{
  "abstract": "Epicatechin (EC), a potent antioxidant polyphenol abundant in functional foods, suffers from rapid oxidative inactivation and poor solubility, limiting its bioactivity and industrial applications. Here, we developed uniform ternary nanoparticles (EFOC) via polyphenol-protein-polysaccharide co-assembly, using EC-Fe³⁺ coordination networks (EF) as the core and synergistically crosslinking with ovalbumin (OVA) and chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS). The EFOC nanoparticles feature an embedded hydrophobic core formed by OVA encapsulation and an outer shell stabilized by CQAS via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, constituting a dual-layer protective structure that preserves an amorphous architecture (468.1 nm, ζ-potential 21.26 mV). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed effective protection of surface C-O groups, yielding DPPH• and ABTS•⁺ radical scavenging retention rates exceeding 88.51% and 94.30% after 30 days, markedly outperforming binary assemblies (EFO and EFC). In vitro, stored EFOC reduced LPS-induced reactive oxygen species by 96.16%, restored antioxidant enzyme activities, suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulated IL-10. Colonic fermentation showed selective enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Phascolarctobacterium), correlating with radical scavenging retention and enhanced acetate and propionate production. This study demonstrates that EFOC provides long-lasting antioxidant activity, cellular protection, and microbiota modulation through a dual-layer protective mechanism integrating hydrophobic embedding and electrostatic-hydrogen bonding shell, offering a promising strategy for high-stability polyphenol-based nutritional interventions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Guizhou Key Laboratory of New Quality Processing and Storage of Ecological Specialty Food, College of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, PR China.",
    "Medical College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, PR China."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chunping Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zhongyuan Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaotan Jiang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jiao Wu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuxin Cheng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Tingting Zhu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuanyuan Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/adbsdjz6pb717.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101604",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13718862",
  "id": "adbsdjz6pb717",
  "issns": [
    "2665-9271"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960296",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1106|Proteins in Food Systems"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222920908",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13718862?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13718862",
  "pmid": "42960296",
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/adbsdjz6pb717.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T00:20:50Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42960296",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42960296"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:22:48Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13718862",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2026.101604"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [],
  "title": "Regulation of antioxidant stability and bioactivity of Epicatechin-Fe³⁺ nanoparticles by protein-polysaccharide Co-assembly strategy.",
  "title_text": "Regulation of antioxidant stability and bioactivity of Epicatechin-Fe³⁺ nanoparticles by protein-polysaccharide Co-assembly strategy.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:22:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/adbsdjz6pb717",
  "venue": "Current research in food science",
  "versions": []
}