Designing Nanoliposome-in-Natural Hydrogel Hybrid System for Controllable Release of Essential Oil in Gastrointestinal Tract: A Novel Vehicle

Abstract

In this study, thyme essential oil (essential oil to total lipid: 14.23, 20, 25, and 33.33%)-burdened nanoliposomes with/without maltodextrin solution were infused with natural hydrogels fabricated using equal volumes (1:1, v/v) of pea protein (30%) and gum Arabic (1.5%) solutions. The production process of the solutions infused with gels was verified using FTIR spectroscopy. In comparison to the nanoliposome solution (NL1) containing soybean lecithin and essential oil, the addition of maltodextrin (molar ratio of lecithin to maltodextrin: 0.80, 0.40, and 0.20 for NL2, NL3, and NL4, respectively) to these solutions led to a remarkable shift in particle size (487.10–664.40 nm), negative zeta potential (23.50–38.30 mV), and encapsulation efficiency (56.25–67.62%) values. Distortions in the three-dimensional structure of the hydrogel (H2) constructed in the presence of free (uncoated) essential oil were obvious in the photographs when compared to the control (H1) consisting of a pea protein–gum Arabic matrix. Additionally, the incorporation of NL1 caused visible deformations in the gel (HNL1). Porous surfaces were dominant in H1 and the hydrogels (HNL2, HNL3, and HNL4) containing NL2, NL3, and NL4 in the SEM images. The most convenient values for functional behaviors were found in H1 and HNL4, followed by HNL3, HNL2, HNL1, and H2. This hierarchical order was also valid for mechanical properties. The prominent hydrogels in terms of essential oil delivery throughout the simulated gastrointestinal tract were HNL2, HNL3, and HNL4. To sum up, findings showed the necessity of mediators such as maltodextrin in the establishment of such systems.