Liu Yufei, Li Ziliang, Lu Shuaijun, Gao Shang, Xu Mengting, Yuan Ze, Li Yue, Gao Yiqiao, Shangguan Jingfang, Xiang Xia
School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China.
School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China; Oil Crops Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Oil Crops and Lipids Process Technology National & Local Joint Engineering Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Oilseeds Processing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition, Wuhan 430062, China.
Food Chem. 2025 Aug 30;484:144439. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.144439. Epub 2025 Apr 21.
Apigenin (Ap) is a bioactive compound, but its application is limited by poor solubility, stability, and bioavailability. This study developed flaxseed gum (FG) and its oligosaccharides (FGOS)-coated zein nanoparticles for Ap delivery (FG/Zein@Ap and FGOS/Zein@Ap). Compared to FG/Zein@Ap, FGOS/Zein@Ap exhibited smaller size, higher zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (∼71.70 %), and loading capacity (∼7.66 %) as evidenced by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FGOS/Zein@Ap also provided better stability of Ap under various conditions, thereby promoting stronger in vitro antioxidant activity, raising bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that FGOS interacted more strongly with zein, primarily through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. This interaction provided greater binding stability throughout the simulation period, compared to FG. This study enhances the understanding of FG and FGOS, providing valuable insights for oligosaccharides-based delivery systems for hydrophobic bioactives.
