Microfluidic Fabrication of pH-Responsive Nanoparticles for Encapsulation and Colon-Target Release of Fucoxanthin

Microfluidic Strategies for Encapsulation, Protection, and Controlled Delivery of Probiotics

Probiotics are indispensable for maintaining the structure of gut microbiota and promoting human health, yet their survivability is frequently compromised by environmental stressors such as temperature fluctuations, pH variations, and mechanical agitation. In response to these challenges, microfluidic technology emerges as a promising avenue. This comprehensive review delves into the utilization of microfluidic technology for the encapsulation and delivery of probiotics within the gastrointestinal tract, with a focus on mitigating obstacles associated with probiotic viability. Initially, it elucidates the design and application of microfluidic devices, providing a precise platform for probiotic encapsulation. Moreover, it scrutinizes the utilization of carriers fabricated through microfluidic devices, including emulsions, microspheres, gels, and nanofibers, with the intent of bolstering probiotic stability. Subsequently, the review assesses the efficacy of encapsulation methodologies through in vitro gastrointestinal simulations and in vivo experimentation, underscoring the potential of microfluidic technology in amplifying probiotic delivery efficiency and health outcomes. In sum, microfluidic technology represents a pioneering approach to probiotic stabilization, offering avenues to cater to consumer preferences for a diverse array of functional food options.

Co-encapsulation of curcumin and fucoxanthin in solid-in-oil-in-water multilayer emulsions: Characterization, stability and programmed sequential release

To enhance the bioavailability of bioactives with varying efficacy in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), a co-delivery system of solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsion was designed for the co-encapsulation of two bioactives in this paper. S/O/W emulsions were fabricated utilizing fucoxanthin (FUC)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) as the solid phase, coconut oil containing curcumin (Cur) as the oil phase, and carboxymethyl starch (CMS)/propylene glycol alginate (PGA) complex as the aqueous phase. The high entrapment efficiency of Cur (82.3-91.3%) and FUC (96.0-96.1%) was found in the CMS/PGA complex-stabilized S/O/W emulsions. Encapsulation of Cur and FUC within S/O/W emulsions enhanced their UV and thermal stabilities. In addition, S/O/W emulsions prepared with CMS/PGA complexes displayed good stability. More importantly, the formed S/O/W emulsion possessed programmed sequential release characteristics, delivering Cur and FUC to the small intestine and colon, respectively. These results contributed to designing co-delivery systems for the programmed sequential release of two hydrophobic nutrients in the GIT.

Shellac-based delivery systems for food bioactive compounds

Shellac is a natural resin featuring some attractive properties such as amphiphilicity, pH responsiveness, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. There has been increasing interest in employing shellac for controlled delivery of food bioactive compounds. This review outlines the recent advances in different types of shellac-based delivery systems, including nanoparticles, zein-shellac particles, hydrogels, nanofibers, and nanomicelles. The preparation method, formation mechanism, structure, and delivery performance are investigated. These systems could improve the stability and shelf-life of bioactive compounds, allow for targeted release at the small intestine or colon site, and increase bioavailability. The deficiencies and challenges of each of the systems are also discussed. The promising results in this review could guide future trends in more efficient shellac-based delivery platforms for functional food applications.

Co-assembled whey protein and proanthocyanidins as a promising biocarrier for hydrophobic pterostilbene: Fabrication, characterization, and cellular antioxidant potential

The usage of food-derived polyphenols with different polarities has been limited by their instability and incompatibility. Therefore, a biocarrier was developed by co-assembly of whey protein isolate (WPI) and hydrophilic proanthocyanidin (PC) for loading hydrophobic pterostilbene (PTE). Such biocarrier has superior affinity for PTE than WPI alone, as determined by encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity assay, fluorescence quenching analysis, and molecular docking, whereas the assembly process was characterized by particle size and zeta potential, 3-dimensional fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. Circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra confirmed the α-helix to β-sheet and random coil transition of proteins during the formation of nanocomplexes. Whey protein isolate acted as a mediator through altering the binding mode of PC and PTE, allowing them to perform significant synergistic effects in enhancing 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and reducing H2O2-induced cell damage. This research may serve to develop new protein/polyphenol co-loading systems and offer a reliable nutritional fortification.

