Vitamin E Encapsulation in Plant-Based Nanoemulsions Fabricated Using Dual-Channel Microfluidization: Formation, Stability, and Bioaccessibility

Abstract

In this study, vitamin E was encapsulated in oil-in-water nanoemulsions fabricated using a dual-channel microfluidizer. A long chain triacylglycerol (corn oil) was used as a carrier oil and a biosurfactant (quillaja saponin) was used as a natural emulsifier. The impact of vitamin-to-carrier oil ratio on the formation, storage stability, and bioaccessibility of the nanoemulsions was determined. The lipid droplet size formed during homogenization increased with increasing vitamin content, which was attributed to a large increase in lipid phase viscosity. The storage stability of the nanoemulsions decreased as the vitamin content increased because the larger lipid droplets creamed faster. The rate and extent of lipid hydrolysis in the small intestine decreased as the vitamin content increased, probably because the vitamin molecules inhibited the ability of lipase to reach the triacylglycerols inside the lipid droplets. Vitamin bioaccessibility decreased as the vitamin level in the lipid phase increased, which was attributed to the reduced level of mixed micelles available to solubilize the tocopherols. The optimized nanoemulsion-based delivery system led to a relatively high vitamin bioaccessibility (53.9%). This research provides valuable information for optimizing delivery systems to increase the bioaccessibility of oil-soluble vitamins.

Curcumin and Quercetin-Loaded Nanoemulsions: Physicochemical Compatibility Study and Validation of a Simultaneous Quantification Method

“…The encapsulation of the two natural compounds led to a slight increase in the average particle size of the nanoemulsion (98.11 vs. 112.33 nm) as often observed in the case of nanocarriers [ 50 ]. Generally, in the case of nanoemulsions this can be attributed to effects related to the dispersion of the inner phase in the bi-phasic system such as increase in the viscosity [ 51 ] or change at the droplet interface [ 52 ]. Considering the relatively low content of the two drugs, that is unlikely to have a relevant impact on the inner phase viscosity, an interference of the two natural compounds with the phospholipids layer stabilizing the nanodroplets is more likely to have occurred in reason of their polyphenolic and flavonolic structure.…”

Nanoemulsions: Using emulsifiers from natural sources replacing synthetic ones—A review

“…Corn oil was used as the oil phase, and a Q-Naturale R was used as an emulsifier. The mean droplet size was found increased with vitamin E concentration, correlated to the high viscosity of the oil phase-the extent of lipid hydrolysis during in vitro simulated digestion reduced as the vitamin E content augmented, possibly because the vitamin E prevented the capacity of lipase enzyme to attain the triacylglycerol inside the droplets (Lv et al, 2018). Vitamin E bioavailability reduced as the vitamin E concentration in the oil phase increased, which was correlated to the low level of micelles available to solubilize vitamin E.…”

“…Interactions between vitamin D and emulsifiers (Tween 20 and SL) occurred since the properties of the interfacial layers were affected, as shown using the spin probing technique. Lv et al (2018) studied the encapsulation of vitamin E in NE using a dual-channel microfluidizer. Corn oil was used as the oil phase, and a Q-Naturale R was used as an emulsifier.…”

“…The optimized NE formulation showed a relatively high vitamin E bioavailability (∼54%) (Lv et al, 2018). Ma, Tu, Wang, Zhang, and McClements (2017) investigated the formation of NE-coated microgels by electrostatic deposition of WPI-stabilized oil droplets on the alginate beads surface prepared using microfluidization.…”

Food-Grade Nanoemulsions: Preparation, Stability and Application in Encapsulation of Bioactive Compounds

“…As reported by Lv et al, nanoemulsions containing vitamin E were fabricated by dual-channel microfluidizer, using corn oil as a carrier oil and using QS as an emulsifier. The optimized nanoemulsions resulted in a relatively high vitamin bioaccessibility (53.9%) [179]. According to Moradi et al, the cellular uptake of a-tocopherol in nanoemulsions displayed a rise of up to 12 times higher than microsized a-tocopherol [112].…”