Optimization of a method for preparing solid complexes of essential clove oil with β-cyclodextrins

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology

Background:

• Clove oil (CO) possesses valuable functional properties for food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
• Key limitations of CO include poor water solubility, volatility, and sensitivity to light and taste.
• Microencapsulation and complexation are viable strategies to overcome CO's inherent disadvantages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the aqueous solubility and stability of clove oil (CO).
• To develop an efficient method for preparing solid CO-beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion complexes.
• To evaluate different drying techniques for optimizing the complexation process.

Main Methods:

• Formation of inclusion complexes between essential CO and beta-cyclodextrins (β-CDs).
• Preparation of CO-β-CD solid complexes using microwave irradiation (MWI).
• Drying of complexes via vacuum oven drying (VO), freeze-drying (FD), and spray-drying (SD).

Main Results:

• Essential CO was successfully solubilized in aqueous solution through complexation with β-CDs.
• Phase solubility studies confirmed the formation of both soluble and insoluble CO-β-CD complexes.
• Freeze-drying (FD) emerged as the most effective drying method for CO-β-CD solid complexes, followed by VO and SD.

Conclusions:

• Microwave irradiation (MWI) is an efficient technique for large-scale preparation of CO-β-CD complexes.
• The developed method offers a good yield for industrial production.
• This approach effectively addresses the solubility and stability issues of clove oil.