Enhancement of the intestinal permeability of curcumin using Pickering emulsions stabilized by starch crystals and chitosan. (30th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jo, Myeongsu; Ban, Choongjin; Goh, Kelvin K.T.; Choi, Young Jin
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 405:Part A(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-30
• Subjects: Double-layered Pickering emulsion -- Chitosan coating -- Curcumin -- Enhanced intestinal permeability -- Electrostatic mucoadhesion -- Epithelial tight junction opening; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134889
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: Intestinal permeability of curcumin was enhanced > 9-fold with the Pickering emulsion. Enhanced permeability was due to mucoadhesion and epithelial tight junction opening. Electrostatic mucoadhesion and tight junction opening were due to chitosan coating. Lipolysis and curcumin release were sustained in simulated models by steric hindrance. Steric hindrance was due to starch crystals and chitosan covering the droplet surface. Abstract: Curcumin is widely known as a health-promoting polyphenol. However, gastrointestinal instability and low intestinal permeability limit its application in foods. To overcome these drawbacks, we fabricated a Pickering emulsion system stabilized by starch crystals and chitosan with the potential for steric hindrance, mucoadhesion, and reversible opening of epithelial tight junctions. During simulated digestion, chitosan-coated emulsions maintained their stability in the mouth and stomach phases, and digested slowly in the intestine phase. Through a simulated absorption test, the permeability of curcumin encapsulated in the chitosan-coated emulsions was enhanced ∼9.5-fold compared to the curcumin solution. Based on the results obtained using fluorescence micrographs and transepithelial electrical resistance of a mucus-covered Caco-2 monolayer, the enhanced intestinal permeability of curcumin was due to the electrostatic mucoadhesion and reversible epithelial tight junction opening effects of the chitosan-coating. Our findings will facilitate the rational design of foods or beverages incorporating food-grade lipophilic bioactives such as curcumin.