Development of Persian gum-based microcapsules to speed up the release of cinnamon essential oil in the simulated saliva conditions

In this study, spray-drying technique was used to develop Persian gum-based microcapsules having cinnamon essential oil (CEO) where, using a simple centroid mixture design, the proportion of maltodextrin to Persian gum was optimized. The response factors which were optimized included powder recovery, encapsulation efficiency, and the release of CEO. Based on the formulation optimization, 8.25% maltodextrin and 1.74% Persian gum were required to achieve the optimum microcapsules having the highest powder recovery, encapsulation efficiency and CEO release. The evaluation of the optimum microcapsules was carried out based on particle size, moisture content, solubility, in vitro release, antioxidant activity, Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and chemical compositions through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Physical interaction between CEO and the wall materials was proved by the results of FTIR. Enhanced water solubility of the CEO and guarding impact on antioxidant activity were observed in the optimum microcapsules. The pattern of the release of encapsulated CEO from simulated saliva is best described as the Fickian diffusion mechanism where immediate release (80%) of the encapsulated CEO was observed. Based on the findings of this study, efficient and novel carriers for the encapsulation of essential oils could be developed through Persian gum microcapsules.