Electric field-induced enhances the stability and bioactivity of zein-based nutrient delivery systems

Nutrient delivery systems play a pivotal role in enhancing the stability and bioavailability of functional compounds derived from food sources. However, designing carriers that improve both stability and biological activity remains a significant scientific challenge in the field of nutrient delivery. This study aimed to enhance the stability and bioactivity of zein-curcumin nanoparticles (zein@cur NPs) using an electric field-induced technique. The findings revealed that applying a voltage of 40 V and a current of 100 mA reduced nanoparticles size from 151.30 nm to 101.67 nm, increased the surface charge from 23.27 mV to 39.66 mV, and improved encapsulation efficiency from 51.32 % to 81.09 %. Notably, electric field-induced treatment preserved the primary structure of the protein, while a 5.98 % increase in beta-sheet content indicated a more ordered secondary protein structure. Additionally, zein@cur NPs demonstrated enhanced antioxidant activity, with the DPPH scavenging rate rising from 65.99 % to 74.31 %, and facilitated better-controlled curcumin release during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. At the cellular level, nanoparticles effectively mitigated oxidative damage, increasing cell viability to 88.90 %. These results underscore the potential of electric field-induced to improve the stability and bioactivity of zein-based nutrient delivery systems, offering a robust theoretical foundation and technical support for developing stable nutrient delivery systems.