Preparation and Characterization of Carvacrol-Loaded Caseinate/Zein-Composite Nanoparticles Using the Anti-Solvent Precipitation Method
Huaming Zheng, Jiangli Wang, Jiangli Wang, Yiqiang Zhang, Quanwei Xv, Qiaohui Zeng, Jing Jing Wang, Jing Jing Wang
Abstract
Extending shelf life and maintaining the high quality of food are arduous challenges. In this study, the self-assembly properties of zein were used to load carvacrol essential oil, and then sodium caseinate was selected as a stabilizer to fabricate carvacrol-loaded composite nanoparticles. The results showed that the composite nanoparticles had a high encapsulation efficiency for carvacrol (71.52–80.09%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the carvacrol-loaded composite nanoparticles were spherical and uniformly distributed, with particle sizes ranging from 80 to 220 nm. First and foremost, the carvacrol-loaded nanoparticles exhibited excellent water-redispersibility, storage-stability, and antioxidant properties, as well as antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Benefiting from the antimicrobial and antioxidative abilities, the films with carvacrol-loaded composite nanoparticles effectively inhibited food spoilage and prolonged the shelf-life of cherry tomatoes and bananas. Therefore, carvacrol-loaded composite nanoparticles may have potential application prospects in the food industry.