Fabrication and characterization of shellac nanofibers with colon-targeted delivery of quercetin and its anticancer activity

In this study, the feasibility of shellac nanofibers as carrier system for colonic delivery of quercetin was evaluated. Firstly, the nanofibers without and with different amounts (2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 7.5 %) of quercetin were fabricated using pure shellac as a carrier by electrospinning. The morphology of nanofibers was bead-shape confirmed by SEM. FTIR, XRD, and DSC analysis showed that quercetin was encapsulated into shellac nanofibers, forming an amorphous complex. The molecular docking simulation indicated quercetin bound well to shellac through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. These nanofibers had higher thermal stability than pure quercetin, and their surface wettability exhibited a pH-responsive behavior. The loading capacity of quercetin varied from 2.25 % to 6.84 % with the increased amount of quercetin, and it affected the stability of nanofibers in food simulants by measuring the release profiles of quercetin. The shellac nanofibers had high gastrointestinal stability, with a minimum quercetin release of 16.87 % in simulated digestive fluids, while the remaining quercetin was delivered to the colon and was released gradually. Moreover, the nanofibers exerted enhanced anticancer activity against HCT-116 cells by arresting cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and inducing cell apoptosis. Overall, shellac nanofibers are promising materials for colon-targeted delivery of active compounds.

Preparation of Tetrandrine Nanocrystals by Microfluidic Method and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation

The anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects of TET are acknowledged, but its application is hindered by its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Conventional methods for nanocrystal preparation are laborious and lack control. To address these limitations, we propose employing the microfluidic method in the preparation of TET nanocrystals, aiming to enhance the aforementioned constraints. The objectives of this study were to prepare TET nanocrystals (TET-NC@GL) using a Y-microfluidic method with glycyrrhetinic acid (GL) as a stabilizer. The optimal preparation prescription was determined through a single-factor test and Box-Behnken response surface method. Additionally, the nanocrystals prepared with the commonly used stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVPK30), known as TET-NC@PVPK30, were characterized and evaluated for their toxicity to HepG2 cells. Hybridized nanocrystals (TET-HNC@GL and TET-HNC@PVPK30) were synthesized using a water-soluble aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe (TVP). Qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake experiments were conducted using these hybridized nanocrystals. Conducting in vivo pharmacokinetic assays evaluates the relative bioavailability of nanocrystals. The results indicated that TET-NC@GL, optimized using the response surface method, had a particle size of 136.47 ± 3.31 nm and a PDI of 0.219 ± 0.002. The administration of TET-NC@GL significantly enhanced the cell inhibition rate compared to the TET group and the TET-NC@PVPK30 group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake results revealed a significant enhancement in cellular uptake in the TET-HNC@GL administration group compared to the TET-HNC@PVPK30 group (P < 0.01). In vivo pharmacokinetic results showed that the bioavailability of TET-NC@GL group was 3.5 times higher than that of the TET group. The results demonstrate the successful preparation of TET-NC@GL nanocrystals.

In vivo anti-obesity efficacy of fucoxanthin/HP-β-CD nanofibers in high-fat diet induced obese mice

Fucoxanthin (Fx) has poor water solubility and bioavailability, which limits its application in the food industry. To improve the physicochemical properties of Fx, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) encapsulated Fx nanofibers (Fx/HP-β-CD nanofibers) were fabricated via electrospinning without using polymer. Molecular docking analysis showed the Fx/HP-β-CD nanofibers contained Fx and HP-β-CD at 1:2. Morphological analysis revealed the nanofibers were homogeneous without beads, having a diameter around 499 nm. The thermostability of Fx was significantly improved after encapsulationg by HP-β-CD. Animal studies showed that there was a 14% decrease of body weight, 11% white adipose tissue reduction and 9% lower of liver triglyceride for the mice treated with Fx/HP-β-CD nanofibers as compared with that of Fx treated mice. The total cholesterol was reduced by 23% in mice serum after treatment with Fx/HP-β-CD as compared with that of Fx. Interestingly, the Fx/HP-β-CD in this study could attenuate the testicular histopathology in obese mice.

