Formulation and characterization of O/W nanoemulsions encapsulating high concentration of astaxanthin

This study evaluates the effect of modified lecithin (ML) and sodium caseinate (SC) on the formulation, stability and bioaccessibility of astaxanthin (AXT) loaded oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions. These nanoemulsions were formulated using high-pressure homogenization in four passes at 100MPa. The volume mean diameter (d4,3) of nanoemulsions produced by ML and SC were 163±5 and 144±12 nm, respectively. The physiochemical stability of nanoemulsions was recorded at 25°C. The nanoemulsions prepared by ML were stable for 30 minutes against a wide range of pH and heating temperatures (60–120 °C). However, ML-stabilized nanoemulsions showed droplet growth when treated at high NaCl concentrations. In comparison, droplet growth was observed in SC-stabilized nanoemulsions at pH4 and at high temperature treatment. However, SC-stabilized nanoemulsions were stable at high NaCl concentration (500 mM). The SC-stabilized nanoemulsions showed good physical and chemical stability (>70%) after 30 days of storage. The bioaccessibility of AXT in nanoemulsions was significantly higher in ML (33%) than in SC-stabilized nanoemulsions (6%), indicating a strong influence of emulsifier on bioaccessibility. These findings provide valuable information in designing nutritional products such as aqueous based AXT fortified beverages. •Successful formulation of O/W nanoemulsions encapsulating AXT•Environmental factors influenced the AXT stability of O/W nanoemulsions.•Nanoemulsions exhibited good stability with ML and SC emulsifiers at 25°C.•Higher retention of AXT in SC stabilized nanoemulsions in comparison to ML.•ML-stabilized nanoemulsions have higher AXT bioaccessibility.