Stabilization of zein nanoparticles with k-carrageenan and tween 80 for encapsulation of curcumin

We aimed to develop a stable nanosystem with k-carrageenan (Kc), an anionic polysaccharide, combined with tween 80 to stabilize zein nanoparticles. The experimental results showed that the particle size, zeta-potential, and stability of the system depend on the Kc amount when the zein amount was unchanged. We found that the nanosystem with 5.0 and 10.0 mg Kc had a smaller particle size (250.1 ± 0.9 and 287.6 ± 1.4 nm, respectively), low polydispersity index (PDI, ≤ 0.20), and high stability when the external conditions changed. No obvious flocculation or deposition was observed at pH of 3-9, salt ion concentrations of 0-500 mmol/L, temperature of 30 °C and 50 °C-90 °C, and storage at 4 °C for 30 days. When the Kc-ZNP system was loaded with curcumin (Cur), there was a good encapsulation effect (5.0 mg Kc with 1.00 mg Cur (EE (%) = 34.69% ± 2.02%, size = 380.23 ± 5.80 nm, PDI = 0.252 ± 0.018) and 10.0 mg Kc with 2.00 mg Cur (EE (%) = 20.13% ± 1.05%, size = 431.27 ± 0.78 nm, PDI = 0.269 ± 0.020), ensuring that the particle size was not too large. Therefore, Kc-ZNPs could be a potential delivery system for fat-soluble drugs.