanced the bioavailability of curcumin, antioxidant, biodegradable, and considered an effective carrier for the oral delivery of several hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Engineering a sustainable protein revolution: Recent advances in cultured meat production

AbstractEmerging as a food of the future, cultured meat is created by growing animal cells outside the organism instead of relying on traditional animal rearing and slaughtering practices. This innovative approach shows great promise in addressing challenges associated with resource utilization, environmental pollution, and public health concerns often encountered in conventional livestock production. In the past decade, popularity of cultured meat has grown enough to be considered as a novel food in regions like Europe, the United Kingdom, and China. This paper discusses the recent advancements in technologies for sustainable cultured meat production. It examines the latest developments in cell sources, cell culture media optimization, bioreactor design, 3D printing, and tissue engineering approaches, which have greatly enhanced the efficiency and scalability of cultured meat production. This food can have a tremendous application as a novel functional food. This review explores the future possibility of applying cultured meat matrix for delivery of hydrophobic nutraceuticals, prebiotics, and probiotics (Bacillus sp).

Gastrointestinal pH-Sensitive Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Zein Nanoparticles Coated with Bioactive Glycyrrhizic Acid for Improving Oral Bioaccessibility of Curcumin.

Pickering emulsions have received considerable attention for their stability and functionality. Environmentally responsive Pickering emulsions could be used as vehicles for oral administration. However, challenges still exist, such as nonbiocompatibility of emulsifier and mismatched response behavior in the gastrointestinal environment. In this study, a strategy was proposed that bioactive saponin glycyrrhizic acid (GA) was used as a pH-responsive substance to functionalize zein nanoparticles, and tannic acid (TA) was used as a primer for cross-linking GA and zein nanoparticles. The Pickering emulsions fabricated by zein/TA/GA nanoparticles (ZTGs) exhibited excellent stability at acid conditions while slowly demulsifying at neutral conditions, which can be further used as an intestine-targeted delivery system. Curcumin was encapsulated into ZTG-stabilized Pickering emulsions, and the encapsulation efficiency results suggested that the presence of GA coating remarkably facilitated the encapsulation of curcumin. An in vitro digestion study suggested that ZTGs provided protection for emulsions from pepsin hydrolysis and exhibited higher free fatty acid release as well as higher bioaccessibility of curcumin during simulated intestine digestion. This study provides an effective strategy to prepare pH-responsive Pickering emulsions for improving the oral bioaccessibility of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) as Food-Grade Nanovehicles for Hydrophobic Nutraceuticals or Bioactives

Although solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have been successfully used as drug delivery systems for about 30 years, the usage of these nanoparticles as food-grade nanovehicles for nutraceuticals or bioactive compounds has been, relatively speaking, scarcely investigated. With fast-increasing interest in the incorporation of a wide range of bioactives in food formulations, as well as health awareness of consumers, there has been a renewed urge for the development of food-compatible SLNs and/or NLCs as nanovehicles for improving water dispersibility, stability, bioavailability, and bioactivities of many lipophilic nutraceuticals or poorly soluble bioactives. In this review, the development of food-grade SLNs and NLCs, as well as their utilization as nanosized delivery systems for lipophilic or hydrophobic nutraceuticals, was comprehensively reviewed. First, the structural composition and preparation methods of food-grade SLNs and NLCs were simply summarized. Next, some key issues about the usage of such nanoparticles as oral nanovehicles, e.g., incorporation and release of bioactives, oxidative stability, lipid digestion and absorption, and intestinal transport, were critically discussed. Then, recent advances in the utilization of SLNs and NLCs as nanovehicles for encapsulation and delivery of different liposoluble or poorly soluble nutraceuticals or bioactives were comprehensively reviewed. The performance of such nanoparticles as nanovehicles for improving stability, bioavailability, and bioactivities of curcuminoids (and curcumin in particular) was also highlighted. Lastly, some strategies to improve the oral bioavailability and delivery of loaded nutraceuticals in such nanoparticles were presented. The review will be relevant, providing state-of-the-art knowledge about the development of food-grade lipid-based nanovehicles for improving the stability and bioavailability of many nutraceuticals.

Development of food-grade oleogel via the aerogel-templated method: Oxidation stability, astaxanthin delivery and emulsifying application

Templates for the fabrication of food-grade oleogels were prepared by freeze-drying of whey protein isolate (WPI)–carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) heat-set hydrogels, and the effect of the concentration of CMCS on aerogel properties was explored. It was observed that both the oil adsorption capacity and oil binding capacity were significantly improved when the CMCS concentration was up to 0.75% (w/w). With the further increase of CMCS concentration, the oil absorption capacity decreased. Scanning electric microscopy images exhibited that the corresponding aerogel showed dense and uniform porous networks. Compared with bulk oil, WPI–CMCS aerogel gel showed excellent oxidation stability. In addition, the delivery efficiency of aerogel-based oleogels as nutraceutical delivery carriers for astaxanthin (AST) was assessed. The bioaccessibility of AST in WPI–CMCS oleogels was significantly higher than that of bulk oil. Finally, the emulsification of aerogel-based oleogels was tested by TSI and droplet size. In comparison with WPI oleogel, the WPI–CMCS oleogel exhibited better physical stability and smaller droplet size. This work indicates that the path of oil structuring is not limited to the selection of existing oleogelators. The construction of aerogel templates from various protein/polysaccharide for oil absorption is also a promising path. • Oleogel could be prepared from whey protein isolate–carboxymethyl chitosan aerogel. • Aerogel-based oleogels (AOs) exhibited superior oxidation stability. • AOs could serve as efficacious vehicles for hydrophobic nutraceuticals. • AOs improved the lipolysis rate and the bioaccessibility of astaxanthin. • The prepared AO-based emulsion showed superior physical stability.

