Glucosamine-magnesium composite as functional carriers: structural characteristic, controlled Mg2+ release and emulsion stability

This study aimed to develop a glucosamine-magnesium composite (GlcN-Mg) as a novel Pickering emulsion stabilizer for the preparation of GlcN-Mg stabilized Pickering emulsion (GlcN-Mg PE) and systematically characterize its structural properties and emulsification performance. Structural analysis revealed that Mg²⁺ coordination reduced GlcN⋅HCl particle size from 1,117 ± 222.58 to 393.8 ± 45.42 nm, expanded its crystal lattice, and created a porous structure with a 22.9 ± 1.80 nm pore size. <i>In vitro</i> studies have shown that GlcN-Mg exhibits exceptional stability in food matrices and controlled Mg²⁺ release during gastrointestinal digestion. Then GlcN-Mg composite was employed to prepare water-in-oil (W/O) GlcN-Mg PE under different homogenization speeds (5,000-25,000 rpm), GlcN-Mg concentrations (0.3%-1.3%), and oil-to-water ratios (3:7-8:2). Rheological analysis indicated that GlcN-Mg PE exhibited a distinct threshold effect under varying conditions, while environmental factors significantly influenced emulsion stability. Furthermore, during <i>in vitro</i> gastrointestinal digestion, GlcN-Mg PE exhibited controlled-release ability, with the Mg²⁺ release rate reaching 80.42 ± 1.94% during intestinal digestion. Its stability across a wide range of conditions highlights its potential applications in complex emulsion systems.