Double encapsulation of fucoxanthin using porous starch through sequential coating modification with maltodextrin and gum Arabic

This study aims to assess the effect of gum Arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MD), or their combination as a coating agent at different ratios (1/3, 1/5, and 1/7 w/w) to encapsulate fucoxanthin. For this purpose, fucoxanthin was initially extracted and purified from Sargassum angustifolium brown seaweed and then loaded into porous starch (PS). The fucoxanthin‐loaded PS samples were further contributed in another encapsulation process using the coating materials. All samples were evaluated in terms of encapsulation efficiency, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and stability under light, dark and low or high temperature (4 and 50°C) exposure over a certain time period. Purification of fucoxanthin was verified through HPLC and NMR spectroscopy. It was shown that the subsequent coating with MD + GA (1/7 w/w) caused an enhanced encapsulation of fucoxanthin‐loaded PS, reaching to about 96%. In addition, the stability of fucoxanthin‐loaded PS was greatly influenced by light and high temperature exposure and decreased from 85% to 58% using the GA‐coated material (1/3 w/w). First‐order kinetic model was found to be fitted well on thermal degradation data of fucoxanthin. Interestingly, the mixture of MD + GA (1/7 w/w) exhibited the highest fucoxanthin prevention at the end of the storage period. Conclusively, the findings of this study can provide simple and facile protocol for food chemists in protecting the food ingredients using encapsulation process. Fucoxanthin has potential therapeutic benefits for several major diseases. This carotenoid is heat and light sensitive, and thus, encapsulation of fucoxanthin is necessary. Porous starch is a novel carrier for encapsulation of bioactive compounds that can be modified with gum Arabic (GA) and maltodextrin (MD). The modification of encapsulated fucoxanthin‐loaded PS using MD and GA as coating agents has excellent encapsulation efficiency and stability. This encapsulation protocol can be useful for those industries that need to protect their sensitive ingredients from severe environmental conditions.