Thermal and ultraviolet-visible light stability kinetics of co-nanoencapsulated carotenoids

Lipid-core nanocapsules loaded with beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, and lutein (NCs) were produced with monomodal particle size distribution. Their mean diameter was 151.33 +/- 5.03 nm (D-4,D-3) and 180.3 +/- 0.70 nm (z-average), zeta potential was -22.63 +/- 0.52 mV, and pH was 3.21 +/- 0.04. The stability of NCs was studied under different simulated industrial treatments, such as thermal and ultraviolet (UV)-visible light treatment. Regardless of the temperature and incubation time of the samples, higher carotenoids retention (%) was observed in NCs than ethanol extract (EE) (under UV-vis light treatment) and higher carotenoids retention (%) was observed in NCs compared to EE and data already published on the stability of non-encapsulated carotenoids (under thermal treatment). In addition, NCs when exposed to UV-vis light treatment had higher activation energy and lower constant rate (k) than EE. In conclusion, nanoencapsulation offers greater stability to the beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lutein upon exposure to conditions similar to those used in the food processing (heat) and storage (UV-vis light). (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.