Information from the abstract
Abstract C-phycocyanin (CPC) is a natural blue pigment with high functional value, but its limited stability restricts its use in food systems. This study developed alginate–chitosan composite hydrogel beads containing carrageenan, pectin, or gellan gum to improve CPC retention and control its release under gastrointestinal conditions. Hydrocolloid and chitosan concentrations were optimized using response surface methodology, and the selected formulations were characterized for encapsulation performance, physicochemical properties, morphology, molecular interactions, surface charge, storage stability, and in vitro release. Among the composite systems, alginate–carrageenan–chitosan (Al-Car-Chi) showed the highest CPC encapsulation efficiency (99.69%), whereas alginate–pectin–chitosan (Al-Pec-Chi) gave the highest bead production yield (78.91%). SEM, FTIR, and zeta potential analyses showed clear differences in network organization and interfacial properties among the formulations, indicating that CPC retention was governed by the combined effects of polymer composition rather than by a single physical property. During storage, wet beads deteriorated rapidly at 30°C, while refrigeration at 4°C delayed deterioration. Under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, all formulations limited CPC release to below 2% during the gastric phase. Release increased in simulated intestinal fluid, reaching 41.63% for Al-Chi and only 22.45% for Al-Car-Chi at 240 min. The Korsmeyer-Peppas model provided the most consistent fit to intestinal release data (\(\:{R}^{2}\) = 0.967–0.992), indicating complex non-Fickian transport in the composite systems. Although, hydrocolloid type strongly affected CPC encapsulation, storage behavior, and release, with Al-Car-Chi providing high initial CPC retention together with relatively slow intestinal release.
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Related topics: Microencapsulation and Drying Processes · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications · Proteins in Food Systems
Thai researcher and institutional participation
Phirunrat Thaisamak · Kantharakorn Taengrit · Jiungluk Runglert · Kittikoon Wannasawad · Sakawduan Wongyai · Janejira Phakawan · Rajamangala University of Technology · Burapha University
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