Nanoencapsulated anthocyanin as a functional ingredient: Technological application and future perspectives

Anthocyanins are an important group of phenolic compounds responsible for pigmentation in several plants, and regular consumption is associated with a reduced risk of several diseases. However, the application of anthocyanins in foods represents a challenge due to molecular instability. The encapsulation of anthocyanins in nanostructures is a viable way to protect from the factors responsible for degradation and enable the industrial application of these compounds. Nanoencapsulation is a set of techniques in which the bioactive molecules are covered by resistant biomaterials that protect them from chemical and biological factors during processing and storage. This review comprehensively summarizes the existing knowledge about the structure of anthocyanins and molecular stability, with a critical analysis of anthocyanins' nanoencapsulation, the main encapsulating materials (polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids), and techniques used in the formation of nanocarriers to protect anthocyanins. Some studies point to the effectiveness of nanostructures in maintaining anthocyanin stability and antioxidant activity. The main advantages of the application of nanoencapsulated anthocyanins in foods are the increase in the nutritional value of the food, the addition of color, the increase in food storage, and the possible increase in bioavailability after oral ingestion. Nanoencapsulation improves stability for anthocyanin, thus demonstrating the potential to be included in foods or used as dietary supplements, and current limitations, challenges, and future directions of anthocyanins' have also been discussed.