The novel lactoferrin and DHA-codelivered liposomes with different membrane structures: Fabrication, in vitro infant digestion, and suckling pig intestinal organoid absorption

[Display omitted] •Lactoferrin-DHA-codelivered liposomes with various membrane structure were studied.•Liposomal size influenced particle degradation more obviously than its composition.•Liposome contained complex phospholipids showed a higher rate of in vitro digestion.•Small-sized complex phospholipid liposomes promoted cargos absorption in organoids. Inspired by membrane structure of breast milk and infant formula fat globules, four liposomes with different particle size (large and small) and compositions (Single phospholipids contained phosphatidylcholine, complex phospholipids contained phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin) were fabricated to deliver lactoferrin and DHA. In vitro infant semi-dynamic digestive behavior and absorption in intestinal organoids of liposomes were investigated. Liposomal structures were negligible changed during semi-dynamic gastric digestion while damaged in intestine. Liposomal degradation rate was primarily influenced by particle size, and complex phospholipids accelerated DHA hydrolysis. The release rate of DHA (91.7 ± 1.3 %) in small-sized liposomes (0.181 ± 0.001 μm) was higher than free DHA (unencapsulated, 64.6 ± 3.4 %). Complex phospholipids liposomal digesta exhibited higher transport efficiency (3.4-fold for fatty acids and 2.0-fold for amino acids) and better organoid growth than digesta of bare nutrients. This study provided new insights into membrane structure-functionality relationship of liposomes and may aid in the development of novel infant nutrient carriers.