Self-assembled poloxamer-legumin/vicilin nanoparticles for the nanoencapsulation and controlled release of folic acid
Changhao Fang, Karen Kanemaru, Wildemar S.P. Carvalho, Krista R. Fruehauf, Luyao Zhang, Prem Prakash Das, Caishuang Xu, Yuping Lu, Nandhakishore Rajagopalan, Marianna Kulka, Darren Makeiff, Michael J. Serpe
Abstract
Plant-based food proteins are a promising choice for the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) due to their high digestibility, low cost, and ability to interact with various compounds and nutrients. Moreover, nanoencapsulation offers a potential solution for protecting nutrients during processing and enhancing their bioavailability. This study aimed to develop and evaluate nanoparticles (NPs) based on legumin/vicilin (LV) proteins extracted from fava beans, with the goal of encapsulating and delivering a model nutraceutical compound, folic acid (FA). Specifically, NPs were self-assembled from LV proteins extracted from commercially available frozen fava beans using a pH-coacervation method with poloxamer 188 (P188) and chemically cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. Microscopy and spectroscopy studies were carried out on the empty and FA-loaded NPs in order to evaluate the particle morphology, size, size distribution, composition, mechanism of formation, impact of FA loading and release behavior. In vitro studies with Caco-2 cells also confirmed that the empty and FA-loaded nanoparticles were non-toxic. Thus, the LV-NPs are good candidates as food additives for the delivery and stabilization of nutrients as well as in drug delivery for the controlled release of therapeutics.