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Prunus mume Concentrate and Ca2+ Dual Cross-Linking Facilitate Sodium Alginate/Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Gelatin
Tenglong Miao1,2, Ni An1,2, Huhu Wang2
1Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China.
Abstract:
This study presents a novel dual cross-linking method using Prunus mume concentrate (PMC) as a source of H+ and Ca2+ to enhance polysaccharide (sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan/gelatin) microcapsule formation. The structure and release characteristics of microcapsules were influenced more by PMC pH than by its concentration. SEM results showed that as the pH decreased, the microcapsules had a more compact structure. The FTIR results showed that acid enhances hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions within the polysaccharide, leading to more stable microcapsule structures. XRD patterns showed that acid enhanced the stability of the polysaccharide crystal structure. Microcapsules significantly increased viable counts by 1 log(CFU/mL) in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 1.25 log(CFU/mL) in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) after 3 h of digestion. This study provides a basis for investigating the dual cross-linking of natural plant concentrates and Ca2+ construction of polysaccharide microcapsules to enhance probiotic resistance.
Insights
This study introduces a novel dual cross-linking method using Prunus mume concentrate (PMC) for enhanced polysaccharide microcapsules. The method improves probiotic resistance in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Food Science
Background:
- Polysaccharide microcapsules are crucial for delivering bioactive compounds like probiotics.
- Enhancing the stability and resistance of these microcapsules in gastrointestinal conditions is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel dual cross-linking method for polysaccharide microcapsules using Prunus mume concentrate (PMC).
- To investigate the impact of PMC pH and concentration on microcapsule structure and release characteristics.
- To evaluate the enhanced resistance of microcapsules to simulated gastric and intestinal fluids.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dual cross-linking approach with sodium alginate, carboxymethyl chitosan, and gelatin.
- Incorporated Prunus mume concentrate (PMC) as a source of H+ and Ca2+.
- Analyzed microcapsule structure using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
- Assessed probiotic viability in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF).
Main Results:
- Microcapsule structure and release were more sensitive to PMC pH than concentration.
- Lower pH resulted in more compact microcapsule structures.
- FTIR and XRD confirmed that acid enhances hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and crystal structure stability.
- Microcapsules significantly increased viable probiotic counts by 1 log(CFU/mL) in SGF and 1.25 log(CFU/mL) in SIF after 3 hours.
Conclusions:
- The novel dual cross-linking method using PMC effectively enhances polysaccharide microcapsule stability and probiotic resistance.
- PMC pH is a critical factor in controlling microcapsule morphology and protective properties.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for developing robust microcapsules for probiotic delivery.
