Improved stability and aqueous solubility of 0-carotene<i> via</i> encapsulation in self-assembled bioactive oleanolic acid nanoparticles
Liu, Shiqi, Zhang, Jing, Fu, Rao, Feng, Hao, Chu, Yibing, Huang, Dong, Liu, Han, Li, Chaonan, Ma, Chao, Abd El-Aty, A. M.
Poor water solubility and stability of 0-carotene (Car) greatly hinder its application in foods. Herein, naturally occurring bioactive oleanolic acid (OA) was used as a nanocarrier to overcome these shortcomings by fabricating Car-loaded OA nanoparticles (Car/OA NPs). Through optimization, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity reached 80.7% and 32.6%, respectively. Systematic characterization suggested that Car was successfully encapsulated, and hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions are the main forces facilitating the selfassembly and encapsulation. Compared with free Car, Car/OA NPs exhibited significantly improved water dispersibility and enhanced stability against UV radiation, heat, ionic strength, and acidic conditions. Further, Car/ OA NPs provided gastric protection, delayed-release in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and controlled release in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Additionally, both OA NPs and Car/OA NPs showed markedly inherent hepatoprotective effects. This work demonstrates that OA NPs can be used as inherent bioactive nanocarriers to deliver hydrophobic nutrients and bioactive food components.
- Journal
- FOOD CHEMISTRY
- Year
- 2022
- Volume
- 373
- ISSN
- 0308-8146
- eISSN
- 1873-7072
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131498
- WoS UID
- WOS:000718356400005