Anti-solvent precipitation for encapsulation of oyster protein hydrolysate nanoparticles: Effect on off-flavor elimination and bioaccessibility

In this study, to investigate the potential for delivering bioactive substances, various cereal proteoglycan nanoparticles were prepared using anti-solvent precipitation for the delivery of oyster protein hydrolysate (OPH). The hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction were the driving forces for OPH embedding. OPH-Loaded Zein/NaCas/Gum Arabic composite nanoparticles could self-assemble into spherical (191 nm) particles with strong stability, uniform distribution (about PDI = 0.2), and high negative charge (about -28 mV). The secondary structure of OPH-Loaded zein was converted from α-helix to random coil with heat treatment. The off-flavor, including (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal, octadecane, and 1-octanol in OPH-Loaded Zein nanoparticles significantly decreased. Furthermore, these nanoparticles containing OPH had excellent oxidation resistance, in vitro digestibility, and non-toxicity in Caco-2 and HT-29 cells. Overall, this work provides an efficient strategy for OPH delivery, suggesting that OPH could be ingested as a nutraceutical in powder form while also promoting the development of high-flavor-quality oyster products.