Fabrication and characterization of zein/lactoferrin composite nanoparticles for encapsulating 7,8-dihydroxyflavone: Enhancement of stability, water solubility and bioaccessibility.

7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor agonist, can mimick physiological actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to attenuate neurogenic disease. However, its use as a functional food, is limited by its low-water solubility, chemical instability, and poor bioavailability. The purpose of this work is to fabricate stable 7,8-DHF loaded zein/lactoferrin (LF) composite nanoparticles (zein/LF-DHF) to overcome these challenges. Results showed that mean particle size of zein/LF nanoparticles was about 74 nm with low polydispersity index (<0.200) and turbidity (<0.300) values. Zein/LF nanoparticles had good stability against pH (3.0–9.0), ionic strengths (0–500 mM NaCl at neutral pH) and long-term storage. Zein/LF nanoparticles showed spherical structures formed by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, however, LF changed surface morphology of zein nanoparticles as observed by scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction indicated 7,8-DHF was presented in an amorphous state inside zein/LF nanoparticles. Most importantly, zein/LF-DHF had good redispersibility, and increased the encapsulation efficiency, chemical stability, water solubility and bioaccessibility of 7,8-DHF. Collectively, zein/LF nanoparticles are promising delivery systems for 7,8-DHF in functional foods.