Given the limited number of materials available to design delivery platforms for nutrients,\nthe rational combination of raw materials already approved as food ingredients and their processing\nthrough nano-micro technology can offer a unique tool for innovation. Here, we propose a nano-in-micro\nstrategy to produce powders based on the hydrophobic protein zein, useful for the oral delivery of\na hydrophilic iron source (iron bisglycinate) in anaemic patients. Iron-loaded powders were prepared\nthrough a two-step strategy consisting in the formation of a zein pseudolatex followed by a spray-drying\nstep. To extend the manipulation space for zein and entrap iron bisglycinate, Beta-cyclodextrin (BetaCD) was\nselected as helping excipient. Addition of BetaCD allowed iron loading in the pseudolatex and greatly\nincreased product yields after the drying process as compared to zein alone. Iron-loaded micro-sized\npowders were characterised by attenuated total reflectanceâ??Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR)\nspectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to elucidate the\nrole of BetaCD as a compatibilizer for the zeinâ??iron system. Remarkably, micropowders released only\n20% of FeBIS in a simulated gastric fluid, whereas release in a simulated intestinal fluid was almost\ncompleted in 7 h. In summary, BetaCD association to zein is a novel strategy to expand applications in the\noral delivery of iron bisglycinate and, prospectively, to micronutrient chelates.
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