Engineering zein/β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril complexes stabilized high internal phase Pickering emulsion for controlled delivery of quercetin
4 affiliations
- 1Zhejiang International Joint Laboratory on Low-Carbon Pollution Control and Resource Utilization, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
- 2Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Biological and Chemical Processing Technologies of Farm Product, School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China
- 3Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
- 4Zhejiang Skyherb Biotechnology Inc., Huzhou, 313300, Zhejiang, China
Abstract
High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) stabilized by natural polymers have attracted much attention. However, single zein-stabilized HIPPEs were poorly stable and prone to flocculation near the isoelectric point. In this study, zein was combined with β-lactoglobulin fibrils (β-LGF) via a pH-driven method to construct zein/β-LGF complex nanoparticles (Z/β CNPs) as stabilizers for HIPPEs, then the emulsion was used to deliver quercetin. Our results showed that Z/β CNPs with zein: β-LGF ratios of 4:6 exhibited enhanced colloidal stability at pH 7, which owned reduced particle sizes (<500 nm), lower PDI values, and higher absolute zeta potential. FTIR, XRD, and DSC results confirmed the enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding, more ordered structural organization, and increased thermal stability of the complex. The three-phase contact angle of Z/β CNPs (4:6) was 92.3°, which was closest to the ideal value of 90°, indicating optimal wettability for HIPPEs formation. HIPPEs stabilized by Z/β CNPs (4:6) displayed uniform microstructures, strong resistance to coalescence, and high loading capacity for quercetin. Furthermore, the HIPPEs delivery system significantly improved stability and bioaccessibility of quercetin. This study demonstrated that β-LGF could effectively modify zein to produce robust emulsifying nanoparticles capable of forming stable HIPPEs. The findings can improve encapsulation efficiency and offer a highly promising strategy for the delivery of quercetin.
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BibTeX
@article{song2026engineering,
title = {{Engineering zein/β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril complexes stabilized high internal phase Pickering emulsion for controlled delivery of quercetin}},
author = {Gongshuai Song and Tian Zhao and Leping Pan and Haina Hou and Danli Wang and Tinglan Yuan and Ling Li and Qing Ge and Mo Zhou and Qinqin Chen and Yong Cheng and Jinyan Gong and Mengna Zhang},
journal = {LWT},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1016/j.lwt.2026.119625},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2026.119625},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Engineering zein/β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril complexes stabilized high internal phase Pickering emulsion for controlled delivery of quercetin
AU - Gongshuai Song
AU - Tian Zhao
AU - Leping Pan
AU - Haina Hou
AU - Danli Wang
AU - Tinglan Yuan
AU - Ling Li
AU - Qing Ge
AU - Mo Zhou
AU - Qinqin Chen
AU - Yong Cheng
AU - Jinyan Gong
AU - Mengna Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/16
JO - LWT
DO - 10.1016/j.lwt.2026.119625
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2026.119625
AB - High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) stabilized by natural polymers have attracted much attention. However, single zein-stabilized HIPPEs were poorly stable and prone to flocculation near the isoelectric point. In this study, zein was combined with β-lactoglobulin fibrils (β-LGF) via a pH-driven method to construct zein/β-LGF complex nanoparticles (Z/β CNPs) as stabilizers for HIPPEs, then the emulsion was used to deliver quercetin. Our results showed that Z/β CNPs with zein: β-LGF ratios of 4:6 exhibited enhanced colloidal stability at pH 7, which owned reduced particle sizes (<500 nm), lower PDI values, and higher absolute zeta potential. FTIR, XRD, and DSC results confirmed the enhanced intermolecular hydrogen bonding, more ordered structural organization, and increased thermal stability of the complex. The three-phase contact angle of Z/β CNPs (4:6) was 92.3°, which was closest to the ideal value of 90°, indicating optimal wettability for HIPPEs formation. HIPPEs stabilized by Z/β CNPs (4:6) displayed uniform microstructures, strong resistance to coalescence, and high loading capacity for quercetin. Furthermore, the HIPPEs delivery system significantly improved stability and bioaccessibility of quercetin. This study demonstrated that β-LGF could effectively modify zein to produce robust emulsifying nanoparticles capable of forming stable HIPPEs. The findings can improve encapsulation efficiency and offer a highly promising strategy for the delivery of quercetin.
SN - 0023-6438
SN - 1096-1127
ER -