A low energy approach to develop nanoemulsion by combining pea protein and Tween 80 and its application for vitamin D delivery

Abstract

Protein stabilized nanoemulsions have attracted interest as delivery systems of bioactive molecules for improved absorption. However, such nanoemulsion systems are usually prepared by high energy approaches, which are less sustainable, and the heat generated during the processes may degrade sensitive bioactive molecules. Hence, this study focused on developing a cost effective and environmentally sustainable way of nanoemulsion preparation for delivery of vitamin D. This research presents a low-energy approach to prepare a complex nanoemulsion by combining pea protein and Tween 80 together, and prepared by spontaneous emulsification method as delivery systems of vitamin D. A “clusters on string” structure was proposed for the obtained nanoemulsions with average size of around 200 nm, featuring Tween 80 stabilized micelles clustered together on pea protein polymeric chains. The in vitro assays using Caco-2 cells indicated that both nanoemulsions stabilized by Tween 80 alone and the complex nanoemulsion could efficiently improve vitamin D uptake by ≥ 2.5 folds as compared to free vitamin D suspension. The transport efficiency of vitamin D across Caco-2 cells for the complex nanoemulsion was 5.6 folds higher than free vitamin D suspension and 2.3 folds higher than nanoemulsions stabilized by Tween alone. Therefore, this study has provided a new method to prepare and stabilize complex nanoemulsions by a combination of Tween 80 and pea protein as emulsifiers for efficient delivery of bioactive molecules.