PH-Responsive Hydrogel Beads Based on Alginate, κ-Carrageenan and Poloxamer for Enhanced Curcumin, Natural Bioactive Compound, Encapsulation and Controlled Release Efficiency.

Polyphenolic compounds are used for treating various diseases due to their antioxidant and anticancer properties. However, utilization of hydrophobic compounds is limited due to their low bioavailability. In order to achieve a greater application of hydrophobic bioactive compounds, hydrogel beads based on biopolymers can be used as carriers for their enhanced incorporation and controlled delivery. In this study, beads based on the biopolymers-κ-carrageenan, sodium alginate and poloxamer 407 were prepared for encapsulation of curcumin. The prepared beads were characterized using IR, SEM, TGA and DSC. The curcumin encapsulation efficiency in the developed beads was 95.74 ± 2.24%. The release kinetics of the curcumin was monitored in systems that simulate the oral delivery (pH 1.2 and 7.4) of curcumin. The drug release profiles of the prepared beads with curcumin indicated that the curcumin release was significantly increased compared with the dissolution of curcumin itself. The cumulative release of curcumin from the beads was achieved within 24 h, with a final release rate of 12.07% (gastric fluid) as well as 81.93% (intestinal fluid). Both the in vitro and in vivo studies showed that new hydrogel beads based on carbohydrates and poloxamer improved curcumin’s bioavailability, and they can be used as powerful carriers for the oral delivery of different hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Biocompatible Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles for Lycopene Encapsulation Attenuate Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Damage.

In this study, lycopene was successfully encapsulated in polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PEC NPs) fabricated with a negatively charged polysaccharide, TLH-3, and a positively charged sodium caseinate (SC) via electrostatic interactions. Results showed that the lycopene-loaded PEC NPs were spherical in shape, have a particle size of 241 nm, have a zeta potential of −23.6 mV, and have encapsulation efficiency of 93.6%. Thus, lycopene-loaded PEC NPs could serve as effective lycopene carriers which affected the physicochemical characteristics of the encapsulated lycopene and improved its water dispersibility, storage stability, antioxidant capacity, and sustained release ability in aqueous environments when compared with the free lycopene. Moreover, encapsulated lycopene could enhance the cells' viability, prevent cell apoptosis, and protect cells from oxidative damage through the Nrf2/HO-1/AKT signalling pathway, via upregulation of antioxidase activities and downregulation of MDA and ROS levels. Therefore, the biocompatible lycopene-loaded PEC NPs have considerable potential use for the encapsulation of hydrophobic nutraceuticals in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Impact of alginate block type on the structure and physicochemical properties of curcumin-loaded complex biopolymer nanoparticles

In this study, core-shell complex biopolymer nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were fabricated using a simple pH-driven method. An aqueous solution containing curcumin, zein, sodium caseinate, and sodium alginate was prepared under a strongly alkaline condition (pH 12) and then acidified (pH 4). This led to the formation of curcumin-loaded complex biopolymer nanoparticles with a hydrophobic core (zein) surrounded by a hydrophilic shell (caseinate-alginate). The nanoparticles formed from β-d-mannuronic acid residues blocks (MM-blocks) had the smallest hydrodynamic diameter (202 nm), highest encapsulation efficiency (98 g/100 g), and best water-dispersibility. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the complex biopolymer nanoparticles had a core-shell structure. Fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopy were used to provide insights into the nature of the molecular hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions within the complex biopolymer nanoparticles. Overall, the curcumin-loaded complex biopolymer nanoparticles fabricated from MM-blocks had the best long-term storage and salt stability. These results may be useful for creating colloidal delivery systems that enhance the dispersibility, stability, and bioactivity of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Fabrication of heat-treated soybean protein isolate-EGCG complex nanoparticle as a functional carrier for curcumin

In this study, soybean protein isolate (SPI) was first heat-treated to yield modified SPI (HSPI). Then SPI- and HSPI-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) biopolymers (SPI-E and HSPI-E) were fabricated using an alkali covalent crosslinking method and their abilities to function as novel delivery carriers to load curcumin (Cur) were investigated. The particle size of loaded-Cur SPI-E and HSPI-E complex nanoparticles (SPI-E-C and HSPI-E-C) were all reduced and the zeta-potentials were all negative. FTIR and fluorescence spectra analysis indicated the presence of hydrogen bondings, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were the driving force for the formation of the carrier-Cur complex. Moreover, compared with SPI-E, HSPI-E had a high loading rate of Cur, improved bioaccessibility and scavenging capacity, smaller size, thinner sheet shape morphology, and stronger binding affinity. In its protective capacity as a delivery carrier, HSPI-E significantly improved the thermal stability, acid stability and controlled release characteristics of Cur, thereby overcoming the instability of a single protein carrier and possessing superior properties. These findings indicate that the HSPI-E polymer is a favorable carrier for delivering Cur and suit for development as a delivery polymer carrier to protect hydrophobic nutraceuticals and drugs with high-loading rate-performance and health-related functions without the use of crosslinkers.