(P26-069-25) Novel Prebiotic Chitosan Nanoparticles for Enhanced Adsorption of Anthocyanins in Tart Cherry Juice

Objectives: Tart cherry juice (TCJ) is a rich source of anthocyanins (ACNs), known for their anti-inflammatory property. However, the low bioavailability of ACNs limit their therapeutic potential. To address this, we developed nanoparticles using the natural prebiotic polysaccharide chitosan (C) to adsorb ACNs from TCJ. This study aims to characterize these nanoparticles and optimize ACNs adsorption efficiency.

Methods: Void nanoparticles (Vnano) were synthesized via ionic gelation of C and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). After purification, Vnano was incorporated into juice to produce TCJ-adsorbed nanoparticles (Tnano). The ACNs adsorption process was optimized by adjusting specific ratios (w/w), temperature, and reaction time, followed by solid–liquid separation and ACNs quantification. The release profiles of ACNs from TCJ and Tnano were evaluated via dialysis. To study nanoparticle-ACN interactions, Vnano was incubated with various ACN monomers, including cyanidin-3-glucoside(C3G), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (C3R), and cyanidin chloride (CC). Key characteristics of Vnano and Tnano, such as size, polydispersity (PDI), zeta potential and morphology, assessed using a Brookhaven Particle Analyzer and TEM.

Results: The concentration of C and CMC have been adjusted to 0.1% and 0.05%, respectively, to optimize Vnano size to 120nm. Incorporating TCJ increased Tnano size to approximately 180nm, with ACNs smoothing the rough surface of Vnano. Both Vnano and Tnano displayed PDI values near 0.2 and zeta potentials of 25-30mV. Optimized adsorption was achieved at a 1:300 (w/w) TCJ to Vnano ratio, incubated for 16 hours at 37°C, yielding >80% ACNs adsorption efficiency. Nanoparticles exhibited the highest binding affinity for CC (93.8%), followed by C3G (66.8%) and C3R (63.6%). Furthermore, Tnano-adsorbed ACNs demonstrated a sustained release profile in acidic conditions, with a 50% reduction in cumulative release over 24 hours compared to free ACNs in TCJ.

Conclusions: This research focuses on developing prebiotic chitosan nanoparticles to enhance the bioavailability and nutritional value of ACNs in TCJ. These advancements could enable more effective treatments for metabolic diseases-associated inflammation and gut-related disorders, ultimately aiding in the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Funding Sources: USDA AFRI 2023-67017-39555