Ferritin cage as a competent carrier for volatile cinnamaldehyde to improve its stability and flavor retention...

Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is the characteristic flavor compound of cinnamon, and the high volatility and instability limit its application in food and flavor industries. This study utilized the reversible self-assembly characteristics of Marsupenaeus japonicus ferritin (MjFer) to encapsulate CA within ferritin nanocages, constructing MjFer and CA complex (MjFer-CA). CA could be successfully encapsulated in ferritin cage with an encapsulation efficiency of 22.77 ± 0.74 % with an applying molar ratio of 1:80 (MjFer/CA). MjFer-CA maintained a homogeneous and globular morphology with a diameter of 15.32 nm. Compared to CA, the encapsulated CA within MjFer-CA displayed enhanced thermal stability (40 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C), photostability (natural and UV light), and storage stability (4 °C and 25 °C). Moreover, electronic nose, GC-MS, and sensory evaluation analyses confirmed the protective effect of ferritin on CA. This investigation proposes ferritin as a promising delivery system for volatile flavor compounds, offering a novel strategy for flavor preservation.