Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules
Plant-based hard capsules hold promise as medicinal excipients; however, the widely used gelling agent κ-carrageenan (κ-C) suffers from limitations such as poor aqueous solubility, and high dissolution temperature, which hinder the dissolution performance of the capsules. To overcome these drawbacks...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001306 |
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| author | Zi-Yun Zhou Mi Zhang Yu-Cheng Yang Pei-Yong Liu Yi Chen Bing-De Zheng Na Zhang Xue-Qin Zhang Jing Ye Mei-Tian Xiao |
| author_facet | Zi-Yun Zhou Mi Zhang Yu-Cheng Yang Pei-Yong Liu Yi Chen Bing-De Zheng Na Zhang Xue-Qin Zhang Jing Ye Mei-Tian Xiao |
| author_sort | Zi-Yun Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plant-based hard capsules hold promise as medicinal excipients; however, the widely used gelling agent κ-carrageenan (κ-C) suffers from limitations such as poor aqueous solubility, and high dissolution temperature, which hinder the dissolution performance of the capsules. To overcome these drawbacks, we employed an industrially scalable heterogeneous hydroxypropylation method to modify κ-C. This process involves adjusting reaction parameters, including ethanol concentration, alkalization conditions and etherification conditions, to optimize the molar substitution degree (MS) and gel strength of the resulting hydroxypropylated carrageenan (HPC). Structural analysis using techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, 1HNMR spectra and 13C NMR spectra confirmed the incorporation of hydroxypropyl groups into the κ-C backbone. Kinetic studies revealed that the hydroxypropylation reaction follows second-order kinetics with respect to propylene oxide, with an activation energy of 47.51 kJ/mol. Compared to κ-C, HPC exhibits improved water solubility, dissolving readily at lower temperatures, and demonstrates a lower gel-sol transition temperature, which facilitates easier processing. Tests show that capsules made from HPC exhibit a faster disintegration rate in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer compared to those made from κ-C and demonstrate an enhanced dissolution profile. These findings demonstrate a promising strategy to address the intrinsic limitations of κ-C and advance the development of plant-based hard capsules. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6f7473f3ca74bf3abafc8036cbda5dd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-8939 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6f7473f3ca74bf3abafc8036cbda5dd2025-08-20T02:39:35ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-06-011010079210.1016/j.carpta.2025.100792Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsulesZi-Yun Zhou0Mi Zhang1Yu-Cheng Yang2Pei-Yong Liu3Yi Chen4Bing-De Zheng5Na Zhang6Xue-Qin Zhang7Jing Ye8Mei-Tian Xiao9College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; Corresponding authors.Jiangsu Lefan capsule ltd co., Zhengjiang, Jiangsu, 212028, PR ChinaGreenfresh (Fujian) Foodstuff Co., Ltd., Zhangzhou, Fujian, 363199, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR ChinaCollege of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361021, PR China; Xiamen Engineering and Technological Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Xiamen, 361021, PR China; Corresponding authors.Plant-based hard capsules hold promise as medicinal excipients; however, the widely used gelling agent κ-carrageenan (κ-C) suffers from limitations such as poor aqueous solubility, and high dissolution temperature, which hinder the dissolution performance of the capsules. To overcome these drawbacks, we employed an industrially scalable heterogeneous hydroxypropylation method to modify κ-C. This process involves adjusting reaction parameters, including ethanol concentration, alkalization conditions and etherification conditions, to optimize the molar substitution degree (MS) and gel strength of the resulting hydroxypropylated carrageenan (HPC). Structural analysis using techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, 1HNMR spectra and 13C NMR spectra confirmed the incorporation of hydroxypropyl groups into the κ-C backbone. Kinetic studies revealed that the hydroxypropylation reaction follows second-order kinetics with respect to propylene oxide, with an activation energy of 47.51 kJ/mol. Compared to κ-C, HPC exhibits improved water solubility, dissolving readily at lower temperatures, and demonstrates a lower gel-sol transition temperature, which facilitates easier processing. Tests show that capsules made from HPC exhibit a faster disintegration rate in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer compared to those made from κ-C and demonstrate an enhanced dissolution profile. These findings demonstrate a promising strategy to address the intrinsic limitations of κ-C and advance the development of plant-based hard capsules.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001306Plant-based hard capsulesCarrageenanHydroxypropylationHeterogeneousSolubility |
| spellingShingle | Zi-Yun Zhou Mi Zhang Yu-Cheng Yang Pei-Yong Liu Yi Chen Bing-De Zheng Na Zhang Xue-Qin Zhang Jing Ye Mei-Tian Xiao Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications Plant-based hard capsules Carrageenan Hydroxypropylation Heterogeneous Solubility |
| title | Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules |
| title_full | Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules |
| title_fullStr | Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules |
| title_short | Heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in Plant-Based hard capsules |
| title_sort | heterogeneous hydroxypropylation for the preparation of hydroxypropyl carrageenan and its application in plant based hard capsules |
| topic | Plant-based hard capsules Carrageenan Hydroxypropylation Heterogeneous Solubility |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001306 |
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