Protein-based carriers for food bioactive delivery: gastrointestinal barriers, structural design, and...

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Materials Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Protein-based carriers are promising for oral delivery of food bioactives due to their inherent properties.
• Current research often focuses on material properties, neglecting crucial gastrointestinal barrier interactions and bioavailability.
• Inefficient absorption and poor stability limit the efficacy of many food bioactives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate protein-based oral delivery systems using a gastrointestinal barrier-oriented framework.
• To analyze various protein carriers based on structural features, assembly, digestion, and delivery functions.
• To emphasize carrier-barrier compatibility as a central design principle for enhanced bioavailability.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of representative protein carriers (e.g., prolamins, globulins, albumins, ferritin, silk fibroin).
• Discussion of protein architecture engineering for improved gastrointestinal survival and release.
• Evaluation of carrier performance in relation to gastric protection, protease resistance, mucus penetration, and epithelial interaction.

Main Results:

• Protein carrier design can be engineered to overcome gastrointestinal barriers.
• Carrier-barrier compatibility is more critical than protein source for delivery performance.
• Effective systems require integrated functions: stability, manufacturability, safety, and sensory acceptance.

Conclusions:

• Future protein-based delivery systems must prioritize carrier-barrier compatibility for improved bioavailability.
• Development requires moving towards standardized digestion-absorption models and quantitative in vivo evaluations.
• Scalable processing strategies are essential for translating these systems into functional foods and dietary supplements.