Novel route to stabilization of bioactive antioxidants by encapsulation in electrospun fibers of zein prolamine

The encapsulation of the light sensitive model beta-carotene, a colorant and antioxidant molecule widely used in the food industry, has been successfully achieved in ultrafine fibers of zein prolamine, a sustainable agropolymer, by means of electrospinning. Fiber capsules were in the micro- and nano-range in the cross-section and the encapsulation preserved the fluorescence of the polyene molecules. Observations with confocal Raman imaging spectroscopy showed that the antioxidant was stable and widely dispersed inside the zein fibers but agglomerated in some areas. Nevertheless, a significant increase in the light stability of the beta-carotene when exposed to UV-vis irradiation was determined for the encapsulated compound. As a result. electrospinning of zein prolamine shows an excellent outlook for its application in the stabilization of light sensitive added-value food components. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.