Construction of an efficient delivery system for raspberry anthocyanins: preparation and stability evaluation of whey...

Raspberry anthocyanins (ACNs) show strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but their practical application is restricted by the poor stability and low bioaccessibility. In this work, whey protein isolate and gum arabic were employed as composite wall materials to fabricate ACN-loaded nanoparticles. The nanoparticles presented a core-shell structure with high encapsulation efficiency, and their formation was driven by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The nanoparticles exhibited significantly enhanced stability under different pH, ionic strength and light conditions, with an ACN retention rate above 82% after 30 days of storage. They also maintained higher ACN retention and favorable antioxidant activity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. This study provides a feasible delivery system for the stabilization and application of raspberry anthocyanins.