Construction of cyclodextrin-based organic frameworks with adjustable size:enhanced the physicochemical stability and controlled release characteristics of apigenin

Authors: YIN, MING - Jiangnan University; YUAN, YONGKAI - Jiangnan University; CHEN, MAOSHEN - Jiangnan University; Chiou, Bor-Sen; LIU, FEI - Jiangnan University

Submitted to: Food Research International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2023
Publication Date: 4/22/2023
Citation: Yin, M., Yuan, Y., Chen, M., Chiou, B., Liu, F. 2023. Construction of cyclodextrin-based organic frameworks with adjustable size:enhanced the physicochemical stability and controlled release characteristics of apigenin. Food Research International. 53.Article 102683. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2023.102683.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2023.102683

Interpretive Summary: Apigenin is a bioactive compound found in many fruits and vegetables that has been used to treat anxiety. It is also being examined for other medical applications and is increasingly being valued by the food and pharmaceutical industry. However, apigenin is poorly soluble in water and degrades under UV irradiation. In this study, we used cyclodextrin-metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) to encapsulate apigenin for controlled-release applications and to protect it from UV irradiation. We found that varying the molecular weight of surfactants used to produce the CD-MOFs resulted in different encapsulation efficiencies and controlled-release profiles. Also, CD-MOFs were not toxic and helped protect apigenin from UV irradiation. In addition, the encapsulated apigenin showed potential anti-cancer properties. These results indicated that CD-MOFs could be safely used in potential food and pharmaceutical applications.

Technical Abstract: The poor physicochemical stability and bioavailability of apigenin were main factors that limited its application in the food industry. The '-cyclodextrin-metal-organic frameworks ('-CD-MOFs) were prepared using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as surfactants to solve these issues. The size of '-CD-MOFs, ranging from nanometer to micrometer dimensions, could be controlled by using PEG with different molecular weights. The '-CD-MOFs based on PEG 10000 (molecular weight of 10000) had a small pore size (1.58 nm) and high BET surface area (810.15 m2/g), leading to a high encapsulation efficiency (74.23%) and loading capacity (41.17%) for apigenin. Apigenin interacted with '-CD-MOFs through van der Waals forces, hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding, but did not affect the inherent crystallinity of '-CD-MOFs. Furthermore, '-CD-MOF-10000 protected apigenin better against UV light and temperature, resulting in better anti-cancer properties and controlled release efficiency (79.89%). This strategy of constructing '-CD-MOFs nanocarriers with tunable size may open new possibilities for hydrophobic drug applications.