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α-Linolenic acid (ALA)-loaded microemulsion (ME) was prepared from isoamyl acetate, polyoxyethylene ether 35 (EL-35), ethanol and water. The dynamic phase behaviour was simulated using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), which showed that spherical ME was formed at water/oil ratios of 1:9 and 9:1, while a lamellar structure with distinctive water-course and oil layer appeared at ratios of 3:7, 5:5, and 7:3. Phase stabilizing and anti-oxidation effect of environmental stresses on ALA-loaded microemulsion were investigated. Results showed that the ME region was large and had good environmental tolerance. Subsequently, the investigation of anti-oxidation stability revealed that more than 60% ALA of ALA-loaded ME could be protected from oxidation under environmental stresses. Furthermore, ALA-loaded ME was applied in aqueous-based foods. The transparency, precipitate, stratification and phase separation were used to evaluate influence of ME on product properties, confirming great feasibility and stability of ALA-loaded ME for practical applications., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The applications of α-linolenic acid (ALA) in the food industry are restricted due to its poor water solubility and antioxidant stability. This study concentrates on developing an ALA-loaded microemulsion (ALA-ME) to enhance its solubility and antioxidant capacity. The formulation of the microemulsion was investigated based on pseudoternary phase diagrams. The ALA-ME was characterized by using electrical conductivity, viscosity and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microstructure of the ALA-ME was probed using nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H-NMR). The results proved that ALA-ME consisted of spheroidal droplets with 20-40 nm diameter. A structural transformation from water in oil (W/O) to oil in water (O/W) occurred, as seen from the electrical conductivity determination. The 1 H-NMR results revealed a transition of the ALA position encapsulated from the core area of the microemulsion to the lipophilic layer of the surfactant. Furthermore, two microstructural models of ALA-ME were proposed. The antioxidant evaluation demonstrated that the ALA antioxidant capacity in microemulsions was enhanced to about 80% compared with that of ALA in oil solution.