engleski

Development of protein-polysaccharide micro-sized complexes encapsulating model polyphenolic antioxidants

In recent years utilizing biopolymer interactions, or crosslinking-assembled spherical structures, enabled the encapsulation and targeted delivery of numerous active ingredients. The self-assembly of proteins such as zein or casein micelles has already been explored as a vehicle for delivery of hydrophobic bioactive compounds, while the use of alginate-protein or chitosan-protein complexes has been introduced very recently, mostly for encapsulation of pharmaceutical model drugs. In this study we focus on using alginate, chitosan and proteins as biopolymer building blocks for encapsulation of quercetin, a representative poorly water-soluble lipophilic polyphenolic antioxidant. The approach of improving quercetin solubility in a mixture of ascorbic acid was evaluated, and compared to plain compounds based on their antioxidant capacity. Electrostatic complexation between alginate and chitosan and reinforcement with whey proteins was conducted and mediated additionally by temperature (T=70°C) and ionic cross-linking (Ca2+). The encapsulation of both quercetin and ascorbic acid was achieved, enabling to entrap up to 71% of quercetin and 55% of ascorbic acid. Micro-sized spherical particles of alginate-chitosan and whey proteins-chitosan were produced ranging up to 940 µm, with alginate-chitosan particles producing smaller particles. Whey protein-chitosan particles were less spherical, but provided much slower release of quercetin from the particles in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids.

Antioxidant capacity ; Encapsulation ; Proteins ; Quercetin

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