Self-assembled composite nanoparticles based on zein as delivery vehicles of curcumin: role of chondroitin sulfate

Composite nanoparticles composed of zein and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were self-assembled by the method of antisolvent precipitation to deliver curcumin (ZCCNPs). The structure of ZCCNPs changed from spheres to microaggregates with the increase of CS, involving hydrogen bonding and electrostatic and hydrophobic effects. The resistance of ZCCNPs to degeneration was improved by CS. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was enhanced by CS and showed the maximum (91.97%) when the mass ratio of zein-to-CS was 1 : 1 (ZCCNPs(1:1)). The crystallinity of curcumin changed to amorphous in ZCCNPs(1:1). ZCCNPs(1:1)exhibited great stability at pH 3.0-8.0, and it showed excellent thermostability at 35, 55, and 80 degrees C respectively for 120 min when the pH was 4.0 or 6.0. Meanwhile, it showed great storage stability at 4 and 22 degrees C respectively for 30 days. The retention rate of curcumin in ZCCNPs(1:1)was higher than 65% within 8 days. The presence of CS improved the antiproliferative activity of curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (Cur-ZNPs) to HCT116 cells. ZCCNPs(1:1)exhibited higher bioaccessibility (42.36%) than Cur-ZNPs. In addition, ZCCNPs(1:1)exhibited excellent biocompatibility evaluated usingin vitrocytotoxicity assay on NCM460 cells. The studies indicate that the delivery system fabricated in our work would be efficient for improving the application of hydrophobic nutrients in functional foods.