Lutein transport systems loaded with rice protein-based self-assembled nanoparticles

Improved encapsulation efficiency and storage stability of lutein by soy protein isolate nanocarriers with thermal and trypsin treatments

BACKGROUND

Encapsulation of bioactive compounds within protein-based nanoparticles has garnered considerable attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of its potential to enhance stability and delivery. Soy protein isolate (SPI) has emerged as a promising candidate, prompting the present study aiming to modify its properties through controlled thermal and trypsin treatments for improved encapsulation efficiency (EE) of lutein and its storage stability.

RESULTS

The EE of lutein nanoparticles encapsulated using SPI trypsin hydrolysates (SPIT) with three varying degrees of hydrolysis (4.11%, 6.91% and 10.61% for SPIT1, SPIT2 and SPIT3, respectively) increased by 12.00%, 15.78% and 18.59%, respectively, compared to SPI. Additionally, the photostability of SPIT2 showed a remarkable increase of 38.21% compared to SPI. The superior encapsulation efficiency and photostability of SPIT2 was attributed to increased exposure of hydrophobic groups, excellent antioxidant activity and uniform particle stability, despite exhibiting lower binding affinity to lutein compared to SPI. Furthermore, in SPIT2, the protein structure unfolded, with minimal impact on overall secondary structure upon lutein addition.

CONCLUSION

The precise application of controlled thermal and trypsin treatments to SPI has been shown to effectively produce protein nanoparticles with substantially improved encapsulation efficiency for lutein and enhanced storage stability of the encapsulated lutein. These findings underscore the potential of controlled thermal and trypsin treatments to modify protein properties effectively and offer significant opportunities for expanding the applications of protein-based formulations across diverse fields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of barley proteins into peptides nanomicelles for encapsulation of hydrophobic bioactive ingredient

BACKGROUND

As natural polymer materials, barley proteins have been utilized to fabricate nanocarriers to encapsulate and delivery hydrophobic bioactive ingredients. However, as a result of the high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids and structural rigidity, barley protein-based nanocarriers tend to aggregate easily and have a low loading capacity, which greatly limits their application. In the present study, barley proteins were enzymolyzed to fabricate nanomicelles and then applied to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactive ingredient.

RESULTS

Self-assembled barley peptides could be obtained by controllable enzymolysis of barley proteins. The obtained barley peptides could self-assemble into nanomicelles (BPNMs) with a diameter of approximately 90 nm when the concentration was > 2.1 μg mL-1. Hydrophobic interaction, disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds were involved in maintaining the structure of BPNMs. Six self-assembled peptides (QQPFPQ, QTPLPQ, QLPQIPE, QPFPQQPQLPH, QPFPQQPPFGL and QPFPQQPPFWQQQ) were identified and they were characterized by alternating arrangement of hydrophobic amino acids and hydrophilic amino acids. Moreover, BPNMs were utilized to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactive ingredient quercetin. When quercetin was encapsulated by BPNMs, its water solubility was significantly increased, being approximately 30-fold higher than free quercetin. Meanwhile, encapsulation of BPNMs could greatly increase quercetin stability. The interaction between BPNMs and quercetin occurred spontaneously, mainly driven by van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, BPNMs were successfully developed and could be used as a promising delivery system to improve the water solubility and stability of hydrophobic bioactive ingredients. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Conilon coffee: A critical review and bibliometric analysis for the agri-food industry

This study includes a bibliometric analysis and literature review on Conilon coffee and its relevant aspects for the food industry, focusing on its chemical constituents, the application of fermentation as a processing method, and the reuse of waste generated during processing. Relevant articles were selected through a bibliometric analysis of titles indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar databases. Conilon coffee cultivation, especially in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Rondônia and Bahia, has played a growing role in the global economy, with research focused on strategies to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve nutritional and bioactive quality. The use of agricultural waste as substrates for seedlings and genetic manipulation to develop clonal cultivars are showing promise, although some options may increase the heavy metal content in plants. This review enabled the identification of the main chemical constituents of Conilon coffee and an assessment of their contributions to the product's sensory attributes and bioactive properties. It was clear that the choice of fermentation conditions changes the sensory characterization of coffee, potentially benefiting the overall rating of the beverage. This review also suggests that Conilon coffee residues contain volatile compounds of considerable commercial value, so they should be subjected to extraction methods and subsequently preserved. Acid hydrolysis and microencapsulation can be alternatives for extracting and preserving compounds of interest from Conilon coffee. This work contributes to deepening knowledge about the challenges faced by Conilon coffee and the search for alternatives to increase its market value.

