Fabrication, characterization and gastrointestinal fate of curcumin-loaded emulsions stabilized by soy protein-based ternary composite nanoparticles

• Published in: Food chemistry 2025-02, Vol.464 (Pt 3), p.141886, Article 141886
• Main Authors: Xu, Jingjing, Ji, Fuyun, Liu, Huihui, Luo, Shuizhong, Jiang, Shaotong, Yu, Zhenyu, Zheng, Zhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioavailability; Curcumin emulsion; Emulsion gel; Novel emulsifier; Soy protein; Transacylation reaction
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.141886

To design a novel emulsifier capable of enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin (Cur)-loaded emulsions in the gastrointestinal tract, soy protein-based ternary composite nanoparticles (SEPn) were fabricated by transacylation reaction. The results showed that SEPn was formed by the covalent binding of the carboxyl groups in PGA to the amino groups in SEC through multiple forces. SEPn-1:1 was determined to be the optimal condition for preparing Cur-loaded emulsions. Additionally, SEPn-1:1 had superior emulsifying capacity as formed plastic-state emulsion gel with φ as low as 0.5. Moreover, the rise in oil content promoted the development of gel, thus increasing the apparent viscosity, gel strength, and stability of Cur-loaded emulsions. Furthermore, SEPn-1:1 emulsion exhibited excellent gastric stability and higher free fatty acid (FAA) release rates in the small intestine phase compared with that of SECcon (SEC control sample) and Mixture emulsion, thus leading to the highest bioavailability of Cur (28.57 ± 1.91 %). Soy protein-based ternary composite nanoparticles (SEPn) stabilized curcumin (Cur)-loaded emulsion and its improved Cur bioavailability. [Display omitted] •SEPn were fabricated by transacylation reaction between the carboxylic groups of PGA and the amino groups of SEC.•SEPn was formed by the interaction of multiple forces, such as covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds.•SEPn-1:1 (SEC: PGA = 1:1, w/w) was determined to be the optimal condition for the preparation of Cur-loaded emulsions.•SEPn-1:1 had superior emulsifying capacity as formed plastic-state emulsion gel with φ as low as 0.5.•SEPn-1:1 emulsion exhibited the highest bioavailability of Cur (28.57 %), as compared to SECcon and Mixture emulsion.