In vitro evaluation of the mixed xanthan/lignin hydrogels as vanillin carriers

Various amounts of lignin from annual fiber crops (GL) exhibiting antioxidant properties were incorporated in xanthan to obtain hydrogel films. These mixed xanthan/lignin hydrogels were evaluated as matrices for vanillin release as active aroma ingredient. The new obtained biodegradable polymeric matrices, containing vanillin, have been characterized by the swelling/release experiments, FT-IR and AFM analysis. As a novelty, AFM microscopy was done on powder form. In FT-IR spectra after incorporation of the aroma, the shifting of the bands at 1618 and 1510 cm(-1) (assigned to C=C stretching vibration) to higher wavenumbers was observed, indicating interactions between components. The comparison of all the results afforded by the various characterization methods leads to the conclusion that the 70X/30GL hydrogel (15% within 100 min) slower releases the vanillin aroma more than 90X/10GL (18% within 100 min) one because of stronger inter- and intramolecular interactions between matrix and active substance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.