Construction of fatty acid-ovalbumin binary complexes to improve the water dispersibility, thermal/digestive stability and bioaccessibility of lutein: A comparative study of different fatty acids

Lipids are increasingly being incorporated into delivery systems due to their ability to facilitate intestinal absorption of lipid-soluble nutrients through molecular solubilization and micellization. In this work, self-assembled complexes of ovalbumin (OVA) and nine dietary fatty acids (FAs) were constructed to improve the processability and absorbability of lutein (LUT). Results showed that all FAs could form stable hydrophilic particles with OVA under the optimized ultrasound-coupled pH conditions. Fourier infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that these binary complexes effectively encapsulated LUT with an encapsulation rate > 90.0 %. Stability experiments showed that these complexes protected LUT well, which could improve thermal stability and in vitro digestive stability by 1.66-3.58-fold and 1.27-2.74-fold, respectively. Besides, the bioaccessibility of LUT was also enhanced by 7.16-24.99-fold. The chain length and saturation of FAs affected the stability and absorption of LUT. Therefore, these results provided some reference for the selection of FAs for efficient delivery of lipid-soluble nutrients.

The development of nanocarriers for natural products

Natural bioactive compounds from plants exhibit substantial pharmacological potency and therapeutic value. However, the development of most plant bioactive compounds is hindered by low solubility and instability. Conventional pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets and capsules, only partially overcome these limitations, restricting their efficacy. With the recent development of nanotechnology, nanocarriers can enhance the bioavailability, stability, and precise intracellular transport of plant bioactive compounds. Researchers are increasingly integrating nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) into the development of natural plant compounds with significant success. Moreover, natural products benefit from nanotechnological enhancement and contribute to the innovation and optimization of nanocarriers via self-assembly, grafting modifications, and biomimetic designs. This review aims to elucidate the collaborative and reciprocal advancement achieved by integrating nanocarriers with botanical products, such as bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. This review underscores the salient challenges in nanomedicine, encompassing long-term safety evaluations of nanomedicine formulations, precise targeting mechanisms, biodistribution complexities, and hurdles in clinical translation. Further, this study provides new perspectives to leverage nanotechnology in promoting the development and optimization of natural plant products for nanomedical applications and guiding the progression of NDDS toward enhanced efficiency, precision, and safety. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

Enzymatic hydrolysis improves the encapsulation properties of rice bran protein by increasing retention of anthocyanins in microparticles of grape juice

There is a growing demand for the food industry to find appealing matrices that display a clean and sustainable label capable of replacing animal proteins in the encapsulation market for natural pigments. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of enzymatic hydrolysis by Flavourzyme protease on the encapsulation properties of rice bran proteins, aiming to protect anthocyanins in grape juice microparticles. To achieve this, rice bran protein hydrolysates (RPH) with low (5%, LRPH), medium (10%, MRPH), and high (15%, HRPH) degrees of hydrolysis (DH) were used combined with maltodextrin as carrier agents for the microencapsulation of grape juice by spray drying. The feed solutions contained 1 g of carrier agents (CA)/g of soluble solids from the juice (SS) and protein: a 15% CA ratio. Non-hydrolyzed rice protein was used as a carrier agent to obtain a control sample to evaluate the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on the microencapsulation of grape juice. Protein modification increased the surface activity of the protein and its ability to migrate to the surface of the microparticles, forming a protective film, as observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using HRPH as a carrier agent combined with maltodextrin improved the internal and total anthocyanin retention, antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH and ABTS+ assays, and powder recovery compared to the control sample, and increased DH reduced particle size and powder stickiness. These particles were more homogeneous, rough, and without cracks. The microencapsulation efficiency was above 70%. All powders exhibited low values of hygroscopicity and degree of caking. Therefore, enzymatic hydrolysis proves to be a promising alternative for improving rice bran protein's encapsulating properties since using RPH as an encapsulating agent conferred greater protection of anthocyanins in microparticles. Moreover, the HRPH sample exhibited the most favorable outcomes overall, indicating its potential for prospective utilization in the market, supported by its elevated Tg.

