Chitosan-zein-icariin complexes modulate double emulsion phase transitions to potentiate absorption efficiency

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Food Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Developing effective delivery systems for hydrophobic compounds like icariin is crucial for enhancing their bioaccessibility and efficacy.
• Chitosan and zein are biocompatible polymers with potential for complex formation and emulsion stabilization.
• Ternary complexes offer advanced structural and functional properties compared to binary systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a chitosan-zein-icariin ternary complex using reversed-phase precipitation for stabilizing double emulsions.
• To investigate the structural, thermal, and interfacial properties of the ternary complex.
• To evaluate the stability, in-vitro digestion, and bioaccessibility of icariin from the prepared double emulsion.

Main Methods:

• Reversed-phase precipitation was employed to synthesize the chitosan-zein-icariin ternary complex.
• One-step emulsification was used to prepare double emulsions stabilized by the ternary complex.
• Characterization involved microscopy, particle size analysis, thermal analysis, contact angle measurements, in-vitro digestion, and Caco-2 cell studies.

Main Results:

• The ternary complex formed spherical microstructures with uniform size distribution.
• Incorporation of icariin decreased thermal stability and interfacial contact angle.
• The double emulsion exhibited multi-chambered structures, solidified upon cold storage, and showed enhanced storage stability but increased droplet size under stress (NaCl, temperature).
• In-vitro digestion led to complex disintegration and icariin release, significantly enhancing bioaccessibility and absorption efficacy in Caco-2 cells.

Conclusions:

• The chitosan-zein-icariin ternary complex effectively stabilizes double emulsions, improving icariin's in-vitro bioaccessibility and absorption.
• The complex demonstrates potential as a delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive compounds.
• This study provides a foundation for designing advanced delivery systems using hydrophobic multivariate complexes.