Electrosprayed cashew gum microparticles for the encapsulation of highly sensitive bioactive materials

Authors: VAZQUEZ-GONZALEZ, YULIANA - Instituto De Agroquimica Y Technologia De Alimentos; PRIETO, CRISTINA - Instituto De Agroquimica Y Technologia De Alimentos; FILIZOGLU, MERT - Instituto De Agroquimica Y Technologia De Alimentos; RAGAZZO-SANCHEZ, JUAN - Instituto Tecnologico El Llano; CALDERON-SANTOYO, MONTSERRAT - Instituto Tecnologico El Llano; FURTADO, ROSELAYNE - Embrapa; Cheng, Huai; Biswas, Atanu; LAGARON, JOSE - Instituto De Agroquimica Y Technologia De Alimentos

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2021
Publication Date: 4/10/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7339984
Citation: Vazquez-Gonzalez, Y., Prieto, C., Filizoglu, M.F., Ragazzo-Sanchez, J.A., Calderon-Santoyo, M., Furtado, R.F., Cheng, H.N., Biswas, A., Lagaron, J.M. 2021. Electrosprayed cashew gum microparticles for the encapsulation of highly sensitive bioactive materials. Carbohydrate Polymers. 264:118060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118060.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118060

Interpretive Summary: Encapsulation of bioactive materials is often needed in research and development and in commercial applications in order to improve their stability, reduce their volatility, mask undesirable aromas and flavors, and provide controlled release. Because of the broad utility of encapsulation, new encapsulating (wall) materials and improved methods for encapsulation are always desirable. In this work, cashew gum polysaccharide (an agro-based byproduct from cashew nut production) has been used to encapsulate ß-carotene through the method of electrospraying. The results appear promising. Thus, the combination of cashew gum polysaccharide (as the wall material) and electrospraying (as the encapsulation method) may be considered in the future for encapsulation purposes in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Technical Abstract: This study focuses on the characterization of electrosprayed cashew gum (CG) microparticles that encapsulate ß-carotene. CG is an inexpensive, non-toxic polysaccharide that is obtained from Anacardium occidentale trees. Encapsulation of ß-carotene in CG was carried out by electrospraying from two emulsion formulations (water : oil ratios 80:20 and 90:10 (v/v)) in which the dispersed phase consisted of ß-carotene dissolved in castor oil, and the continuous phase was an aqueous solution of CG. Spherical particles with medium size between 3 and 6 µm were obtained that showed a smooth surface. The particles obtained from the 90:10 (v/v) emulsion showed a loading capacity of 0.075±0.006% and a minor amount of extractable ß-carotene, 10.75±2.42%. ATR-FTIR confirmed the absence of interaction between the particles’ components. CG was demonstrated to offer thermoprotection and photoprotection for short periods of time. These results make CG a viable candidate to encapsulate bioactive compounds via electrospraying for food and pharmaceutical applications.