Fabricating oleic acid-ovalbumin complexes using an ultrasonic-coupled weakly alkaline pH technique: Improving the dispersibility, stability, and bioaccessibility of lutein in water

This study constructed a self-assembly non-covalent oleic acid (OA) and ovalbumin (OVA) complex via an ultrasonic coupled pH-driven approach to simultaneously improve the water dispersibility, stability, and bioaccessibility of lutein (LUT). The results showed that homogeneous, stable hydrophilic OA-OVA particles were obtained in optimized conditions (an OVA concentration of 4.0 mg/mL, pH 9.0, ultrasonic conditions of 200 W for 2 min, and OA-OVA molar ratios of 2:1-20:1), with the LUT encapsulation efficiency (EE) exceeding 88.9%. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed complete LUT encapsulation in the OA-OVA particles, displaying spherical particle formation with smooth surfaces. The OA-OVA complexes effectively improved the thermal and storage stability of LUT and significantly enhanced its bioaccessibility. These findings suggest that fatty acid-protein complexes may have potential application value as carotenoid delivery vectors.

Enhanced fresh-keeping capacity of printed surimi by Ca2+-nano starch-lutein and its nondestructive freshness monitoring based on 4D printed anthocyanin

To solve undiscernible freshness changes of printed functional surimi while maintaining printed shape, 4D printable color-changing material were prepared. Firstly, based on results of printing properties and fresh-keeping of Ca2+-NS-L-surimi, it showed better printing effects (enhanced mechanical strength) and good preservation (inhibition of amino acids decomposition, bacterial growth). However, freshness changes of printed Ca2+-NS-L-surimi were not distinguished directly. To avoid that, 4D printable color-changing material-anthocyanin-hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose-xanthan gum-carrageenan (AHXK) was prepared for indicating freshness through discoloration. Printing results showed AHX with 5 % K had the most suitable mechanical strength (appropriate gel strength, texture, rheology) for printing. Based on that, AHXK had stable color (ΔE fluctuation <5) and was sensitive to pH and ammonia (obvious discoloration; ΔE > 10). Actual freshness monitoring results (co-printing of AHXK-surimi) exhibited significant discolorations, especially for HXK with 0.75 % A. It became green during refrigeration of 3-5 d (keeping fresh, ΔE < 4), brighter green at 7 d (decreased freshness, ΔE > 6), turned yellow at 9 d (spoilage, ΔE > 16), which were distinguished significantly with naked eyes rather than traditional freshness determining. In conclusion, printed AHXK-functional surimi exhibited good printing, preservation and nondestructive freshness monitoring, facilitating application of 3D printed functional surimi.

Rice bran protein increases the retention of anthocyanins by acting as an encapsulating agent in the spray drying of grape juice

Rice bran protein concentrate (RPC), an industrial by-product, may emerge as a green alternative for substituting animal proteins in microencapsulating compounds of interest. This study applied RPC, combined with maltodextrin (MD) as carrier agents, in the spray drying of grape juice, a product rich in these bioactive compounds, seeking to protect anthocyanins from degradation. The effects of carrier agent concentration [C: 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 g of carrier agents (CA)/g of soluble solids of the juice (SS)] and RPC:CA ratio (P: 0%, as a control sample, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) on anthocyanin retention and powder properties were evaluated. At 1.00 g CA/g SS, the internal and total retentions of anthocyanins improved by 2.4 and 3.2 times, respectively, when the RPC:CA ratio increased from 0% to 20%. The protein also exhibited excellent surface activity on the grape juice and positively influenced the physicochemical properties of the microparticles. There was a reduction in stickiness, degree of caking, and hygroscopicity, in addition to an increased antioxidant capacity when protein was used in combination with MD, especially at 1.00 and 1.25 g CA/g SS. Therefore, this study demonstrated that RPC could enhance the protection of anthocyanins during the spray drying of grape juice.

