Preparation and investigation of triple-layer complex of β-carotene with xylan, chitooligosaccharides and fucoidan.

The present study aimed to prepare a multilayer complex of polysaccharides for encapsulation of β-carotene for delivery into aqueous media. β-carotene, a highly beneficial carotenoid for human health, can be effectively combined with three polysaccharides that serve as prebiotics in the human gut microbiota. The process of preparing the β-carotene-polysaccharides complex involved a three-step method. Firstly, β-carotene was encapsulated using xylan. Subsequently, the encapsulated β-carotene was complexed with chitooligosaccharides. Finally, the resulting double-layer complex was mixed with fucoidan to form a three-layer complex that readily dissolves in aqueous media. The formation of the complex was verified through SEM and spectroscopic analyses. The complex exhibited a favourable loading capacity ranging from 0.144 to 0.293 mg/mL, with sizes varying between 205 and 297 nm. The solubility of the complex ranged from 26.84 to 29.04 mg/mL. Notably, the complex demonstrated antioxidant activity as observed by DPPH and FRAP methods. These remarkable properties make the new complex a potential candidate for incorporation into the food and beverage industries, thanks to its antioxidant capabilities and advantageous features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]