Abstract
Here we fabricated short linear glucan/zein (SLG/zein) complex nanoparticles using the reverse dropwise method and studied how the average SLG polymerization degree ( DPn̅) effects the complex nanoparticles’ physicochemical properties and emulsion stability. Using fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopies, we found that electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding were the main driving forces for complex nanoparticle formation. Furthermore, our wettability results showed that SLG with a low DPn̅ can neutralize zein's hydrophobic properties, making the complex nanoparticles more suitable for stabilizing a Pickering emulsion. We then loaded the nanoparticles with curcumin and achieved a maximum encapsulation efficiency of 70.45%. After subjecting the emulsion to a three-step in vitro digestion process, we found that the complex nanoparticles with lower DPn̅values provided better protection against the biochemical conditions of gastric fluid, resulting in greater curcumin bioaccessibility. These results suggest that the SLG/zein complex nanoparticles have great potential to encapsulate bioactive ingredients as a Pickering emulsifier.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 131736 |
Journal | Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects |
Volume | 672 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 5 Sep 2023 |
Keywords
- Bioaccessibility
- Curcumin
- Nanoparticles
- Short linear glucan
- Zein