Fabrication, characterization and in vitro controlled-releasing of naringin nano-particles encapsulated by chitosan-carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan

Naringin (NR) is a prominent citrus bioflavonoid, but the application is greatly limited by its low bioavailability. To solve this problem, NR was encapsulated in carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan (CKGM) and chitosan (CS) to form core-shell nanoparticles (CS/CKGM-NR NPs). The physicochemical properties of CS/CKGM-NR NPs with ideal encapsulation efficiency of 82.70 ± 0.30% were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The morphology and core-shell structure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Moreover, the releasing behavior of NR was evaluated in In Vitro digestion mode, suggesting that core-shell CS/CKGM-NR NPs were successfully prepared (diameter 700 nm, +35 mV). The underlying mechanism indicated that carboxyl groups of CKGM were cross-linked with ammonium ion of CS by electrostatic interaction. Moreover, the releasing efficiency of NR in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, 20.62 ± 0.59%), simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, 17.08 ± 0.01%) and simulated colon fluid (SCF, 18.82 ± 0.61%) were greatly lowered compared with that of naked NR (52.70 ± 0.01% in SGF, 46.42 ± 3.30% in SIF, 69.35 ± 12.63% in SCF). The findings implied that CS/CKGM-NR NPs were created in core-shell form with controlled-releasing effect. This study provided new insight into the fabrication of CS/CKGM-NR NPs that could be developed as a potential nano-delivery with controlled-releasing effect.