3D-Printed Pectin-Medium-Chain Triglyceride Oleogel-Based Pastilles for Oral Delivery of Curcumin

In the quest for novel nutraceutical delivery systems, the development of oleogels (OGs) has shown promising potential and, more recently, via 3D printing, given its potential for customization and personalization. This study aimed to formulate ready-to-eat 3D-printed medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil-based OG on a pectin base as a delivery system for curcumin. Various combinations of MCT oil, sugar, and pectin were tested with 200 mg of curcumin. Among different OGs, OG2 (20:35:8) and OG3 (25:30:8) formulations demonstrated superior oil-binding capacities of 92.66 ± 0.55% and 93.19 ± 3.84%, respectively. The OGs exhibited varying encapsulation and digestion behavior. OG3 had the highest loading capacity (46.17%) and encapsulation efficiency (92.35%), along with the lowest moisture content (9.72%) and water activity of 0.584. Texture analysis of OG3 showed hardness of 1.28 N, springiness of 0.99, and cohesiveness of 0.74, indicating a moderately soft texture, stable gel structure suitable for 3D printing. The yield stress was moderate (70.01Pa), and the flow behavior index was 0.40, explaining its suitability for 3D extrusion printing applications. In terms of microstructure, OG3 has a uniform and dense gel structure. Further, OG3 demonstrated maximum bioaccessibility during in vitro intestinal digestion (73.53%). The findings of this study provide new insights into the rapidly evolving field of 3D printing for nutraceutical delivery.