Abstract:
In this study, dihydromyricetin (DMY) was used as the core to construct nanoparticles, and DMY was encapsulated by nanoparticles to solve the problems of poor water solubility and poor stability, so as to improve its utilization and biological activity. The anti-solvent precipitation method was used to develop a Zein-gum Arabic (GA) nano nutrient delivery system with DMY as the core material and Zein as the carrier. The preparation conditions of Zein/GA-DMY nanoparticles were optimized based on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. The interactions among Zein, GA, and DMY were examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), while the system's microscopic morphology was observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that when the mass ratio of Zein to GA was 1:2 and the mass ratio of Zein to DMY was 10:1, the nanoparticles achieved a small particle size (191.04 nm), a PDI of 0.164, a zeta potential of −17.70 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 76.17%. Hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions were identified as the primary forces driving nanoparticle formation. DMY was successfully encapsulated in an amorphous state within the Zein/GA-DMY nanoparticles, which were spherical and uniformly distributed. The incorporation of GA enhanced the nanoparticles' stability under varying pH, heat, salt ion concentration, and storage conditions, broadening their potential applications.
In vitro antioxidant assays and simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiments demonstrated that DMY retained significant antioxidant activity post-encapsulation and exhibited a slow-release profile. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of DMY in functional foods.