مشخصات پژوهش

This study investigates the preparation of nanostructured lipid carriers for the encapsulation of β-carotene using the Response Surface Methodology. Encapsulation transforms β-carotene from a highly unstable, poorly absorbed, and difficult-to-handle compound into a functional ingredient. It protects it from degradation (oxygen, light, heat), dramatically improves its absorption by the body, masks undesirable sensory properties, and enables its easy and uniform incorporation into a vast array of products (foods, beverages, supplements, cosmetics). Without encapsulation, the effectiveness, stability, and practical usability of β-carotene in most applications would be severely limited. The optimized conditions were determined as lipid weight (0.63 g), temperature (40 °C), and ionic-to-nonionic surfactant ratio (1.16). The prepared nanocarriers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicated an average particle size of 51.09 nm with uniform distribution for successfully encapsulated β-carotene. Furthermore, the conversion of β-carotene nanocarriers into solid powder was optimized using freeze-drying in the presence of glucose as a cryoprotectant. Findings revealed that 30-40% glucose effectively prevented nanocarrier degradation and ensured structural stability. HPLC chromatograms showed the preservation of 92% of β-carotene during the synthesis process, showing high efficiency of the proposed encapsulation method. These findings highlight the high potential of the synthesized lipid nanocarriers for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries