Construction of a Ternary Composite Colloidal Structure of Zein/Soy Protein Isolate/Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose to Deliver Curcumin and Improve Its Bioavailability

This work presents the fabrication of ternary nanoparticles (Z/S/C NPs) comprising zein (Z), soy protein isolate (SPI) and carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na) through a pH-driven method. The results showed that smallest particle size (71.41 nm) most stable zeta potential, measuring −49.97 mV, were achieved with following ratio Z/SPI/CMC-Na (2:3:3). surface morphology was further analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, synthesized utilized to encapsulate curcumin (Cur), hydrophobic, bioactive compound. characterized analyzer, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. revealed formation encapsulation Cur driven by electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding hydrophobic interactions. drug loading efficiency (EE%) Z/S/C-cur reached 90.90%. Z/S/C demonstrated enhanced storage stability, photostability simulated gastrointestinal digestion Cur. release variations in investigated across different stages digestion. biocompatibility assessed conducting cell viability assays on HepG2 L-O2 cells, which no signs cytotoxicity. These suggested composite have potential delivering nutritional foods health-promoting substances.