LAUSR

BACKGROUND Lutein, a lipophilic nutrient owns plenty of positive effects, including resisting ultraviolet radiation and protecting retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) against blue light damage. Also, it has preventive effects in cardiovascular disease and anticancer. However, it could be limited by the poor stability and low bioaccessibility in human digestive system. Therefore, encapsulation delivery system was developed to resolve these limitations of lutein during applications. In this study, chitosan modified lutein nanoliposomes (CS-LNLs), chitosan-EGCG covalently modified lutein nanoliposomes (C-CS-EGCG-LNLs) and chitosan-EGCG noncovalently modified lutein nanoliposomes (Non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs) were designed. Afterwards, the average particle size, ζ-potential and retention of lutein during storage were measured to indicate the physicochemical stability of modified lutein nanoliposomes. Furthermore, the bioaccessibility of modified lutein nanoliposomes were investigated to demonstrate the availability of lutein in human digestive system. RESULTS Firstly, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) had verified that covalent bonds between chitosan and EGCG were formed. Subsequently, the result of ζ-potential revealed that C-CS-EGCG-LNLs had been endowed with relative stable structure compared to LNLs. Furthermore, the retention rate of lutein in CS-LNLs, C-CS-EGCG-LNLs and Non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs had been improved, especially in C-CS-EGCG-LNLs (at around 70%). In vitro digestion experiment, it had illustrated that CS-LNLs, C-CS-EGCG-LNLs and Non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs presented relatively higher bioaccessibility, especially in C-CS-EGCG-LNLs (at around 33%), which increased 2.5 and 1.65 times compared to free lutein and LNLs, respectively. CONCLUSION Overall, the results showed that C-CS-EGCG-LNLs presented desirable physicochemical stability and bioaccessibility compared to LNLs, CS-LNLs and Non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.