Pectin-Chitosan Hydrogel Beads for Delivery of Functional Food Ingredients

• Published in: Foods Vol. 13; no. 18; p. 2885
• Main Authors: Morales, Eduardo, Quilaqueo, Marcela, Morales-Medina, Rocío, Drusch, Stephan, Navia, Rodrigo, Montillet, Agnès, Rubilar, Mónica, Poncelet, Denis, Galvez-Jiron, Felipe, Acevedo, Francisca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Biopolymers; Cell viability; Chemical and Process Engineering; Chitosan; Chloride; Coacervation; coating; Coatings; Composite materials; Confocal microscopy; controlled release; Diffusion coating; Disintegration; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Encapsulation; Engineering Sciences; Enzymes; Food additives industry; Functional foods; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Human health and pathology; hydrogel; Hydrogels; Ingredients; interfacial coacervation; Intestine; ionic gelation; Laser damage; Life Sciences; Low molecular weights; Molecular weight; Pectin; Probiotics; Scanning electron microscopy; Scanning microscopy; Shape; Structure-function relationships; Vehicles; Viscosity; ionic gelation; encapsulation; controlled release; coating; hydrogel; interfacial coacervation
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods13182885

A common challenge in hydrogel-based delivery systems is the premature release of low molecular weight encapsulates through diffusion or swelling and reduced cell viability caused by the low pH in gastric conditions. A second biopolymer, such as chitosan, can be incorporated to overcome this. Chitosan is usually associated with colonic drug delivery systems. We intended to formulate chitosan-coated pectin beads for use in delaying premature release of the encapsulate under gastric conditions but allowing release through disintegration under intestinal conditions. The latter is of utmost importance in delivering most functional food ingredients. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of formulation and process conditions on the size, sphericity, and dissolution behavior of chitosan-coated hydrogel beads prepared by interfacial coacervation. The size and sphericity of the beads depend on the formulation and range from approximately 3 to 5 mm and 0.82 to 0.95, respectively. Process conditions during electro-dripping may be modulated to tailor bead size. Depending on the voltage, bead size ranged from 1.5 to 4 mm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed chitosan shell formation around the pectin bead. Chitosan-coated beads maintained their size and shape in simulated gastric fluid but experienced structural damage in simulated intestinal fluid. Therefore, they represent a novel delivery system for functional food ingredients.