Cis (Z)-β-carotenes with
25.3% 9Z-β-carotene were prepared for nanostructured
lipid carriers (NLCs). The optimal conditions for NLC preparation
using an orthogonal experimental method were as follows: the total
lipid concentration was 9% (w/v), the surfactant concentration was
1.4% (w/v), the solid to liquid lipid ratio was 3:1 (w/w), and the
homogenization pressure was set at 500 bar for three cycles. Under
these conditions, the encapsulation efficiency (%) of the NLC was
95.64%, and the total β-carotene in NLCs was 2.9 mg/mL, which
was significantly higher than those reported by others. The proportion
of total Z-β-carotenes was as high as 53.3%,
the particle size was 191 ± 6.46 nm, and the polydispersity index
was 0.2 ± 0.03. Storage stability results indicated that the
β-carotene-loaded NLC stabilizes both 9Z-β-carotene
and total β-carotene from leakage and degradation during 21
days of storage at pH 3.5–7.5 at low temperatures (4 °C),
especially for the more bioactive 9Z-β-carotene.
The technique with an improved ratio of 9Z-β-carotene,
loading capacity, water solubility, and bioaccessibility of the β-carotene
NLC provides an effective strategy for β-carotene applications
in functional foods or beverages and in nutraceutical preparations.
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