Effect of different polysaccharides and crosslinkers on echium oil microcapsules

Microencapsulation by complex coacervation using gelatin and arabic gum (AG) as wall materials and transglutaminase for crosslinking is commonly used. However, AG is only produced in a few countries and transglutaminase is expensive. This work aimed to evaluate the encapsulation of echium oil by complex coacervation using gelatin and cashew gum (CG) as wall materials and sinapic acid (S) as crosslinker. Treatments were analyzed in relation to morphology, particle size, circularity, accelerated oxidation and submitted to different stress conditions. Rounded microcapsules were obtained for treatments with AG (45.45μm) and microcapsules of undefined format were obtained for treatments with CG (22.06μm). The S incorporation for 12h improved the oil stability by three fold compared to oil encapsulated without crosslinkers. Treatments with CG and S were resistant to different stress conditions similar to treatments with AG and transglutaminase, making this an alternative for delivery/application of compounds in food products.