On-Chip Precisely Controlled Preparation of Uniform Core-Shell Salmon Byproduct Protein/Polysaccharide Microcapsules for Enhancing Probiotic Survivability in Fruit Juice

The increasing demand for probiotic-fortified fruit juices stems from the dietary requirements of individuals with dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, and vegetarian diets. However, a notable obstacle arises from the degradation of probiotics in fruit juices due to their low pH levels and harsh gastrointestinal conditions. In response, this study proposes an innovative approach utilizing a microfluidic chip to create core-shell microcapsules that contain Lactobacillus plantarum Lp90. This method, based on internal-external gelation, forms highly uniform microcapsules that fully enclose the core, which consists of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized by salmon byproduct protein and sodium alginate. These emulsions remain stable for up to 72 h at a 1% sodium alginate concentration. The shell layer incorporates kelp nanocellulose and sodium alginate, thus improving the thermal properties. Furthermore, compared to free probiotics, the multilayer structure of the core-shell microcapsules provides a robust barrier, resulting in significantly enhanced probiotic stability. These findings introduce a novel strategy for augmenting probiotic delivery in functional fruit juice beverages, promising solutions to the challenges encountered during their development.

Colon-targeted delivery of polyphenols: construction principles, targeting mechanisms and evaluation methods

Polyphenols have received considerable attention for their promotive effects on colonic health. However, polyphenols are mostly sensitive to harsh gastrointestinal environments, thus, must be protected. It is necessary to design and develop a colon-targeted delivery system to improve the stability, colon-targeting and bioavailability of polyphenols. This paper mainly introduces research on colon-targeted controlled release of polyphenols. The physiological features affecting the dissolution, release and absorption of polyphenol-loaded delivery systems in the colon are first discussed. Simultaneously, the types of colon-targeted carriers with different release mechanisms are described, and colon-targeting assessment models that have been studied so far and their advantages and limitations are summarized. Based on the current research on polyphenols colon-targeting, outlook and reflections are proposed, with the goal of inspiring strategic development of new colon-targeted therapeutics to ensure that the polyphenols reach the colon with complete bioactivity.

Microfluidic fabrication of size-controlled nanocarriers with improved stability and biocompatibility for astaxanthin delivery

Improving the stability of astaxanthin (AST) is a vital way to enhance its oral bioavailability. In this study, a microfluidic strategy for the preparation of astaxanthin nano-encapsulation system was proposed. Thanks to the precise control of microfluidic and the rapid preparation ability of the Mannich reaction, the resulting astaxanthin nano-encapsulation system (AST-ACNs-NPs) was obtained with average sizes of 200 nm, uniform spherical shape and high encapsulation rate of 75%. AST was successfully doped into the nanocarriers, according to the findings of the DFT calculation, fluorescence spectrum, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Compared with free AST, AST-ACNs-NPs showed better stability under the conditions of high temperature, pH and UV light with<20% activity loss rate. The nano-encapsulation system containing AST could significantly reduce the hydrogen peroxide produced by reactive oxygen species, keep the potential of the mitochondrial membrane at a healthy level, and improve the antioxidant ability of H₂O₂-induced RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicated that microfluidics-based astaxanthin delivery system is an effective solution to improve the bioaccessibility of bioactive substances and has potential application value in food industry.

