High voltage electrohydrodynamic atomization of bovine lactoferrin and its encapsulation behaviors in sodium alginate

Bovine lactoferrin (LFb) was subjected to high voltage electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) to produce its nanoparticles (LFNPs) and microcapsules in an alginate (NaAlg) matrix. Under the optimized EHDA condition (con-jet mode, applied voltage of 13 Kv and flow rate of 100 μL min−1), lactoferrin nanoparticles (LFNPs) of average diameters of 100–200 nm, Zeta potential of around 20 mV were produced. The EHDA prepared LFNPs showed substantially higher (15–90%) free radical scavenging activity compare to the native LFb. Furthermore, EHDA decreased the undesirable exposure of LFb on the LFb-NaAlg microcapsules surface. The microencapsulation of EHDA treated LFb in the NaAlg matrix slowed down but did not prevent the degradation of LFb during in vitro gastric digestion. The application of EHDA together with complexation with NaAlg can be a facile encapsulation approach for LFb. These microcapsules can be used to deliver biological iron as supplements.