Fabrication of solid lipid microcapsules containing ascorbic acid using a microfluidic technique.
The importance of ascorbic acid (AA) in the human diet has motivated food researchers to develop AA-fortified food products. However, this compound is very unstable. The aim of this work was to produce solid lipid microcapsules (SLMs) loaded with AA using microfluidic technology. The morphology of the SLMs was analysed by optical, scanning electron and confocal microscopy. We determined the encapsulation efficiency, particle size and stability of the encapsulated material. Two different means of enhancing the encapsulation efficiency and stability of AA were demonstrated: a pore blocking method and a micromolecule-chelating agent within the core. The results indicated the enormous potential of the designed vehicle to prevent AA degradation in a food product; additionally, this vehicle could mask the acidic taste of AA.
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CP 23, CEP 13535 900 Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: talita.comunian@usp.br.
Talita A
TA
Comunian
Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Physics, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States.
Alireza
A
Abbaspourrad
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CP 23, CEP 13535 900 Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
Carmen S
CS
Favaro-Trindade
Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Department of Physics, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States.
David A
DA
Weitz
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity
D002214:Capsules; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
Encapsulation; Encapsulation efficiency; Lipid shell; Vitamin C