Improvement effect of different polysaccharides on the functional properties of curcumin-loaded rice protein hydrolysate nanoparticles

The impact of different polysaccharides (chitosan, pectin, and chondroitin sulfate) on the functional properties of curcumin-loaded rice protein hydrolysates (RPH) was explored. Polysaccharides provided more surface charges for RPH nanoparticles, and enhanced the hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions between nanoparticles, thus contributing to the stability of RPH nanoparticles against environmental changes. Notably, RPH nanoparticles coated with chitosan have the largest surface charge (+33.04 mV) and best pH, ionic strength, and thermal stability. Furthermore, RPH nanoparticles coated with chondroitin sulfate had a more compact spherical structure with smaller particle size (111.23 nm), and possessed desirable sustained release properties. This study demonstrated the potential of polysaccharides to enhance the functional properties of rice protein-derived delivery systems for hydrophobic biomolecules, and suggested the necessity of polysaccharide type for creating ideal protein-polysaccharide composite nanoparticles.