Enhancing vitamin D3 bioaccessibility: Unveiling hydrophobic interactions in soybean protein isolate and vitamin D3 binding via an infant in vitro digestion model.

In the domain of infant nutrition, optimizing the absorption of crucial nutrients such as vitamin D3 (VD3) is paramount. This study harnessed dynamic-high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) on soybean protein isolate (SPI) to engineer SPI-VD3 nanoparticles for fortifying yogurt. Characterized by notable binding affinity (Ka = 0.166 × 105 L·mol-1) at 80 MPa and significant surface hydrophobicity (H0 = 3494), these nanoparticles demonstrated promising attributes through molecular simulations. During simulated infant digestion, the 80 MPa DHPM-treated nanoparticles showcased an impressive 74.4% VD3 bioaccessibility, delineating the pivotal roles of hydrophobicity, bioaccessibility, and micellization dynamics. Noteworthy was their traversal through the gastrointestinal tract, illuminating bile salts' crucial function in facilitating VD3 re-encapsulation, thereby mitigating crystallization and augmenting absorption. Moreover, DHPM treatment imparted enhancements in nanoparticle integrity and hydrophobic properties, consequently amplifying VD3 bioavailability. This investigation underscores the potential of SPI-VD3 nanoparticles in bolstering VD3 absorption, thereby furnishing invaluable insights for tailored infant nutrition formulations.

Glycation-induced enhancement of yeast cell protein for improved stability and curcumin delivery in Pickering high internal phase emulsions.

Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) have gained significant attention for various applications within the food industry. Yeast cell protein (YCP), derived from spent brewer's yeast, stands out as a preferred stabilizing agent due to its cost-effectiveness, abundance, and safety profile. However, challenges persist in utilizing YCP, notably its instability under high salt concentration, thermal processing, and proximity to its isoelectric point. This study aimed to enhance YCP's emulsifying properties through glycation with glucose and evaluate its efficacy as a stabilizer for curcumin (CUR)-loaded HIPEs. The results revealed that glycation increased YCP's surface hydrophobicity, exposing hydrophobic groups. This augmentation, along with steric hindrance from grafted glucose molecules, improved emulsifying properties, resulting in a thicker interfacial layer around oil droplets. This fortified interfacial layer, in synergy with steric hindrance, bolstered resistance to pH changes, salt ions, and thermal degradation. Moreover, HIPEs stabilized with glycated YCP exhibited reduced oxidation rates and improved CUR protection. In vitro digestion studies demonstrated enhanced CUR bioaccessibility, attributed to a faster release of fatty acids. This study underscores the efficacy of glycation as a strategic approach to augment the applicability of biomass proteins, exemplified by glycated YCP, in formulating stable and functional HIPEs for diverse food applications.

Efficient encapsulation of curcumin into spent brewer's yeast using a pH-driven method.

Curcumin (CUR) was encapsulated into yeast cells (YCs) through a pH-driven method with a 5.04-fold increase in loading capacity and a 43.63-fold reduction in incubation time compared to the conventional diffusion method. Optimal encapsulation was obtained when the mass ratio of CUR to YCs was 0.1, and the loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were 8.07% and 80.66%, respectively. Encapsulation of CUR into YCs was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction further demonstrated that the encapsulated CUR was interacted with mannoprotein and ß-glucan of the cell wall network through hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond in amorphous state. The in vitro bioaccessibility of YCs-loaded CUR was significantly increased by 6.05-fold. The enhanced encapsulation efficiency and rapid encapsulation process proposed in this study could facilitate YCs-based microcarriers to encapsulate bioactive substances with higher bioaccessibility.