Plant protein-based delivery systems for bioactive ingredients in foods

Abstract

The application of food-grade delivery systems for the encapsulation, protection and controlled release of bioactive food ingredients have recently gained increasing interest in the research fields of functional foods and pharmaceutics. Plant proteins (mainly soy proteins, zein and wheat gliadins), which are widely available and environmentally economic compared to animal derived proteins, can be made into various delivery platforms, such as micro- and nanoparticles, fibers, films and hydrogels. In this paper, we review the recent progress in the preparation of food-grade delivery systems based on plant proteins for bioactive ingredients, and highlight some of the challenges and directions that will be the focus of future research. The preparation and application of bifunctional particles, which were able to deliver the bioactives to oil/water interface and stabilize the interface, are also described, providing a novel perspective for the design of plant protein-based delivery system.