Fabrication of BSA-Pinus koraiensis polyphenol-chitosan nanoparticles and their release characteristics under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion

Abstract

BSA and chitosan were used to prepare nanoparticles of polyphenols from the pine cones of Pinus koraiensis (PKP-NPs). The physicochemical properties including the average particle size, zeta potential, crystal characteristics and morphology of PKP-NPs were measured. PKP-NPs were semi-crystalline, and possessed spherical and almost uniformly sized morphological features. The rheological particle size of PKP-NPs was 187.9 ± 16.32 nm, and the zeta potential was −7.34 ± 0.24 mV. In addition, PKP-NPs showed excellent storage stability at room temperature. Through establishment of a simulated gastrointestinal digestion model, the release behavior and phenolic composition of PKP-NPs were respectively investigated. The results showed that nano-encapsulation could significantly elevate the sustained-release characteristics of PKP. After simulated digestion, the phenolic composition in digestive juice was totally different from that of non-encapsulated PKP, but partially consistent with that of non-digested PKP. The present research provided a theoretical basis for PKP-NPs as a novel nutrient to be used in the functional food field.