Preparation and characterization of Tremella polysaccharide/corn glutelin-stabilized emulsion for quercetin delivery

Here, we present the design and characterization of Corn glutelin-Tremella polysaccharide (CG-TPs) complexes, highlighting their potential as novel natural emulsifiers for quercetin (Que) delivery. The formation of CG-TPs complexes was primarily mediated by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, which induced conformational rearrangements in corn glutelin. These increased β-sheet and β-turn content, and optimized the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance. CG-TPs exhibited outstanding emulsifying properties, with the emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsifying stability index (ESI) significantly increasing by 28.93% and 55.7%, respectively, compared to CG. Compared with corn glutelin alone, CG-TPs emulsions displayed reduced particle size, reduced Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) values, and enhanced physical stability. Encapsulation of quercetin within the emulsions provided substantial protection against thermal and ultraviolet (UV) degradation. Moreover, quercetin loaded in CG-TPs emulsions demonstrated significantly greater antioxidant activity than quercetin dispersed in oil. Collectively, these findings indicate that CG-TPs emulsions represent a promising, biocompatible platform for stabilizing and efficiently delivering hydrophobic bioactive compounds.