Welcome to China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics, Today is

China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics ›› 2021, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (9): 865-873.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-1803.2021.09.009

• Development and application • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Multiple emulsions in calcium alginate microgels as a delivery system for the encapsulation of different polar nutrients: Preparation and in vitro characterization

Huang Juan1,2,3,*(),Jiang Pingfu2,Xie Wenjing2,Chen Jianchu3,Shi Jianqiang1,Hu Xiaojia1   

  1. 1. Hongsheng Group Company Limited, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311200, China
    2. School of Biology and Food Engineering, Changshu Institute of Technology, Changshu, Jiangsu 215500, China
    3. College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
  • Received:2021-01-04 Revised:2021-08-27 Online:2021-09-22 Published:2021-09-23
  • Contact: Juan Huang E-mail:chinahuangjuan@126.com

Abstract:

In this study, β-carotene and vitamin C were used as models of different polar nutrients. Regarding the poor stability and low bio-availability of nutrients, multiple emulsions in calcium alginate microgels were prepared to improve the stability and bio-availability of nutrients. Multiple emulsions in calcium alginate microgels were prepared by the improved two-step emulsification and the injection-gelation method. The average particle size of multiple emulsions and microgels are approximately 6-7 μm and 1 000 μm, respectively, and the encapsulation efficiency of the nutrients is higher in microgels than in multiple emulsions. The prepared calcium alginate microgels are spherical orange-red particles. The optical microscope displays that the multiple emulsions have multi-layer structure. There are small droplets of oleogel inside the droplets of the multiple emulsion. The multiple emulsion can be clearly observed on the edge of the calcium alginate microgels. The stability, in vitro dissolution and in vitro digestion were further characterized. The results show that microgels have wider tolerance to pH and sodium ions. In addition, at low pH value, the average particle size of calcium alginate microgels is smaller, showing shrinkage behavior; at high pH value, the average particle size of calcium alginate microgels is larger, showing swelling behavior. The chemical stability of β-carotene and vitamin C can be enhanced by being encapsulated in the multiple emulsions in calcium alginate microgels. After being encapsulated in the multiple emulsions in microgels, the dissolution of β-carotene and vitamin C and the digestion of fatty acids become slower. The higher the concentration of sodium alginate, the slower the dissolution of the nutrients and the digestion of fatty acids. Fat crystallization can hinder the digestion or degradation of fatty acids in multiple emulsions. The in vitro dissolution results show that the behavior of calcium alginate microgels is also influenced by pH, i.e., the dissolution of β-carotene and vitamin C is slower at the pH simulated as gastric acid and is faster at the pH simulated as intestinal conditions. The bio-availability of nutrients is lower in microgels than in multiple emulsions. This study reveals that the second encapsulation by microgels can improve the chemical stability and bio-availability of different polar nutrients and control their release.

Key words: multiple emulsion, microgel, alginic acid, β-carotene, vitamin C

CLC Number: 

  • TQ658