Delivery of β-carotene to the in vitro intestinal barrier using nanoemulsions with lecithin or sodium caseinate as emulsifiers

To increase the intestinal delivery of dietary β-carotene, there is a need to develop nanostructured food systems encapsulate this fat soluble bioactive. The aim study was evaluate bioacessibility and bioavailability across barrier β-carotene-enriched nanoemulsions stabilised with two emulsifiers (lecithin or sodium caseinate) by coupling an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion cell culture models (Caco-2 co-culture Caco-2/HT29-MTX). Nanoemulsions lecithin had significantly higher β-carotene digested micellar fraction, lower Caco-2 (and Caco-2/HT29-MTX) apical compartment cellular content compared caseinate. Finally, assess anti-inflammatory activity nanoemulsions, lipopolysaccharide stimulated macrophages were exposed Caco- 2 basolateral samples levels TNF-α IL-β, subsequently quantified. A response from THP-1 elicited samples, regardless emulsifier used formulate nanoemulsions. This demonstrated that permeability influenced derived for stabilising indicating composition may be critical factor delivery.