Utilization of different carrier agents for chlorophyll encapsulation: Characterization and kinetic stability study

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Chlorophyll, a vital natural pigment, is susceptible to degradation from environmental factors like pH and light.
• Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for preserving chlorophyll's integrity and functionality in various applications.
• Protein-based nano/microparticles offer a promising matrix for encapsulating sensitive bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize chlorophyll-loaded nano/microparticles using zein, casein, and whey protein isolate.
• To evaluate the protective effects of these protein carriers against acid pH and light exposure.
• To investigate the thermal degradation kinetics of the encapsulated chlorophyll.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nano/microparticles using zein, casein, and whey protein isolate as carrier agents.
• Characterization of particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity.
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine chlorophyll's state within the particles.
• Assessment of chlorophyll retention under acidic conditions (pH 2-6) and light exposure.
• Analysis of thermal degradation kinetics using the first-order model.

Main Results:

• High encapsulation efficiencies (83.6–96.3%) and loading capacities (0.8–5.5%) were achieved.
• Particle sizes ranged from 483 to 1020 nm, with chlorophyll found in a non-crystalline state.
• Significant protection of chlorophyll was observed against acid pH (39.3–97.8% retention) and light (41.6–65.5% retention).
• Thermal degradation kinetics revealed activation energy, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy changes within specific ranges.

Conclusions:

• Zein, casein, and whey protein isolate are effective carrier agents for chlorophyll nano/microparticle fabrication.
• The developed systems provide substantial protection for chlorophyll against detrimental acid pH and light conditions.
• The study provides valuable insights into the stability and degradation kinetics of protein-encapsulated chlorophyll.