Biofunctional metal-phenolic films from dietary flavonoids
Nadja Bertleff-Zieschang1, Md Arifur Rahim1, Yi Ju1
1Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. fcaruso@unimelb.edu.au.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|January 4, 2017
Summary
Dietary flavonoids were transformed into reusable films and capsules using metal coordination networks. These novel materials overcome poor water solubility and retain antioxidant activity for potential pharmaceutical and food applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Dietary flavonoids possess beneficial properties but suffer from poor water solubility, limiting their applications.
- Metal coordination networks offer a versatile platform for material design and functionalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for overcoming the poor water solubility of dietary flavonoids.
- To create novel flavonoid-based materials with retained bioactivity.
- To explore potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Main Methods:
- Assembling dietary flavonoids (quercetin, myricetin, luteolin, fisetin) into metal coordinated networks.
- Forming thin, surface-bound films and hollow capsules from these networks.
- Evaluating radical scavenging activity and reusability of the flavonoid films.
Main Results:
- Successfully created flavonoid-based films and capsules, enhancing water solubility.
- Flavonoid films demonstrated significant radical scavenging activity.
- The developed flavonoid films exhibited reusability over multiple cycles.
Conclusions:
- Metal coordination networks provide an effective strategy for solubilizing and stabilizing bioactive flavonoids.
- The resulting flavonoid films and capsules show promise for pharmaceutical and food applications due to their retained antioxidant properties and reusability.
