Development and characterization of iron-pectin beads as a novel system for iron delivery to intestinal cells

Publication date: 1 October 2018Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Volume 170Author(s): F. Ghibaudo, E. Gerbino, A.A. Hugo, M.G. Simões, P. Alves, B.F.O. Costa, V. Campo Dallˊ Orto, A. Gómez-Zavaglia, P.N. SimõesAbstractIron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficit worldwide. The goal of this work was to obtain iron-pectin beads by ionic gelation and evaluate their physiological behavior to support their potential application in the food industry. The beads were firstly analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy, and then physical-chemically characterized by performing swelling, thermogravimetric, porosimetry, Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analyses, as well as by determining the particle size. Then, physiological assays were carried out by exposing the beads to simulated gastric and intestinal environments, and determining the iron absorption and transepithelial transport into Caco-2/TC7 cells.Iron-pectin beads were spherical (diameter 1–2 mm), with high density (1.29 g/mL) and porosity (93.28%) at low pressure, indicating their high permeability even when exposed to low pressure. Swelling in simulated intestinal medium (pH 8) was higher than in simulated gastric medium. The source of iron [FeSO4 (control) or iron-pectin beads] did not have any significant effect on the mineral absorption. Regarding transport, the iron added to the apical pole of Caco-2/TC7 monolayers was recovered in the basal compartment, and this was proport...
Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research