Protecting phytase from food processing stress using acid-resistant core-shell hydrogel carriers.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Food Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Phytate in vegetarian diets can cause mineral deficiencies.
• Phytase (phyA) can mitigate these deficiencies but is sensitive to environmental stress.
• Protecting phytase activity is crucial for its effectiveness in food applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protective delivery system for phytase (phyA).
• To enhance phytase stability against heat, acidic conditions, and food processing stresses.
• To improve mineral bioavailability in vegetarian diets.

Main Methods:

• Core-shell hydrogel beads were fabricated using a phyA-chitosan core and an alginate/κ-carrageenan shell.
• Encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and bead size were optimized.
• Stability assays were conducted under various conditions including heat, gastric pH, salt, and protease exposure.

Main Results:

• High encapsulation efficiency (82.6%) and loading (52.2%) were achieved with an optimal bead size of 2.5 mm.
• The core-shell beads demonstrated significant protection of phyA activity against heat (80.1%) and gastric pH (>90%).
• The beads exhibited superior stability compared to single-layer alginate beads under simulated food processing conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed core-shell hydrogel beads effectively protect phytase activity.
• This encapsulation strategy enhances phytase stability, making it suitable for dietary supplementation.
• The technology holds promise for improving mineral bioavailability in vegetarian diets.