Enhanced encapsulation of lutein using soy protein isolate nanoparticles prepared by pulsed electric field and pH shifting treatment

In this study, soy protein isolate (SPI) was modified by a pulsed electric field (PEF) combined with pH shifting treatment (10 kV/cm, pH 11) to prepare SPI nanoparticles (PSPI11) for efficient loading of lutein. The results showed that when the mass ratio of SPI to lutein was 25:1, the encapsulation efficiency of lutein in PSPI11 increased from 54% to 77%, and the loading capacity increased by 41% compared to the original SPI. The formed SPI-lutein composite nanoparticles (PSPI11-LUTNPs) had smaller, more homogeneous sizes and larger negative charges than SPI7-LUTNPs. The combined treatment favored the unfolding of the SPI structure and could expose its interior hydrophobic groups to bind with lutein. Nanocomplexation with SPIs significantly improved the solubility and stability of lutein, with PSPI11 showing the greatest improvement. As a result, PEF combined with pH shifting pretreatment is an effective method for developing SPI nanoparticles loaded and protected with lutein.

Formation and Characterization of Self-Assembled Rice Protein Hydrolysate Nanoparticles as Soy Isoflavone Delivery Systems

In this study, soy isoflavones-loaded nanoparticles were prepared using rice proteins (RPs) hydrolyzed by four types of enzyme (alcalase, neutrase, trypsin, and flavorzyme). After optimizing the preparation conditions, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the nanoparticles ranged from 61.16% ± 0.92% to 90.65% ± 0.19%. The RPs that were hydrolyzed by flavorzyme with a molecular weight of <5 KDa showed better characters on the formation of nanoparticles, and the formed nanoparticles had the highest EE and loading capacity (9.06%), the smallest particle size (64.77 nm), the lowest polymer dispersity index (0.19), and the lowest zeta potential (−25.64 mV).The results of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance, X-ray diffraction, and fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the nanoparticles were successfully encapsulated. The study of interaction showed that the formation of nanoparticles may depend mainly on hydrogen bonds, but other interactions, such as hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic interactions, cannot be ignored. After encapsulation, the pH stability, temperature stability, ionic stability, and oxidation resistance of the nanoparticles were enhanced. Moreover, the in vitro release experiment showed that the encapsulated nanoparticles had a certain protective effect on soybean isoflavones. In summary, rice protein hydrolysates are promising carriers for soybean isoflavones.

Improved Light and In Vitro Digestive Stability of Lutein-Loaded Nanoparticles Based on Soy Protein Hydrolysates via Pepsin

In order to improve the water solubility and stability of lutein, soy protein isolates (SPI) and their hydrolysates via pepsin (PSPI) and alcalase (ASPI) were used as nanocarriers for lutein to fabricate the lutein-loaded nanoparticles (LNPS) of SPI, PSPI, and ASPI. The encapsulation properties, light, and in vitro digestive stability of lutein in nanoparticles, and protein-lutein interactions were investigated. Compared with SPI-LNPS and ASPI-LNPS, PSPI-LNPS was characterized by uniform morphology (approximately 115 nm) with a lower polydispersity index (approximately 0.11) and higher lutein loading capacity (17.96 μg/mg protein). In addition, PSPI-LNPS presented the higher lutein retention rate after light exposure (85.05%) and simulated digestion (77.73%) than the unencapsulated lutein and SPI-LNPS. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that PSPI had stronger hydrophobic interaction with lutein than SPI, which positively correlated with their beneficial effects on the light and digestive stability of lutein. This study demonstrated that PSPI possessed significant potential for lutein delivery.