Pickering emulsions synergistically stabilized by sugar beet pectin and montmorillonite exhibit enhanced storage stability and viscoelasticity

Sugar beet pectin (SBP) is a naturally occurring emulsifying type of pectin fabricated into nanocomposites with montmorillonite (MMT) and then introduced as a stabilizer for high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). SBP-MMT composites performed well in emulsifying medium-chain triglyceride with an oil volume fraction (φ) of 0.1-0.85 and SBP/MMT mass ratios of 1:0.1-1:0.75. The two representative high internal phase emulsions stabilized by SBP-MMT composites at different SBP/MMT mass ratios exhibited good stability against creaming and coalescence. In these emulsion systems, SBP and MMT formed a network in the continuous phase that markedly improved the rheological properties, including the storage modulus (by 3 orders of magnitude). Confocal light scattering microscopy analysis indicated that a fraction of MMT could work synergistically with SBP in adsorbing on oil droplet surfaces, enhancing stability. SBP-MMT composites stabilized high internal phase emulsions destabilized after the freeze-thaw treatment (-40 °C for 20 h and 25 °C for 4 h) but could be facilely re-emulsified via high-speed shearing. The gastrointestinal digestion behaviors were also modified by stabilizing SBP and MMT. Overall, this work reveals a hitherto undocumented strategy for fabricating highly stable emulsions based on SBP-MMT composites which have huge prospects for application in the food and related industries.

Engineering fucoxanthin-loaded probiotics' membrane vesicles for the dietary intervention of colitis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are very attractive as carriers of active components due to their good immunological and their ability to penetrate the physiological barrier that synthetic delivery carriers cannot penetrate. However, the low secretion capacity of EVs limited its widespread adoption, let alone the lower yield of EVs loaded with active components. Here, we report a large-scale engineering preparation strategy of synthetic probiotic membrane vesicles for encapsulating fucoxanthin (FX-MVs), an intervention for colitis. Compared with the EVs naturally secreted by probiotics, the engineering membrane vesicles showed a 150-fold yield and richer protein. Moreover, FX-MVs improved the gastrointestinal stability of fucoxanthin and inhibited H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals effectively (p < 0.05). The in vivo results showed that FX-MVs could promote the polarization of macrophages to M2 type, prevent the injury and shortening of colon tissue (p < 0.05), and improve the colonic inflammatory response. Consistently, proinflammatory cytokines were effectively suppressed after FX-MVs treatment (p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, such engineering FX-MVs could also reshape the gut microbiota communities and improve the abundance of short-chain fatty acids in the colon. This study lays a foundation for developing dietary interventions using natural foods to treat intestinal-related diseases.

Nanoencapsulation Motivates the High Inhibitive Ability of Fucoxanthin on H2O2-Induced Human Hepatocyte Cell Line (L02) Apoptosis via Regulating Lipid Metabolism Homeostasis

This study reports an encapsulation system for fucoxanthin (FX) through simple affinity binding with gelatin (GE) and then coating with chitosan oligosaccharides (COS). The effects of FX before and after encapsulation on the human hepatocyte cell line (L02) were investigated. FX-GE and FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes exhibited a spherical shape with diameters of 209 ± 6 to 210 ± 8 nm. FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes were found to perform the best with the highest encapsulation efficiency (EE, 83.88 ± 4.39%), improved FX stability, and enhanced cellular uptake on the nanoscale. The cytotoxicity and cell mitochondrial damage of H₂O₂ exposure to L02 cells decreased with the increase of free-FX and FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes. FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes' intervention decreased the intracellular ROS and inhibited the apoptosis of L02 cells that was induced by H₂O₂ exposure in a concentration-dependent manner. Lipidomic analysis revealed that FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes could regulate the lipid metabolism disturbed by H₂O₂ and protected the mitochondrial function of L02 cells. These results suggested that nanoencapsulation enhanced the antioxidant activity of FX to L02 cells, and the constructed FX-GE-COS nanocomplexes have the potential to be an antioxidant nutritional dietary supplement.

