Stability and encapsulation efficiency of sulforaphane microencapsulated by spray drying

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Nutraceuticals
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Sulforaphane (SF) exhibits significant anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
• The inherent instability of SF limits its practical applications.
• Microencapsulation is a promising strategy to enhance the stability of bioactive compounds like SF.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop stable microcapsules containing sulforaphane (SF) using spray drying.
• To investigate the impact of various parameters on SF encapsulation and stability.
• To determine optimal conditions for producing SF-loaded microcapsules.

Main Methods:

• Spray drying technique was employed for microencapsulation of SF.
• Evaluation of different wall materials, inlet air temperatures, and core-to-wall ratios.
• Assessment of SF stability, encapsulation efficiency, yield, moisture content, and SF content.

Main Results:

• Maltodextrin as wall material, 170 °C inlet air temperature, and a 1:20 core/wall ratio were identified as optimal conditions.
• Spray-dried microcapsules exhibited a regular spherical morphology.
• Significantly enhanced stability of SF within microcapsules compared to free SF was observed.

Conclusions:

• Spray drying with maltodextrin effectively produces stable sulforaphane microcapsules.
• Optimized encapsulation conditions substantially improve SF stability and encapsulation efficiency.
• Microencapsulated SF offers a more stable and potentially more bioavailable form of this beneficial compound.