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Preparation of Crosslinked Gelatin Microparticles and Study on Their Loading Capacity for Folic Acid

  • 0University Engineering Research Center of Green Chemical New Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
Polymers +

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November 13, 2025

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November 13, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Tea polyphenol crosslinking enhances gelatin microparticles (GMPs) for improved thermal stability and controlled release of active substances during food processing and digestion.

Area Of Science

  • Food Science and Technology
  • Materials Science
  • Biotechnology

Background

  • Gelatin microparticles (GMPs) are effective carriers for active substances but lack stability during high-temperature food processing.
  • Redissolution of GMPs limits their application in functional food development.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To develop a novel crosslinking strategy using tea polyphenols (TP) to enhance the stability and functionality of GMPs.
  • To create crosslinked gelatin microparticles (cGMPs) suitable for food processing and targeted delivery.

Main Methods

  • Crosslinking of GMPs with tea polyphenols (TP) under optimized pH, temperature, and time conditions.
  • Characterization of cGMPs using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
  • Assessment of thermal stability via melting temperature (Tm) and evaluation of folic acid (FA) release under simulated digestion conditions.

Main Results

  • Optimized cGMPs exhibited a denser, smoother surface and improved thermal stability (Tm = 147.79 °C) compared to native GMPs (Tm = 87.11 °C).
  • Folic acid-loaded cGMPs (FA-cGMPs) maintained structural integrity at elevated temperatures (40-60 °C) for extended periods.
  • FA-cGMPs demonstrated sustained release, with minimal release in simulated gastric fluid (4.91%) and significant release in simulated intestinal fluid (88.13%).

Conclusions

  • Tea polyphenol crosslinking significantly enhances the thermal stability and morphological integrity of gelatin microparticles.
  • The developed cGMPs offer excellent potential as carriers for functional substances, ensuring stability during food processing and enabling targeted release in the intestine.

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