Curcumin encapsulation in capsules and fibers of potato starch by electrospraying and electrospinning: Thermal resistance and antioxidant activity

Juliani Buchveitz Pires, Laura Martins Fonseca, Tatiane Jéssica Siebeneichler, Rosane Lopes Crizel, Felipe Nardo dos Santos, Helen Cristina dos Santos Hackbart, Dianini Hüttner Kringel, Adriana Dillenburg Meinhart, Elessandra da Rosa Zavareze, Alvaro Renato Guerra Dias

Abstract

The aim of this work was to encapsulate curcumin at different concentrations in capsules and fibers of native potato starch by electrospraying and electrospinning. The best conditions for the production of capsules and fibers were obtained by varying the polymer concentration and resting time of the polymer solution. The best conditions were used for the encapsulation of curcumin. The curcumin-loaded capsules and fibers had an average diameter of 1373 nm to 1787 nm and 108 nm to 142 nm, respectively, and had a high curcumin loading capacity with values ranging from 79.01 % to 97.09 %. Curcumin encapsulated in starch capsules and fibers showed higher thermal stability at 180 °C for 2 h compared to unencapsulated curcumin. The antioxidant activity of starch fibers containing 1 % of curcumin had the greatest ability to inhibit the ABTS radical (45 % inhibition). These materials are promising for use in food or active packaging.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112111