Ultrasound-assisted formation of chitosan-glucose Maillard reaction products to fabricate nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity

The influence of ultrasonic processing parameters including reaction temperature (60, 70 and 80 degrees C), time (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min) and amplitude (70, 85 and 100%) on the formation and antioxidant activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) in a solution of chitosan and glucose (1.5 wt% at mass ratio of 1:1) was investigated. Selected chitosan-glucose MRPs were further studied to determine the effects of solution pH on the fabrication of antioxidative nanoparticles by ionic crosslinking with sodium tripolyphosphate. Results from FT-IR analysis, zeta-potential determination and color measurement indicated that chitosan-glucose MRPs with improved antioxidant activity were successfully produced using an ultrasound-assisted process. The highest antioxidant activity of MRPs was observed at the reaction temperature, time and amplitude of 80 degrees C, 60 min and 70%, respectively, with - 34.5 and -20.2 & mu;g Trolox mL-1 for DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power, respectively. The pH of both MRPs and tripolyphosphate solutions significantly influenced the fabrication and characteristics of the nanoparticles. Using chitosan-glucose MRPs and tripolyphosphate solution at pH 4.0 generated nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity (-1.6 and - 1.2 & mu;g Trolox mg-1 for reducing power and DPPH scavenging activity, respectively) with the highest percentage yield (-59%), intermediate particle size (-447 nm) and zeta-potential - 19.6 mV. These results present innovative findings for the fabrication of chitosan-based nanoparticles with enhanced antioxidant activity by pre-conjugation with glucose via the Maillard reaction aided by ultrasonic processing.

Automated summary

The study investigated the influence of ultrasonic processing parameters on the formation and antioxidant activity of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) in a chitosan and glucose solution. An ultrasound-assisted process successfully produced chitosan-glucose MRPs with improved antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity of MRPs was observed at a reaction temperature of 80 degrees C, a time of 60 min, and an amplitude of 70%.