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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Fabrication of Size-Controlled and Emulsion-Free Chitosan-Genipin Microgels for Tissue Engineering Applications
Published on: April 13, 2022
Effect of molecular weight of chitosan on its complex coacervation with gelatin for oil encapsulation
Runyu Tang1, Guangyi Kan1, Ting Zhang2
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Health Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200135, China; Medical Food Laboratory, Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research, Shanghai 200092, China; National R&D Branch Center for Freshwater Aquatic Products Processing Technology (Shanghai), Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquatic-Product Processing and Preservation, College of Food Science & Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
Abstract:
This work aimed to study the effects of chitosan molecular weight on the properties of fish oil powders. The oil-encapsulate complex coacervates were first prepared via bovine bone gelatin-chitosan complex coacervation and then were freeze-dried to prepare powders. The sizes of coacervates and powders depended on the molecular weights (kDa): 100 > 30 > 150 > 250 > 200. As molecular weight increased, the loading capacities (20.9%-26.3%) and encapsulation efficiencies (79.6%-90.8%) decreased (30-100 kDa) and increased (100-250 kDa). Under Schaal oven conditions, the 30 and 100 kDa induced the lowest (381.1 mmol/kg oil) and highest (557.4 mmol/kg oil), respectively, peroxide peak values. In a gastrointestinal model, low molecular weights (≤150 kDa) induced faster dissolution and higher fatty acid releases (43.19%-50.28% vs. 26.13%-27.56% at 2 h) than high ones. The results demonstrated that chitosan molecular weight was critical for governing the properties of oil powders.
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