posted on 2023-11-13, 13:37authored byYong-Jin Kim, Eun-Soo Lee, Joonho Choi, SeungHan Park, Byungguen Chae, Eunmi Kim
The hydrophobicity and aggregation of zein, a biopolymer,
limit
its application as an effective drug delivery carrier. Here, we developed
a zein-induced polyelectrolyte (ZiP) complex and investigated its
efficiency in delivering 1% hydrolyzed ginseng saponin, a compound
K-rich fraction derived from the root of Panax ginseng. The ZiP complex was formulated by incorporating the self-assembled
amphiphilic prolamin zein into the aqueous phase. The physical properties,
encapsulation efficiency, and stability of the encapsulation system
at room temperature (25 °C) and 45 °C were assessed. The
effects of different ratios of zein, pullulan, and pectin on the formation
of the ZiP complex, the encapsulation stability, and the cellular
efficacy of ZiP complexes were also assessed. The ZiP complex was surface-modified
with hydrophilic pullulan and pectin polysaccharides in a mass ratio
of 1:2:0.2 through electrostatic interactions. The primary hydrophilic
modification of the ZiP complex was formed by the adsorption of pullulan,
which enhanced the encapsulation stability. The outermost hydrophilic
layer comprised the gelling polysaccharide pectin, which further improved
the stability of the macro-sized oil-encapsulated complex, reaching
sizes over 50 μm. The size of the ZiP complex increased when
the concentration of pectin or the total content of the ZiP complex
increased to 2:4:0.2. Compound K was successfully encapsulated with
a particle size of 294.8 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 99.6%.
The ZiP complex demonstrated stability at high temperatures and long-term
stability of the encapsulated saponin over 24 weeks. These results
revealed the potency of ZiP complexes that enhance the in
vivo absorption of phytochemicals as effective drug delivery
carriers that can overcome the limitations in industrial formulation
development as a delivery system.