Production of reconstitutable nanoliposomes loaded with flaxseed protein hydrolysates: Stability and characterization

Physicochemical instability during storage and rapid release of loaded bioactive compounds are the major disadvantages of nanoliposomal carriers. This research was aimed for encapsulation of antioxidant peptides from enzymolysis of flaxseed proteins within nanoliposomes and then spray-drying was applied to increase their stability. Our results revealed that particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and antioxidant activity of nano-liposomes were influenced by the type of hydrolysates. The highest (56–63%) and lowest (40–45%) encapsulation efficiency was related to nanoliposomes stored at 4 °C and freeze-thawed samples, respectively. Spray-dried nanoliposomes had appropriate physicochemical, functional, and stability properties. After reconstitution, about 72–85% of nanoliposomal encapsulation efficiency was preserved. Evaluation of the chemical structure (FTIR) of primary and spray-dried nanoliposomes showed peptide location around polar areas of phosphatidylcholine such as internal region of nanoliposomes and nanoparticles covered by maltodextrin matrix, respectively. SEM and optical microscopy images indicated the presence of spherical and shrunk carriers with a reservoir-type structure.