Fabrication and characterization of walnut peptides-loaded proliposomes with three lyoprotectants: Environmental stabilities and antioxidant/antibacterial activities

•Lyoprotectants maintained a favorable liposomal spherical shape during lyophilization.•Walnut peptides-loaded proliposomes showed favorable bioactivities.•Walnut peptides formed hydrogen bond with either lyoprotectants or phospholipids.•Lyoprotectants altered the free fatty acid release behaviors in simulated digestion. To protect walnut peptides from harsh external environments during their storage and digestion, proliposomes loaded with walnut peptides were fabricated using sucrose, trehalose, and mannitol as carriers and lyoprotectants. The physicochemical properties, environmental stability, antioxidant/antibacterial activities, and digestion in vitro of the proliposomes were evaluated. The freshly prepared liposomes were uniform in size, but the hydrated proliposomes showed a more uneven size distribution. The lyoprotectants helped maintain favorable liposome shape during lyophilization. Alongside the lyoprotectants, the walnut peptides further stabilized the lipid bilayer. Proliposomes encapsulation didn’t impact the peptides’ antioxidant activity. Furthermore, walnut peptides-loaded proliposomes exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The proliposomes were stable during gastric-phase digestion. The lyoprotectants changed the free fatty acid release behaviors of the proliposomes. These characteristics suggest potential applications for proliposomes as effective delivery systems for biopeptides in food stuffs, thereby protecting bioactivities during storage and passage through the gastrointestinal tract.