Encapsulation of lycopene into electrospun nanofibers from whey protein isolate-Tricholoma lobayense polysaccharide complex stabilized emulsions: Structural characterization, storage stability, in vitro release, and cellular evaluation

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 238; p. 123993
• Main Authors: Chen, Lei, Xiang, Ming, Wu, Fen, Jiang, Yun, Wu, Qingxi, Zhang, Wenna, Guo, Wenqiang, Cai, Bolin, Liang, Li, Li, Songnan, Chen, Yan, Du, Xianfeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 31.05.2023
• Subjects: Caco-2 Cells; Emulsion electrospinning; Emulsions - chemistry; Humans; Lycopene; Micelles; Nanofibers; Polysaccharides; Transmembrane transport; Tricholoma; Whey Proteins - chemistry; Emulsion electrospinning; Transmembrane transport; Lycopene
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123993

In this study, lycopene-loaded nanofibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate-polysaccharide TLH-3 (WPI–TLH-3) complexes. The lycopene encapsulated in the emulsion-based nanofibers exhibited enhanced photostability and thermostability, and achieved improved targeted small intestine-specific release. The release of lycopene from the nanofibers followed Fickian diffusion mechanism in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and first-order model in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) with the enhanced release rates. The bioaccessibility and cellular uptake efficiency of lycopene in micelles by Caco-2 cells after in vitro digestion were significantly improved. The intestinal membrane permeability and transmembrane transport efficiency of lycopene in micelles across Caco-2 cells monolayer were greatly elevated, thus promoting the effective absorption and intracellular antioxidant activity of lycopene. This work opens a potential approach for electrospinning of emulsions stabilized by protein–polysaccharide complexes as a novel delivery system for liposoluble nutrients with enhanced bioavailability in functional food industries. •Fabrication of lycopene-loaded nanofibers by electrospinning of O/W emulsions•Lycopene encapsulated exhibited enhanced photostability and thermostability.•The targeted small intestine-specific release of lycopene was achieved.•The bioaccessibility and cellular uptake efficiency of lycopene were improved.•The transport efficiency of lycopene across Caco-2 cells monolayer was elevated.