Stability study and in vitro evaluation of astaxanthin nanostructured lipid carriers in food industry

Abstract

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) could be used as suitable carriers of water-insoluble nutrients such as astaxanthin (ASX) improve their bioavailability. The ASX -NLC was prepared by high-pressure homogenization. The freshly prepared ASX-NLC showed ellipsoid morphology under transmission electron microscopy, and the average encapsulation efficiency was about 94.8 ± 1.0%. The good physiochemical stability within 28 days was evaluated by the concentration of astaxanthin remaining at 25 °C. Antioxidant study showed astaxanthin could be encapsulated in NLC without loss of antioxidant activity. In addition, the in vitro release and digestion of astaxanthin both exhibited sustained release profile and digestion rate.