The release kinetics of β-carotene nanocapsules/xanthan gum coating and quality changes in fresh-cut melon (cantaloupe). (10th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zambrano-Zaragoza, María L.; Quintanar-Guerrero, David; Del Real, Alicia; Piñon-Segundo, Elizabeth; Zambrano-Zaragoza, José F.
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 157(2017)
• Page Start: 1874
• Page End: 1882
• Publication Date: 2017-02-10
• Subjects: Nanocapsules -- Xanthan gum -- Controlled release -- Coatings -- Higuchi model; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.11.075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Nanocapsules containing β-carotene were prepared by emulsification-diffusion. Xanthan gum was employed as a matrix to support the β-carotene nanocapsules. Fresh-cut melon was coated with different nanoparticles, including nanocapsules. The release of β-carotene nanocapsules was fitting a Higuchi release model. The nanocapsule/xanthan gum coating helped maintain melon quality. Abstract: The main aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the β-carotene release rate from nanocapsules incorporated into a xanthan gumcoating on the physical and physicochemical properties of fresh-cut melon (var. cantaloupe). Several coatings were studied: xanthan gum alone (XG), xanthan gum combined with nanocapsules (Ncs/XG), xanthan gum combined with nanospheres (Nsp/XG), nanocapsules (Ncs), and nanospheres (Nsp), all of which were compared to untreated fresh-cut melon in order to determine their preservation efficiency. The β-carotene release profiles from the Ncs and Ncs/XG treatments corresponded better to a Higuchi-type behavior (t 1/2 ) for matrix systems (R2 > 0.95). Also observed was a good correlation between the release of β-carotene by the Ncs/XG treatment and the minor changes observed in the whiteness index (≤10%) and firmness (≤2%). These results lead to the conclusion that incorporating β-carotene nanocapsules into a polysaccharide matrix improves the properties of the coatings, thereby increasing storage time to 21 days at 4 °C.