In this work, curcumin was spray-dried (SD) with Aloe vera mucilage as the encapsulating agent giving particular attention to the effect of the relevant process parameters (feed flow rate, atomization speed, and inlet air temperature) on the resulting properties of the SD powders.The powders obtained were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, rheology, and release profiles. Results show that the best drying conditions are low SD inlet air temperature (150 C), low feed flow rate (1.5 L/hr), and high atomization speed (27,500 rpm).These conditions produced particles with smooth morphologies, preserving the total phenolic content (0.0611 μg EAG), with a radical scavenging capacity of 911.48 μmol Trolox/mg. Release profiles revealed an extended release of encapsulated material with a maximum of about 65% at 24 hr for these conditions and point out the suitability of encapsulated systems for potential applications in functional foods, antioxidant systems, pharmaceutical, and organic pigments.
Practical applicationsThis research presents an optimization method to obtain powders of mucilage (Aloe vera, Av)curcumin (Cu) by spray drying (SD), where the Av was used as wall material to encapsulate Cu and obtain the best process conditions (SD) to produce prolonged delivery systems of antioxidant compounds that can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. The encapsulated systems were analyzed by rheological tests and were supported with other characterizations, such as antioxidant capacity, morphology (SEM), chemical (FT-IR), and releasing profiles.
A set of emulsions containing sodium polyacrylate as emulsifier was prepared. The effect of pH, temperature, and polymer concentration on sample stability was studied. Stability of the sample was evaluated through rheology and the morphology techniques. The sample containing 2% (w/w) sodium polyacrylate exhibited more evident changes in storage G′ and loss G″ moduli with respect to 1% and 1.5% (w/w) samples, evidencing a more structured elastic material, even at high temperatures at which a more stable sample is assumed. For most of the systems studied, the storage modulus (G′) was always higher than the loss modulus (G″) which is attributed to the formation of a strong network arising from the polymer interacting with the oil and aqueous phases; the complexity of this network is related to the action of pH and temperature. These results reveal the conditions at which the polyacrylate offers the best advantages in industrial cosmetic applications, that is, pH levels near 6.5, with a 2% (w/w) polymer concentration and a temperature of 25°C.
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