title: Development of a novel casein-protamine based microparticles for early feeding of fish larvae: in vitro evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to develop novel type of protein walled microparticles suitable for using in early feeding of fish larvae.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microparticles were made of casein and protamine through complex coacervation and did not require further cross-linking or use of environmentally problematic reagents. The methodology was oriented to generate microparticles with an appropriate size range for easy recognition and ingestion by fish larvae (50-200 microm), adequate floating properties in saline, sufficient stability in terms of protein leakage and appropriate digestibility by the gut enzymes of fish larvae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Desired particle size and stability against protein leakages over 8 h were successfully achieved by optimizing the coacervation process conditions. The floating properties under static conditions were considered appropriate as a main particle fraction remained in suspension during at least 10 min. Very importantly, an enzyme extract from larval gut readily digested the particles. The digestibility of the casein-protamine particles was similar to that measured for Artemia nauplii and for two previously developed casein-based microparticles produced by interfacial polymerization and ionic gelation; the latter microparticle type had previously achieved good results of digestibility in early feeding of marine fish larvae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The in vitro evaluation of the newly developed casein-protamine microparticles revealed promising characteristics as artificial larval feed. Thus, these particles merit further development with respect to entrapping nutrients and testing them in larval cultures for their nutritional value.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Aplicada, EPS Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cara
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Moyano
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gander
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yúfera
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects*; D002364:Caseins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D010473:Perciformes / Q000254:growth & development; D016062:Porosity; D011479:Protamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D011479:Protamines