Characterization and stability of zein/pectin-loaded curcumin nanoparticle preparation

In this study, nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were prepared by a precisely controlled anti-solvent method using zein as the core carrier material and pectin as the stabilizing auxiliary. The study was conducted to regulate the key preparation parameters such as the concentration of pectin and the mass ratio of curcumin to zein/pectin to obtain a nanoparticle system with high stability and excellent encapsulation efficiency. It was shown that the nanoparticles prepared when the mass ratio of zein to pectin was set at 100:45 exhibited excellent physicochemical properties. Specifically, the nanoparticles prepared under this condition had a uniform particle size with an average size of 458.7 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.391, showing good uniformity of the particle size distribution; meanwhile, the ζ-potential value was -23.6 mV, which indicated a strong electrostatic repulsion between the particles, which helped to maintain the stability of the system. In addition, the nanoparticle system had a strong encapsulation ability for curcumin, and the encapsulation rate was stable maintained above 94.5%, which fully demonstrated the efficiency and practicality of the preparation method. The zein/pectin-loaded curcumin nanoparticles prepared in this study were able to significantly enhance the stability of curcumin, which was mainly attributed to the good protective effect of the nanoparticles on curcumin. This research result not only opens up a new way for the application of curcumin but also provides a reference for the design and preparation of functional nanocarriers in the fields of food, medicine, and healthcare products.