Encapsulation of lycopene using spray-drying and molecular inclusion processes

This study aimed to obtain encapsulated lycopene in a powder form, using either spray-drying or molecular inclusion with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) followed by freeze-drying. The encapsulation efficiency using spray-drying ranged from 94 to 96%, with an average yield of 51%, with microcapsules showing superficial indentations and lack of cracks and breakages. Lycopene-b-CD complexes were only formed at a molar ratio of 1: 4, and irregular structures of different sizes that eventually formed aggregates, similar to those of b-CD, were observed after freeze-drying. About 50% of the initial lycopene did not form complexes with b-CD. Lycopene purity increased from 96.4 to 98.1% after spray-drying, whereas lycopene purity decreased from 97.7 to 91.3% after complex formation and freeze-drying. Both the drying processes yielded pale-pink, dry, free-flowing powders.