Preparation, Characteristics, and Advantages of Plant Protein-Based Bioactive Molecule Delivery Systems

As a renewable resource, the market trend of plant protein has increased significantly in recent years. Compared with animal protein, plant protein production has strong sustainability factors and a lower environmental impact. Many bioactive substances have poor stability, and poor absorption effects limit their application in food. Plant protein-based carriers could improve the water solubility, stability, and bioavailability of bioactive substances by different types of delivery systems. In this review, we present a detailed and concise summary of the effects and advantages of various plant protein-based carriers in the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of bioactive substances. Furthermore, the research progress of food-grade bioactive ingredient delivery systems based on plant protein preparation in recent years is summarized, and some current challenges and future research priorities are highlighted. There are some key findings and conclusions: (i) plant proteins have numerous functions: as carriers for transportation systems, a shell or core of a system, or food ingredients; (ii) plant protein-based carriers could improve the water solubility, stability, and bioavailability of bioactive substances by different types of delivery systems; and (iii) plant protein-based carriers stabilize bioactive substances with potential applications in the food and nutrition fields.

Glycosylation of Zein Hydrolysate as a Nanocarrier for Lutein Delivery: Preparation and Stability

Lutein is a functional carotenoid that has a wide range of physiological benefits in humans. However, it easily degrades and becomes inactivated during storage and processing, resulting in low bioavailability. The development of new nanocarriers can effectively improve the stability and biological activity of lutein. In this study, zein hydrolysate (ZH) carriers were glycosylated with glucosamine (GLU) under the action of transglutaminase, and lutein-loaded glycosylated ZH nanoparticles (GZH-LUT) were constructed by liquid–liquid dispersion. The results showed that the GZH-LUT particles had a narrow size distribution in the range of 200–300 nm and a decreased zeta potential and polydispersity index. In particular, GZH trapped lutein more efficiently than ZH. In addition, GZH-LUT had better physical and chemical properties, including better water solubility, oxidative stability, and environmental stability than free lutein and ZH-LUT. These results indicate that glycosylated zein hydrolysate has the potential to be used as a novel protein-based nanocarrier to enhance the solubility and stability of lutein, which can further improve its bioavailability.

Preparation of novel self-assembled albumin nanoparticles from Camellia seed cake waste for lutein delivery

The potential utilization value of Camellia seed cake was explored by extracting albumin (CSCA) to develop nanoparticles for lutein delivery. First, thermal property and amphiphilicity of CSCA were evaluated to guide nanoparticle preparation. Next, CSCA nanoparticles modified with chitosan (CS) were prepared through a thermally induced self-assembly method derived by electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction. The optimized nanoparticles were prepared from CSCA:CS at a mass ratio of 2:1 with pH of 4.5, and an incubation temperature and time of 80 ℃ and 10 min, respectively. The nanoparticles had the highest effective loading capacity for lutein at 5.89 ± 0.78%, and the corresponding encapsulation efficiency was 43.82 ± 5.69%. The storage stability of lutein was improved by nanoparticle loading, and the bioaccessibility of lutein in simulated intestinal digestion increased from 26.8 ± 4.4% to 57.3 ± 9.6% after encapsulation into nanoparticles. These findings may facilitate the development of new and sustainable proteins from plant waste for delivery system applications.

Development of composite nanoparticles from gum Arabic and carboxymethylcellulose-modified Stauntonia brachyanthera seed albumin for lutein delivery

Lutein is a carotenoid with several beneficial functions, but its poor water solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability limits its application. To overcome these shortcomings, self-assembly composite nanoparticles from Stauntonia brachyanthera seed albumin (SBSA), gum Arabic (GA), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were developed for lutein encapsulation. Firstly, SBSA was extracted from seeds and its physicochemical properties were evaluated. Followingly, the nanoparticles were prepared with SBSA through a heat induced self-assembly method which were modified by GA and CMC. The nanoparticles exhibited good storage, pH, and salt stability. Hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were proved to derive the formation of nanoparticles. The maximum effective loading capacity (LC) of the lutein in nanoparticles was 0.92 ± 0.01% with an encapsulation efficiency (EE) at 83.95 ± 0.98%. Heat stability and storage stability of lutein were significantly enhanced after encapsulation into nanoparticles. In addition, the bioaccessibility of lutein increased from 17.50 ± 2.60% to 46.80 ± 4.70% after encapsulation into nanoparticles.