Effects of microfluidisation process on the amounts and distribution of encapsulated and non-encapsulated α-tocopherol microcapsules obtained by spray drying

• Published in: Food research international 2014-09, Vol.63, p.2-8
• Main Authors: Quintanilla-Carvajal, María Ximena, Hernández-Sánchez, Humberto, Alamilla-Beltrán, Liliana, Zepeda-Vallejo, Gerardo, Jaramillo-Flores, María Eugenia, de Jesús Perea-Flores, María, Jimenez-Aparicio, Antonio, Gutiérrez-López, Gustavo F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Color; Colour; Confocal; Confocal microscopy; Encapsulation; Food industries; Foods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Laser microscopy; Microfluidisation; Nondestructive testing; Scanning; Spray drying; α-Tocopherol encapsulation
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2014.05.025

The effect of microfluidisation on the amount of encapsulated and non-encapsulated α-tocopherol was evaluated in 21 different combinations of maltodextrin, gum arabic and α-tocopherol. A response surface design of two factors (α-tocopherol concentration: 17 to 28% and microfluidisation cycles: 0, 1 and 2) was applied for a purpose. It was determined that the initial amount of α-tocopherol showed a cubic effect on the maximum encapsulation efficiency according to the microfluidisation cycles used. A larger number of cycles in the microfluidiser decreased the size of the nanoemulsion at low initial concentrations (17–20%) of α-tocopherol. The distribution profile of α-tocopherol was also determined by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy, and the encapsulation efficiencies of all powders were correlated with their CIELAB parameter a* and resulted in a second-order relation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the image analysis is reported as useful non-destructive technique to correlate colour and encapsulated materials quantifications. •Non-encapsulated α-tocopherol increased with microfluidisation cycles.•Distribution profiles of α-tocopherol were determined by confocal microscopy.•Microfluidisation affected encapsulation efficiencies of microcapsules.