title: Fabrication of β-carotene nanoemulsion-based delivery systems using dual-channel microfluidization: Physical and chemical stability.
abstract: A considerable research effort is focused on developing effective delivery systems for hydrophobic nutraceuticals. β-carotene, a pro-vitamin A carotenoid, requires encapsulation to improve its water dispersibility and chemical stability in foods. In this study, β-carotene was encapsulated in oil-in-water nanoemulsions fabricated using high-pressure dual-channel microfluidization. Two types of natural emulsifier, quillaja saponins (Q-Naturale) and whey protein isolate (WPI), were capable of producing nanoemulsions (d32=0.14-0.16μm) using this novel homogenization method. The physical and chemical stability of these nanoemulsions were characterized during storage at neutral pH conditions at refrigeration (4°C), ambient (25°C), and elevated (55°C) temperatures. At 4 and 25°C, all nanoemulsions remained physically stable throughout 14days storage, with little change in particle size or evidence of creaming. At 55°C, WPI nanoemulsions were also physically stable, but a small amount of droplet aggregation occurred in saponin nanoemulsions. The rate of β-carotene degradation increased with increasing storage temperature, but did not depend strongly on emulsifier type. This study showed that dual-channel microfluidization is an efficient method of continuously producing carotenoid-loaded nanoemulsions from natural emulsifiers. This knowledge may be useful for developing nutraceutical delivery systems for application within commercial food, beverage, and pharmaceutical products.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China; Biopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Department, Zhejiang Medicine Co., Ltd, Xinchang Pharmaceutical Factory, 59 East Huancheng Road, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312500, China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Biopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Biopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Fuguo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 103 Wenhua Road, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China. Electronic address: dengyihui@syphu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yihui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Biopolymers and Colloids Laboratory, Department of Food Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Electronic address: mcclements@foodsci.umass.edu.
authors.forename: David Julian
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McClements
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000295:instrumentation; D045703:Emulsifying Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D000072664:Provitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D062605:Quillaja Saponins / Q000737:chemistry; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D000072664:Provitamins; D062605:Quillaja Saponins; D000067816:Whey Proteins; D019207:beta Carotene
keywords: Dual-channel microfluidization; Nanoemulsion; Q-Naturale; Storage stability; WPI; β-carotene