Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Manika
Department of Biotechnology, India
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Cell Immunol
The study focuses on the encapsulation and effective delivery of highly unstable folic acid (FA) using γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) and sodium alginate to create hydrogel beads for potential applications in nutraceuticals. γ-PGA was isolated from Bacillus valezensis M-E6 and subsequently used to prepare biocomposite beads using an extrusion process into calcium chloride solution. The physicochemical characteristics of the beads, including pH, diameter, and swelling index, were anal ysed, revealing that the encapsulation efficiency of FA increased from 20 to 76 % with γ-PGA concentration at 0.5 %, beyond which leaching occurred. The beads exhibited enhanced stability and bioavailability of FA, particularly under physiological conditions, due to the superior swelling index and porous network structure. Furthermore, the study explored the prepara tion of agar-based beetroot juice jellies, incorporating the γ-PGA-FA beads, and optimized their formulation based on tex ture, physicochemical properties, and sensory evaluation. The jellies without beads demonstrated a higher syneresis as 6.78 %, whereas it was reduced to 1.25 % and maintained a stable structure, which was attributed to the excellent water-holding capacity (196.2 %) of γ-PGA. Antioxidant activity assays indicated that the incorporation of γ-PGA-FA beads enhanced the antioxidant potential by two times from 29 to 60 %. Overall, the research highlights the efficacy of γ-PGA as a functional additive in encapsulating bioactive compounds and improving the nutritional profile of jelly products, paving the way for innovative applications in food science, health and safe delivery of highly labile bioactive compounds.
Manika is a researcher from India with expertise in biotechnology and functional food delivery systems. Her research focuses on the use of biopolymers such as γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) for nutrient encapsulation and targeted delivery. She is partic ularly interested in improving the stability and bioavailability of micronutrients through innovative formulation strategies.