Encapsulation of Curcumin in Calcium-Crosslinked ι-Carrageenan-Coated Zein Nanoparticles for Enhanced Stability and Controlled Release

Dear Editor, I am writing to express my interest in the recently published research article titled "Calcium ions induced ι-carrageenan-based gel-coating deposited on zein nanoparticles for encapsulating the curcumin" by Ge et al. in Food Chemistry 1. This study presents a novel approach for improving the encapsulation, protection, and controlled release of curcumin using biopolymer nanoparticles.The authors successfully fabricated core-shell nanoparticles consisting of a curcumin-loaded zein core and a calcium cross-linked ι-carrageenan shell. The high encapsulation efficiency (93.2%) and loading capacity (6.2%) indicate that curcumin was effectively encapsulated within the optimized nanoparticles. These particles exhibited relatively small diameters (351.8 nm) and effectively delayed the light and thermal degradation of curcumin. Furthermore, the encapsulated curcumin was released in a sustained manner under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, which may enhance its oral bioavailability. The authors characterized the nanoparticles using various techniques, including dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier Transform infrared analysis. These analyses provided insights into the size, charge, morphology, and molecular interactions involved in particle formation. The findings of this study have significant implications for the development of novel delivery systems for hydrophobic bioactive compounds. The calcium carrageenan-coated zein nanoparticles have the potential to enhance the stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery of curcumin and other similar compounds. In conclusion, this research article presents an innovative approach for encapsulating, protecting, and controlling the release of curcumin using biopolymer nanoparticles 1. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of nano-enabled delivery systems and may inspire further research in this area.