Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
09:47
Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
Published on: February 19, 2016
Formation of solid shell nanoparticles with liquid ω-3 fatty acid core
Hanna Salminen1, Thrandur Helgason, Bjarki Kristinsson
1Department of Food Physics and Meat Science, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 21/25, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany. hanna.salminen@uni-hohenheim.de
Food Chemistry
|July 23, 2013
Summary
High-melting lecithin stabilizes nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) containing omega-3 fish oil, preventing oxidation and enhancing physical stability. This surfactant choice is key for stable lipid nanoparticles in food and pharmaceuticals.
Area of Science:
- Food Science and Technology
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Engineering stable nanostructures for bioactive compounds is crucial for food and pharmaceutical industries.
- Omega-3 fatty acids require protection from oxidation for enhanced efficacy and shelf-life.
- Lipid nanoparticles offer a promising delivery system for lipophilic compounds like omega-3 fish oil.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of surfactant properties, specifically low-melting (LM) and high-melting (HM) lecithins, on the stability of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC).
- To evaluate the physical and chemical stability of NLCs containing tristearin and omega-3 fish oil.
- To understand the role of lecithin type in controlling the crystallization behavior and oxidative stability of lipid nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- Formulation and characterization of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), and omega-3 fish oil-in-water emulsions.
- Utilizing low-melting (LM) and high-melting (HM) lecithins as surfactants.
- Assessing physical properties (crystallization temperature, melting temperature, melting enthalpy) and chemical stability (oxidation of omega-3 fatty acids).
Main Results:
- The presence of omega-3 fish oil decreased the crystallization temperature, melting temperature, and melting enthalpy of tristearin.
- NLCs stabilized with HM-lecithin demonstrated over 90% inhibition of omega-3 fatty acid oxidation compared to those stabilized with LM-lecithin.
- HM-lecithin's solidified surfactant layer promoted shell crystallization via interfacial heterogeneous nucleation, leading to enhanced stability.
Conclusions:
- Saturated HM-lecithin is critical for controlling the crystallization behavior of lipid nanoparticles.
- HM-lecithin enables the formation of physically and oxidatively stable lipid nanoparticles for omega-3 fatty acid encapsulation.
- These findings provide valuable insights for designing stable nanocarriers for bioactive lipids in various industries.
Related Concept Videos
03:22Colloids
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
01:30Micelles
Micelle formation is an intricate process that hinges on the properties of amphiphilic or amphipathic molecules and the conditions of the system in which they are found. Amphiphilic molecules, which have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts, play a critical role in this process.In aqueous environments, these molecules arrange themselves such that their hydrophilic heads are turned towards the water phase, while their hydrophobic tails are oriented away...
01:32Lipids as Anchors
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains the...
01:19Formation of Lipopolysaccharides
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin, triggering...
01:29Liquid–Solid Solutions
The process of a solid dissolving in a liquid to form a solution is governed by the solubility limit, which is the maximum amount of the solid substance, or solute, that can be dissolved in a specific volume of the liquid or solvent. As the solute dissolves, it reaches a point where no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature - this is known as the saturation point. However, if further solute is added and it manages to dissolve, the solution becomes supersaturated. Supersaturated...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...