Gastrointestinal-controlled dipotassium glycyrrhizinate self-assembly particles enhance fucoxanthin oral...

Improving visual sensitivity is crucial for activities requiring low-light vision, such as night driving and precision tasks, yet effective nutrient delivery to ocular tissues remains a challenge. Fucoxanthin (FX), a marine-derived carotenoid with vision-protective properties, suffers from poor bioavailability and targeting efficiency. To address this, we developed a triple-component nanocomplex via dipotassium glycyrrhizinate (DG)-directed hydrophobic assembly with bovine serum albumin (BSA), further modified with fucoidan (FUC) to form FUC-BSA-DG-FX. This system achieved high FX encapsulation and loading capacity, with sustained release profiles and significantly enhanced intestinal retention and bioaccessibility. In vivo studies revealed a significant accumulation of FX in mouse serum and liver-6.59-fold and 22.81-fold higher, respectively, compared to free FX. Concurrently, an improvement in ocular metabolite enrichment was observed. Electroretinogram assessments revealed substantial enhancements in photopic and scotopic visual responses, supported by increased oscillatory potentials indicating neural activation. Furthermore, retinal function assessments conducted over four consecutive weeks revealed that after three weeks of oral administration of FUC-BSA-DG-loaded FX, the physiological function of the mouse retina largely stabilized and no significant further changes were observed. This study presents a nanoarchitectonic strategy for efficient functional nutrient delivery, offering a promising approach to enhance visual performance through marine bioactive compounds.