A Novel Approach for Delivery of Ergosterol Within Ferritin Cage: Stability, Slow-Release Property, and Cholesterol-Lowering Effect After Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion

Ergosterol possesses a variety of physiological activities, however, its application is limited due to its poor water solubility and photosensitivity. In this study, by using the ultrasonic-assisted heating method, recombinant human H-ferritin (rHuHF)–ergosterol nanocomposites (FEs) were designed, and after the characterization, the light stability, serum stability, sustained release character, and cholesterol-lowering property in vitro were analyzed. The results showed that FEs maintained a spherical morphology with the same particle size as rHuHF. About 17 ergosterol molecules were successfully encapsulated in one ferritin molecule with an encapsulation rate of (27.28 ± 0.29)