Characterization of fucoxanthin-loaded microspheres composed of cetyl palmitate-based solid lipid core and fish gelatin-gum arabic coacervate shell

Fucoxanthin-loaded microspheres, composed of a cetyl palmitate (CP)-canola oil (CO) mixed solid lipid core and a fish gelatin-gum arabic complex coacervate shell cross-linked by tannic acid, were developed and characterized for efficient oral delivery of fucoxanthin. Two types of solid lipid-core microspheres (CP:CO = 30:70 and 50:50) in both wet and freeze-dried forms were investigated in their morphology, size, moisture content, and fucoxanthin encapsulation efficiency, in comparison with oil-core microspheres (CP:CO = 0:100). The melting and solidification of the cores were also analyzed by DSC. Compared to the oil-core microspheres, the solid lipid-core microspheres, especially of CP:CO = 50:50, exhibited greatly enhanced sustained fucoxanthin release performance under a simulated gastrointestinal condition and much stronger fucoxanthin-stabilizing capability when stored in the dark atmosphere of 0% or 51% relative humidity at 40 degrees C, although the encapsulation efficiency was lowered from 85.34% to 74.81% with the increase of the CP fraction from 0% to 50%. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.