Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient

Herein, the effectiveness of astaxanthin (AX) as functional feed ingredient was assessed by enhancing its stability and bioavailability using encapsulation methods. Spray-drying and liposome entrapment were applied to a natural AX source from shrimp by-products, along with two commercially synthetic...

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Main Authors: Matteo Vitale, Joaquin Gomez-Estaca, Janete Chung, Seong-Chea Chua, Daniela Maria Pampanin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Marine Drugs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/4/143
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author Matteo Vitale
Joaquin Gomez-Estaca
Janete Chung
Seong-Chea Chua
Daniela Maria Pampanin
author_facet Matteo Vitale
Joaquin Gomez-Estaca
Janete Chung
Seong-Chea Chua
Daniela Maria Pampanin
author_sort Matteo Vitale
collection DOAJ
description Herein, the effectiveness of astaxanthin (AX) as functional feed ingredient was assessed by enhancing its stability and bioavailability using encapsulation methods. Spray-drying and liposome entrapment were applied to a natural AX source from shrimp by-products, along with two commercially synthetic alternatives. Encapsulated AX formulations were evaluated for their physico-chemical properties, thermal stability, and <i>in vitro</i> performance using RTL-W1, a rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) liver-derived cell line. Both techniques achieved high encapsulation efficiency (73–89%) and provided remarkable protection to AX during thermal treatments, maintaining its stability at 80 °C for up to 2 h and at 100 °C for 30 min. Nevertheless, neither encapsulation methods significantly mitigated water absorption over time. Additionally, morphological characterization revealed spray-dried microcapsules with typical round, partially collapsed particles with a broad size distribution, while liposomes further stabilized into dry powders by spray-drying showed structural rearrangements and an increase in size upon rehydration, although maintaining a uniform and stable distribution. <i>In vitro</i> testing revealed enhanced RTL-W1 cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production when encapsulation was employed. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of the selected encapsulation techniques to optimize the stability, bioavailability, and functionality of AX, providing valuable insights to improve its utilization as a functional ingredient in fish feed formulations.
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spelling doaj-art-8ba9986fc2c1491581d993de3bfbc6cc2025-08-20T02:28:37ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-03-0123414310.3390/md23040143Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed IngredientMatteo Vitale0Joaquin Gomez-Estaca1Janete Chung2Seong-Chea Chua3Daniela Maria Pampanin4Department of Chemistry, Bioscience, and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, 4021 Stavanger, NorwayInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos y Nutricion (ICTAN-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, SpainSkretting Aquaculture Innovation, 4016 Stavanger, NorwaySkretting Aquaculture Innovation, 4016 Stavanger, NorwayDepartment of Chemistry, Bioscience, and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, 4021 Stavanger, NorwayHerein, the effectiveness of astaxanthin (AX) as functional feed ingredient was assessed by enhancing its stability and bioavailability using encapsulation methods. Spray-drying and liposome entrapment were applied to a natural AX source from shrimp by-products, along with two commercially synthetic alternatives. Encapsulated AX formulations were evaluated for their physico-chemical properties, thermal stability, and <i>in vitro</i> performance using RTL-W1, a rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) liver-derived cell line. Both techniques achieved high encapsulation efficiency (73–89%) and provided remarkable protection to AX during thermal treatments, maintaining its stability at 80 °C for up to 2 h and at 100 °C for 30 min. Nevertheless, neither encapsulation methods significantly mitigated water absorption over time. Additionally, morphological characterization revealed spray-dried microcapsules with typical round, partially collapsed particles with a broad size distribution, while liposomes further stabilized into dry powders by spray-drying showed structural rearrangements and an increase in size upon rehydration, although maintaining a uniform and stable distribution. <i>In vitro</i> testing revealed enhanced RTL-W1 cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production when encapsulation was employed. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of the selected encapsulation techniques to optimize the stability, bioavailability, and functionality of AX, providing valuable insights to improve its utilization as a functional ingredient in fish feed formulations.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/4/143astaxanthinaquacultureencapsulation<i>in vitro</i> testingfish cell lines
spellingShingle Matteo Vitale
Joaquin Gomez-Estaca
Janete Chung
Seong-Chea Chua
Daniela Maria Pampanin
Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
Marine Drugs
astaxanthin
aquaculture
encapsulation
<i>in vitro</i> testing
fish cell lines
title Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
title_full Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
title_fullStr Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
title_full_unstemmed Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
title_short Encapsulation Techniques to Enhance Astaxanthin Utilization as Functional Feed Ingredient
title_sort encapsulation techniques to enhance astaxanthin utilization as functional feed ingredient
topic astaxanthin
aquaculture
encapsulation
<i>in vitro</i> testing
fish cell lines
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/4/143
work_keys_str_mv AT matteovitale encapsulationtechniquestoenhanceastaxanthinutilizationasfunctionalfeedingredient
AT joaquingomezestaca encapsulationtechniquestoenhanceastaxanthinutilizationasfunctionalfeedingredient
AT janetechung encapsulationtechniquestoenhanceastaxanthinutilizationasfunctionalfeedingredient
AT seongcheachua encapsulationtechniquestoenhanceastaxanthinutilizationasfunctionalfeedingredient
AT danielamariapampanin encapsulationtechniquestoenhanceastaxanthinutilizationasfunctionalfeedingredient