Chitosan-coated nanoliposomes for efficient delivery of betanin with enhanced stability and bioavailability

Betanin is a high-value health-promoting food ingredient. However, the bioavailability of betanin is constrained by its low stability. In this study, for the first time, betanin was stabilized and delivered using chitosan-coated nanoliposomes (CC-NLs). The CC-NLs were firstly synthesized and characterized. The results showed that increasing chitosan concentration from 0% to 1.0% increased particle size of CC-NLs from 156.4 nm to 217.2 nm. With the use of CC-NLs prepared with 0.6% chitosan, it was found that increasing pH from 1.5 to 9.0 reduced zeta potential of CC-NLs from 8.62 mv to-9.65 mv while the average size of CC-NLs of 221.40 nm peaked at pH 5.5. In aqueous solution, 29.0% of loaded betanin was released from NLs compared to 15.8% from CC-NLs. The in vitro digestion analysis indicated that uncoated NLs and CC-NLs had similar stabilities and relatively stable in oral and gastric fluids. However, in intestinal fluid, the average size of both NLs and CC-NLs were significantly reduced due to bile salt and trypsin. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant activity assay results showed that betanin delivered by CC-NLs had the highest ORAC and PSC values. This study demonstrated that betanin could be efficiently delivered by CC-NLs with improved stability and bioavailability. The information generated from this study is very useful for the applications of betanin in functional food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.

Automated summary

This study stabilized and delivered betanin using chitosan-coated nanoliposomes (CC-NLs), improving its stability and bioavailability. CC-NLs' particle size and zeta potential were influenced by chitosan concentration and pH. In vitro digestion analysis showed a significant reduction in size for both NLs and CC-NLs in intestinal fluid. In vitro antioxidant activity assay indicated that betanin delivered by CC-NLs had the highest antioxidant activity.