Fabrication, characterization, stability and re-dispersity of H-aggregates fucoxanthin/whey protein/chitosan...

This study aimed to establish a unique and controlled protocol of H-aggregates fucoxanthin and improve the water dispersibility and stability of H-aggregates fucoxanthin. H-aggregates fucoxanthin has been controllably prepared by regulating the key factor of the molecular self-aggregation of fucoxanthin in hydrated-organic systems. The H-aggregates fucoxanthin/BSA/chitosan nanoparticles (H-FBC-NPs), with a hydrated size around 171 ± 4 nm, were prepared by adjusting the three types of whey protein and initial concentration of fucoxanthin, which was constructed by a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The spectroscopy studies indicated that chitosan and BSA formed hydrophobic microdomain by the intermolecular electrostatic interactions with remarkable changes of secondary structure in protein, which encapsulate fucoxanthin as H-aggregate. H-FBC-NPs were nearly spherical and uniformly dispersed via SEM and TEM. The EE of fucoxanthin in the H-FBC-NPs was >93.6 %. The successfully prepared H-FBC-NPs nanosuspension was lyophilized by vacuum freeze-drying technique with lyoprotectants, which was applied to the long-term preservation of H-FBC-NPs. H-FBC-NPs were stable within 48 h at 4 °C, 25 °C, 37 °C and different pH-value environments. This study broadens the application of fucoxanthin and its H-aggregates in the fields of food and biomedicine.