Design of Polymeric Delivery Systems for Lycium barbarum Phytochemicals: A Spray Drying Approach for Nutraceuticals

Goji berries (Lycium barbarum L.) are extremely rich in bioactive compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C, which contribute to the strong antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, positioning them as a promising candidate for nutraceutical applications. However, due to some limitations such as poor bioavailability and instability, encapsulation via spray drying with polymeric carriers provides a practical strategy to improve their stability, bioavailability, and applicability in the health sector. In this study, goji berry extract (GBE) was obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and encapsulated using spray drying with four different polymers: alginate, pectin, Eudragit E100 and RS30D. GBE-loaded microparticles showed improved production yields (e.g., 40.3% for Alginate + GBE vs. 13.9% for Alginate alone) and varying particle sizes (1.9-4.4 µm). The antioxidant/antiradical activities were retained to different extents, depending on the carrier, with RS30D + GBE displaying the highest TPC (15.51 mg GAE (gallic acid equivalents)/g), FRAP (59.83 µmol FSE (ferrous sulphate equivalents)/g), and DPPH activities (3.50 mg TE (Trolox equivalents)/g). Biocompatibility was confirmed in HT29-MTX cell lines for all produced microparticles. These findings support the use of spray-dried polymeric carriers to enhance the functional performance and stability of goji berry bioactive compounds in future nutraceutical applications.