Preparation and characterization of C-phycocyanin coated with STMP/STPP cross-linked starches from different botanical sources

This work aimed to use sodium trimetaphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate cross-linked potato, banana, corn, cassava, and breadfruit starches as wall materials for C-phycocyanin encapsulation, characterize them and evaluate their in vivo pharmacological effects in an inflammation model. The cross-linked starches were successfully obtained, characterized, and submitted to C-phycocyanin encapsulation by freeze-drying. The characterization of cross-linked starches-C-phycocyanin composites by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the C-phycocyanin was encapsulated between amorphous chains of cross-linked starches. Among the five preparations, the cross-linked potato starch presented the highest phosphorous content (0.084%), substitution degree (0.004), water uptake capacity (0.88 g g−1), and C-phycocyanin encapsulation efficiency (67.58%), thus was tested in vivo. The cross-linked potato starch-C-phycocyanin prolonged the antihyperalgesic effects attributed to C-phycocyanin, evaluated by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) model. Starch cross-linking promoted the formation of a hydrogel network in swollen state entrapping C-phycocyanin, thus, acting as a barrier to its release to the medium and promoting long-lasting in vivo effects. The combination of chemical modification of starches followed by physical treatment presented itself as a useful tool for the development of pharmaceutical formulations. [Display omitted] •Five starches were cross-linked using STMP/STPP reagents.•Cross-linked starches-C-phycocyanin composites were successfully obtained.•The supramolecular structures were characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG and DSC techniques.•Prolonged antihyperalgesic effects of C-phycocyanin were noticed in vivo.