Comparative assessment of wall material combinations on the encapsulation of astaxanthin-rich weakened Haematococcus pluvialis

Le résumé fourni par la source

The encapsulation of the Haematococcus pluvialis ( Hp ), a primary natural source of astaxanthin (ASX), is a promising strategy to reduce degradation and enhance bioaccessibility. This study evaluated the effects of alginate (ALG) combined with one of five wall materials: gum arabic (GA), lecithin (LEC), maltodextrin (MD), pectin (PEC), and whey protein concentrate (WPC) on the properties of hydrogels containing weakened Hp ( Hp w) via ionic gelation. Encapsulation efficiency (97.05 - 98.52%) and loading capacity (32.46 - 32.95%) were highest in ALG-WPC- Hp w. Colorimetric analysis revealed significantly more intense coloration in ALG-WPC- Hp w. Confocal microscopy showed homogenous Hp w distribution, rough textures, variable porosity and crack-free surfaces while FTIR spectroscopy and DSC confirmed successful encapsulation of Hp w. While all the wall material combinations enhanced thermal stability of Hp w by shifting the endothermic peak to higher temperatures, the impact of ALG-WPC was particularly intense. Although antioxidant activity slightly declined post-encapsulation, DPPH scavenging remained concentration dependent. ALG-LEC- Hp w exhibited the highest ASX bioaccessibility. All hydrogels retained ≥96% ASX at 4°C and ≥93% at 25°C during 28 days of storage, with ALG-WPC- Hp w demonstrating the highest retention. These findings highlight the influence of carrier combinations for efficient ASX delivery in food, nutraceutical, and feed applications.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.