title: Evaluation of alginate-whey protein microcapsules for intestinal delivery of lipophilic compounds in pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In animal care and management, there is an increasing demand for convenient methods of oral delivery of bioactive compounds to specific segments of an animal's gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to test the suitability of microcapsules made with alginate and whey proteins of two different sizes (250 and 800 µm; containing 72 and 76 g kg(-1) of carvacrol respectively) for intestinal delivery of carvacrol in pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Encapsulated carvacrol was completely released from the microcapsules after 5 h incubation in simulated intestinal fluids or 6 h in (ex vivo) ileal digesta, whereas release in simulated gastric fluid was minimal. Tests with growing pigs showed over 95% of unencapsulated carvacrol was absorbed or metabolized in the stomach and the duodenum. Encapsulation effectively minimized carvacrol absorption in the stomach (P < 0.05), and increased carvacrol recovery in the small intestine (P < 0.05). Encapsulated carvacrol was completely released from both small and large size capsules within the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Larger size microcapsules showed a slower in vitro release and greater in vivo recovery of carvacrol in the small intestine (P < 0.05) than the smaller ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates alginate-whey protein microencapsulation is a feasible approach for targeted oral delivery of hydrophobic compounds to pig intestines; increasing capsule size increased delivery of carvacrol to the end of the small intestine. © 2015 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 410125, Hunan, People's Republic of China.|Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5C9, Canada.
authors: Yonggang
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5C9, Canada.|Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors: Qi C
authors: QC
authors: Wang
authors: Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5C9, Canada.
authors: Hai
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors: Kees
authors: K
authors: de Lange
authors: Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 410125, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yulong
authors: Y
authors: Yin
authors: Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5C9, Canada.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Guelph Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5C9, Canada.
authors: Joshua
authors: J
authors: Gong
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D000081007:Cymenes; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D000081007:Cymenes; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D039821:Monoterpenes; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; C073316:carvacrol
keywords: carvacrol; gastrointestinal tract; microcapsule; pig; recovery