Encapsulation of non-polar bioactive agents in conventional emulsions, Pickering Emulsions, or nanoemulsions: application in active films, and activity conservation and controlled release studies

• Grant number: 19/26348-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal researcher: Paulo José do Amaral Sobral
• Grantee: Andresa Gomes Brunassi
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Food Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Several bioactive agents can be responsible for antioxidant and/or antimicrobial activities in active films based in biopolymers. However, these compounds are highly hydrophobic, and then, with a very low solubility in water. Thus, their application as bioactive agent in film-forming solutions whose water is the solvent, is a challenge. This problem can be solved by encapsulating these compounds into O/W emulsions previously to films production. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable systems. The kinetic stability of emulsions is usually increased by using emulsifiers or very small droplets, such as in nanoemulsions. Another type of emulsion is the Pickering emulsion, which is stabilized by solid particles instead of surfactants. Thus, the main objective of this project is to develop active films based on natural biopolymers and charged with bioactive compounds encapsulated in emulsions O/W, interested in to produce three kinds of emulsions (conventional, nanoemulsion and Pickering emulsion) loaded with bioactive compounds; to study the effect of these bioactive compounds, applied as emulsions, in the main physical properties of films; to study if the biopolymeric matrix of films can protect the bioactive compounds during storage, at room temperature, under three relative humidity conditions; and to study the bioactive compounds release in food simulating media. Some bioactive agents, including rutin, hesperidin, a-tocopherol, b-caroteno, cavacrol, eugenol, resveratrol, linalool, several essential oils, among others, must be chosen. Emulsions will be produced using a rotorstator homogenizer (Ultra-Turrax®). For nanoemulsions production, a microuidizer M-110Y will be used. The active films will be produced using natural biopolymers, such as, gelatin, chitosan, sodium caseinate, cassava starch, pectin, alginate, among others, alone or in blends. After choosing the biopolymer, films will be produced according to a well-known methodology. Films will be characterized to determinations of its main properties, at room temperature. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHEVALIER, RAQUEL COSTA; GOMES, ANDRESA; CUNHA, ROSIANE LOPES. Tailoring W/O emulsions for application as inner phase of W/O/W emulsions: Modulation of the aqueous phase composition. Journal of Food Engineering, v. 297, MAY 2021. (19/26348-0)

GOMES, ANDRESA; COSTA, ANA LETICIA RODRIGUES; RODRIGUES, PAMELA DIAS; CASTRO, RUANN JANSER SOARES DE; SILVA, ERIC KEVEN. Sonoprocessing of freshly squeezed orange juice: Ascorbic acid content, pectin methylesterase activity, rheological properties and cloud stability. FOOD CONTROL, v. 131, JAN 2022. (19/26348-0, 20/02313-0)

GOMES, ANDRESA; SOBRAL, PAULO JOSE DO AMARAL. lant Protein-Based Delivery Systems: An Emerging Approach for Increasing the Efficacy of Lipophilic Bioactive Compound. OLECULE, v. 27, n. 1, JAN 2022. (19/26348-0, 13/07914-8)

GOMES, ANDRESA; RODRIGUES COSTA, ANA LETICIA; CARDOSO, DAYANE DIAS; NATHIA-NEVES, GRAZIELLE; MEIRELES, M. ANGELA A.; CUNHA, ROSIANE LOPES. Interactions of beta-carotene with WPI/Tween 80 mixture and oil phase: Effect on the behavior of O/W emulsions during in vitro digestion. Food Chemistry, v. 341, n. 2, MAR 30 2021. (19/26348-0, 17/08130-1)

RODRIGUES COSTA, ANA LETICIA; GOMES, ANDRESA; CANGUSSU, LAIS BRITO; CUNHA, ROSIANE LOPES; DE OLIVEIRA, LEANDRO SOARES; FRANCA, ADRIANA SILVA. tabilization mechanisms of O/W emulsions by cellulose nanocrystals and sunflower protei. Food Research International, v. 152, FEB 2022. (19/26348-0, 20/02313-0)

OKURO, PAULA K.; GOMES, ANDRESA; CUNHA, ROSIANE L.. Hybrid oil-in-water emulsions applying wax(lecithin)-based structured oils: Tailoring interface properties. Food Research International, v. 138, n. B, DEC 2020. (11/06083-0, 19/26348-0, 18/20308-3, 09/54137-1)

PULLA-HUILLCA, PALMER VICENTE; GOMES, ANDRESA; QUINTA BARBOSA BITTANTE, ANA MONICA; LOURENCO, RODRIGO VINICIUS; DO AMARAL SOBRAL, PAULO JOSE. Wettability of gelatin-based films: The effects of hydrophilic or hydrophobic plasticizers and nanoparticle loads. Journal of Food Engineering, v. 297, MAY 2021. (19/26348-0, 13/07914-8)