Curcumin encapsulation in zein-rhamnolipid composite nanoparticles using a pH-driven method

Zein is widely used to encapsulate non-polar bioactives due to its ability to form protein nanoparticles with hydrophobic interiors. In this study, a simple pH-driven method, which does not use organic solvents, was employed to fabricate zein-rhamnolipid composite nanoparticles. An alkaline zein solution (pH 12.0) was mixed with an acidic rhamnolipid solution (pH 2.0), which led to the spontaneous formation of composite nanoparticles (pH 7.0)....