Enhancing the stability of astaxanthin by encapsulation in poly (l-lactic acid) microspheres using a supercritical anti-solvent process--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Liu, G., Hu, M., Zhao, Z., Lin, Q., Wei, D., & Jiang, Y. (2019). Enhancing the stability of astaxanthin by encapsulation in poly (l-lactic acid) microspheres using a supercritical anti-solvent process. Particuology, 44, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2018.04.006

Enhancing the stability of astaxanthin by encapsulation in poly (l-lactic acid) microspheres using a supercritical anti-solvent process

Guijin Liu, Man Hu, Ziyi Zhao, Qing Lin, Dongwei Wei, Yanbin Jiang ^*

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China

10.1016/j.partic.2018.04.006

Volume 44, June 2019, Pages 54-62

Received 3 January 2018, Revised 9 April 2018, Accepted 17 April 2018, Available online 28 November 2018, Version of Record 30 April 2019.

E-mail: cebjiang@scut.edu.cn

Highlights

• Astaxanthin was successfully encapsulated into PLLA matrix via a SAS process.

• Key process variables affecting particle microstructures were investigated.

• The optimal particles were uniform microspheres with 91.5% encapsulation efficiency.

• The storage stability of astaxanthin could be greatly enhanced when loaded by PLLA.

Abstract

To improve the physicochemical properties of astaxanthin, it was encapsulated in poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) using a supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process with dichloromethane/acetone mixture as the solvent, and supercritical CO₂ as the anti-solvent. The effects of altering five SAS operating conditions, solvent ratio, temperature, pressure, concentration of carrier, and flow rate, on the microstructure of particles were investigated using an orthogonal experimental design. Under the optimal conditions, astaxanthin/PLLA particles were produced with an encapsulation efficiency of 91.5% and a mean particle size of 954.6 nm. SEM images showed that most astaxanthin/PLLA particles were uniform microspheres. FT-IR spectra showed that the chemical structure of astaxanthin was unchanged by the SAS process. The results of chromatic difference, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses showed that astaxanthin had been encapsulated in the PLLA matrix in an amorphous state. Overall, astaxanthin/PLLA microspheres greatly enhanced the stability of astaxanthin during storage, and the levels of residual solvents were far lower than the ICH limits. This means that astaxanthin/PLLA microspheres prepared using SAS show great potential for use in many food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical formulations.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Astaxanthin; Poly (l-lactic acid); Encapsulation; Supercritical anti-solvent; Stability

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