Preparation, characterization and sustained release of an encapsulated astaxanthin composite derived from hawthorn...

In this study, we investigated the effects of extraction methods on the gel properties of composite hydrogels of hawthorn pectin (HP) and zein, as well as on the encapsulation effect and in vivo and in vitro release ability of astaxanthin (ASTA), Gel properties were assessed based on gel strength, dehydration shrinkage, rheological behavior, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Optimal gelation parameters were a pectin-to-protein ratio of 1:2, Ca²⁺ concentration (15 mmol/L) at a pH of 3. Notably, hydrogels derived from microwave-assisted extraction (MA-HP) demonstrated superior gel properties. Measurement of embedding rate, loading capacity, and in vitro digestion simulation experiment, the results indicated that the composite hydrogel prepared from pectin obtained by microwave-assisted extraction method and zein (MA-ZHIH) achieved the highest encapsulation efficiency for ASTA at 97.3 % alongside a drug loading capacity of 8.12 %. ASTA encapsulated with MA-ZHIH successfully crossed the gastric simulant and was released in the intestinal simulant, with the DPPH clearance of the released ASTA remaining at 53.4 %. Further in vivo studies in mice confirmed the potential of MA-ZHIH's as a bioactive delivery system, supporting its application in the encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive compounds and offering, valuable insights for the utilization of HP.