Dietary Protective Potential of Fucoxanthin as an Active Food Component on Neurological Disorders

The prevalence of neurodegenerative, cerebrovascular, and psychiatric diseases and other neurological disorders has increased dramatically worldwide. Fucoxanthin is an algal pigment with many biological functions, and there is rising evidence that fucoxanthin plays a preventive and therapeutic role in neurological disorders. This review focuses on the metabolism, bioavailability, and blood-brain barrier penetration of fucoxanthin. Furthermore, the neuroprotective potential of fucoxanthin in neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and psychiatric diseases as well as other neurological disorders such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and brain tumors by acting on multiple targets will be summarized. The multiple targets include regulating apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress, activating the autophagy pathway, inhibiting Aβ aggregation, improving dopamine secretion, reducing α-synuclein aggregation, attenuating neuroinflammation, modulating gut microbiota, and activating brain-derived neurotrophic factor, etc. Additionally, we look forward to brain-targeted oral transport systems due to the low bioavailability and blood-brain barrier permeability of fucoxanthin. We also propose exploring the systemic mechanisms of fucoxanthin metabolism and transport through the gut-brain process and envision new therapeutic targets for fucoxanthin to act on the central nervous system. Finally, we propose dietary fucoxanthin delivery interventions to achieve preventive effects on neurological disorders. This review provides a reference for the application of fucoxanthin in the neural field.

Effect of carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan coating on the stability and colon-targeted delivery performance of fucoxanthin-loaded gliadin nanoparticles

Fucoxanthin (FUC) is a hydrophobic carotenoid that has a protective effect on the colon. To exert the beneficial effects of FUC in the colon and expand its application in functional food, FUC was encapsulated in carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan (CMKGM)-coated gliadin nanoparticles (Gli-CMKGM NPs) in this paper. Gli-CMKGM NPs were prepared at pH 5.0 with Gli/CMKGM mass ratio of 1:1. The formation of Gli-CMKGM NPs was associated with hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic attractions. Additionally, Gli-CMKGM NPs exhibited good stability to pH, salt, heating and storage. The results showed that FUC had been successfully encapsulated in Gli-CMKGM NPs, and the encapsulation efficiency of FUC-Gli-CMKGM NPs was significantly higher than that of uncoated FUC-Gli NPs. FUC-Gli-CMKGM NPs had a nano-spherical structure, and embedded FUC in Gli-CMKGM NPs improved their stabilities to photodegradation and thermal degradation. Furthermore, in vitro release and in vivo organ distribution studies showed that FUC-Gli-CMKGM NPs had an excellent colon targeting function. Overall, our findings illustrated the promise of CMKGM-coated Gli NPs for constructing targeted delivery systems for FUC.

Delivery systems for fucoxanthin: Research progress, applications and future prospects

Fucoxanthin is a special kind of keto-carotenoid found only in algae. The unique structure of fucoxanthin endows it with extraordinary biological activities, which are of great significance to improve food quality and enhance human health. However, due to its highly unsaturated structure, fucoxanthin also suffers from some limitations, such as instability, poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Therefore, although its content is relatively abundant, its applications in the food industry are extremely scarce. In recent years, there have been many reports on the preparation and characterization of delivery systems for fucoxanthin. These well-designed delivery systems can efficaciously alleviate the instability of fucoxanthin under adverse conditions, thereby improving its oral bioavailability. Thus, this review emphatically summarizes the delivery systems that are widely used to encapsulate, protect and release fucoxanthin. Besides, the influence of delivery systems on the absorption of fucoxanthin by intestinal epithelial cells is highlighted. The applications and future development trends of delivery systems for fucoxanthin are also discussed. The extraction of fucoxanthin, development of novel delivery systems, sensory evaluation and toxicity studies, and industrial production may be promising research directions in the future. Overall, this review provides guidance for the development of fucoxanthin-loaded delivery systems.

Survivability of probiotics encapsulated in kelp nanocellulose/alginate microcapsules on microfluidic device

