Encapsulation of Hydrophobic Apigenin in Spray-dried Chitosan-coated Liposomes for Improved Physicochemical Properties and Controlled Release

This thesis examines the potential of encapsulating hydrophobic apigenin (a naturally occurring flavonoid with multiple health benefits) in spray-dried unilamellar liposomes coated with chitosan to overcome its limitations (poor aqueous solubility, bioavailability, and stability) for food applications. Compared to the unencapsulated apigenin, spray-dried chitosan-coated apigenin liposomes (SCAL) exhibited improved aqueous solubility, higher antioxidant capacity, slower in-vitro release, higher bioaccessibility, and better stability against environmental factors (pH, light, oxygen, salt stress, during storage) and gastrointestinal digestion. The positive results obtained from incorporating SCAL into mango juice further highlight the potential of SCAL for delivering apigenin in aqueous food systems to harness its health benefits.