Nanoencapsulation of essential oils from industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by-products into alfalfa protein nanoparticles

[Display omitted] •Hemp by-product essential oil (HBEO) encapsulated into alfalfa protein nanoparticles.•Encapsulation enhanced the thermal stability of HBEO.•FTIR, DSC, TGA and XRD confirmed the successful encapsulating of HBEO.•The formed nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape and regular distribution.•Antioxidant activity of HBEO was enhanced by loading into alfalfa protein. Essential oils of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) by-products (HBEO) were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS); then, encapsulated in alfalfa protein isolate nanoparticles (API-NPs) as a novel nanocarrier. A desirable retention (45.5–63.4%) of HBEO within API-NPs was confirmed. These nanoparticles exhibited a shrunk and globular shape with a size range of 156.9–325.9 nm as indicated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal analyses corroborated that HBEO was successfully encapsulated within API NPs in an amorphous form without specific chemical interaction with the carrier matrix. The antioxidant activity of loaded HBEO into API-NPs was higher than free HBEO implying that encapsulation of HBEO in API-NPs was an efficient strategy for improving its stability and functionality. HBEO-loaded API-NPs is a promising candidate to be used in future foods and supplements for novel applications.