Development of Balangu seed mucilage nanoparticles fabricated through ultrasonication-antisolvent method for encapsulation of gallic acid

Gallic acid (GA) is a naturally occurring polyphenol offering a vast diversity of biological attributes. The objective of this study was to design, characterize, and assess GA-loaded Balangu seed mucilage (BSM) nanoparticles (NPs) via a newly developed ultrasonication-antisolvent method of NP preparation. GA-loaded BSM NPs displayed a round-shaped and homogenous morphology and possessed particle sizes of 20-320 nm with a GA loading efficiency of ~ 52.8% and zeta potential of - 29.5 mV. The thermal behavior of NPs and the bioactive-carrier interaction were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The FTIR results revealed that GA successfully entrapped into the mucilage NPs. However, there was a diverse thermal stability of the developed nano-system prior and following the GA encapsulation. Overall, the simultaneous application of ultrasonication and antisolvent approaches was found to be an effectual strategy to produce nanoscale structures and encapsulate biologically active ingredients like GA that may find uses in food/pharmaceutical industries.