Emulsion Gels with Dual Antioxidant and Antibacterial Functions for Optimized Β-Carotene Delivery: Utilizing Phenolic Acid-Modified Agarose

Agarose based on gel strength can not meet the needs of diverse applications, and the structural modification of agarose is helpful to improve its functional properties and promote the economic benefits of the agar industry chain. This study focuses on making agarose as an active delivery material with specific functions. Agarose (Na-Ag) was modified with phenolic acid (p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid) to produce agarose derivatives. Structural characterization confirmed the successful grafting of phenolic acids onto agarose through esterification reactions at the C-6 hydroxyl position, enhancing its amphiphilic properties. Emulsifying activity increased from 6.73 for Na-Ag to 23.19 for p-coumaric acid-modified agarose (Pa-Ag), with similar improvements noted for caffeic acid (Ca-Ag) and ferulic acid (Fa-Ag) variants. Emulsion stability was visually and microscopically confirmed, showing uniform droplet distribution in modified agaroses. The study concludes that phenolic acid modifications significantly enhance the emulsifying properties and β-carotene encapsulation of agarose, suggesting a promising approach for improving the delivery and stability of lipophilic compounds in various industries.