Probiotics are living microorganisms that can produce health benefits to the host only when they are ingested in sufficient quantities and reach the intestines active state. However, the external environment that probiotics face for a long time before administration and the low pH environment in the stomach after administration can greatly reduce their activity. In this work, we proposed a simple microfluidic encapsulation strategy to efficiently prepare the probiotics-loaded nanocellulose/alginate delivery system, which can improve the storage stability and gastrointestinal survival rate of probiotics. The microcapsules were found to be monodisperse, and the average particle size was<500 μm by observing the microstructure and macroscopic morphology. The kelp nanocellulose was cross-linked in the microcapsule and formed a dense surface with alginate. Through the simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiment, it was found that the survival of probiotics in microcapsules containing 0.5 % and 1.5 % kelp nanocellulose decreased by 1.77 log CFU/g and 1.65 log CFU/g respectively, which was significantly lower than that of nanocellulose-free microcapsules (3.70 log CFU/g). And all the treated groups could release probiotics above 7 log CFU/g after digesting intestinal juice for 6 h. Furthermore, through the storage experiment, it was found that the microcapsules with 1.5 % kelp nanocellulose could still release 8.07 log CFU/g probiotics after four weeks. The results provide a new strategy for probiotics processing and extensive high-value utilization of marine natural products.

Nanocarriers for Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine (AIFCM) Used in Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapy

Active ingredients of Chinese medicine (AIFCM) are pharmacological substances taken from traditional Chinese medicine that show promise in treating gastrointestinal cancer. Compared with traditional chemotherapeutic drugs, AIFCM have advantages such as multi-target and multi-level treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Nanocarriers have the following advantages, better bioavailability, passive or active targeting of tumor sites and responsive release of drugs. The use of nanocarriers for delivery of AIFCM in treatment of gastrointestinal cancer, can overcome the disadvantages of some AIFCM, such as insolubility and low bioavailability. In this review, we first outline the background on gastrointestinal cancer, main curative factors and conventional therapeutic approaches. Then, the mechanisms for AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer therapy are presented in the following four aspects: gene regulation, immune modulation, cellular pathway transduction, and alteration of intestinal flora. Thirdly, preparation of various nanocarriers and results when combining AIFCM in gastrointestinal cancer are presented. Fourth, application of novel targeted nanocarriers and responsive nanocarriers in gastrointestinal tumors is further introduced. Finally, the application of AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer is summarized and prospected, hoping to shed some light on the nanocarrier-bound AIFCM in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.

Engineering Milk-Derived Exosome for Enhancing Cellular Astaxanthin Delivery

Astaxanthin (AST), a fat-soluble carotenoid, shows excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but its low biocompatibility and stability limit its application in the food industry. In this work, we constructed the targeted hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified milk exosome-based astaxanthin delivery system to improve the biocompatibility stability and targeted transport properties of astaxanthin. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that HA was efficiently modified onto the surface of the milk exosome by an amide condensation reaction. The fluorescence images showed that the targeted delivery system accumulated in RAW264.7 macrophages, and the targeting effect on inflammatory cells was significantly enhanced. Compared with free astaxanthin, the delivery system could enhance the cellular uptake of astaxanthin and alleviate the overproduction of reactive oxygen species significantly and the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential in a lipopolysaccharide-induced cellular model. The delivery system also notably inhibited the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and other inflammatory factors. Therefore, the targeted hyaluronic acid-modified milk exosome-based astaxanthin delivery system prevents the activation of macrophages and the production of inflammatory mediators and has the potential to apply to the prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Co-assembly of egg white-derived peptides and protein-polysaccharide complexes for curcumin encapsulation: The enhancement of stability, redispersibility, and bioactivity

In this study, a nanocomposite was developed by introducing egg white-derived peptides (EWDP) into protein-polysaccharide complexes to trigger the self-assembly of EWDP for encapsulating curcumin (Cur) via the pH-driven method. In this system, EWDP could cooperate with protein-polysaccharide complexes to exert superior colloidal properties with excellent Cur aqueous solubility, redispersibility, and physical stability and act as a bioactivity amplifier to endow the delivery system with the synergistic antioxidant activity. This phenomenon was ascribed to the additional hydrophobic cavities, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions organized by EWDP. Additionally, the presence of EWDP could considerably boost the cellular antioxidant activity of Cur by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, improving free radical scavenging capacity, and recovering the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. These findings might open up an avenue to reinforce lipophilic nutraceuticals' physicochemical properties and functionalities based on the co-assembly of food-derived peptides and protein-polysaccharide complexes.