Study on the fabrication and controlled release behavior of N-Acetylneuraminic acid-loaded hydrogels stabilized by gelatin/whey protein isolate

• Published in: Food chemistry 2024-10, Vol.456, p.139934, Article 139934
• Main Authors: Xu, Lu, Wang, Yingge, Chen, Xiangsong, Cao, Lili, Pang, Min
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioaccessibility; Hydrogel; N-Acetylneuraminic acid; Polysaccharide/whey protein isolate; Swelling behavior
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139934

Gelatin (GEL), pectin (PEC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and whey protein isolate (WPI) were employed to formulate hydrogels for stabilizing N-Acetylneuraminic Acid (NeuAc). GEL/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels, irrespective of the ratio, exhibited a flexible and smooth surface with a continuous three-dimensional network structure internally. Porosity of the three types of hydrogels increased from 3.69% to 86.92% (GEL/WPI), 41.67% (PEC/WPI), and 87.62% (CMC/WPI), rendering them suitable as carriers for NeuAc encapsulation. The dynamic swelling behavior of all hydrogels followed Schott's second-order kinetics model. The degradation performance of GEL, PEC, and CMC/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels was optimal at a 5: 5 ratio, with degradation rates of 80.39 ± 1.26%, 82.38 ± 1.96%, and 81.39 ± 1.57%, respectively. GEL, PEC, CMC/WPI-NeuAc hydrogels demonstrated decreased release rates of 44.56%, 31.04%, and 41.26%, respectively, compared to free NeuAc, post gastric digestion. The present investigation suggests the potential of GEL/WPI hydrogels as effective carriers for delivering NeuAc encapsulation. [Display omitted] •Gelatin/whey protein isolate hydrogel were fabricated to deliver NeuAc.•The NeuAc bioaccessibility increased in gelatin/whey protein isolate hydrogel.•Complex hydrogels improved the stability of NeuAc.