A pectin and chitosan film to protect bioactive compounds in foods and therapies

A pectin and chitosan film to protect bioactive compounds in foods and therapies Lisa Lock Scientific Editor Andrew Zinin Lead Editor Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute and the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC) have developed an innovative biodegradable multilayer film capable of protecting and controlling the release of anthocyanins inside the body. Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, this innovation opens the door to more effective functional foods and supplements for intestinal health. Anthocyanins are natural pigments found in fruits such as blueberries and grapes, known for their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their use in food and therapeutic products is limited because of their extreme fragility. They degrade rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing their bioavailability to less than 1%. To overcome this challenge, the team behind the recent publication created a "dual stabilization" platform. First, they encapsulated the anthocyanins in zein nanoparticles (a corn protein). They then incorporated these nanoparticles into a multilayer film composed of pectin and chitosan, two natural biopolymers. The resulting system proved to be the most effective, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 77% and superior mechanical resistance compared with other formulations. "The main advantage of this biomaterial is its controlled and pH-sensitive release capability," explained the lead author of the publication, Dr. Sabina Lachowicz Wiśniewska, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral researcher at IMDEA Materials. "The film protects the anthocyanins in the acidic environment of the stomach, releasing less than 30% of the compound, and then releases them gradually under intestinal conditions, reaching nearly 80% release after 12 hours. "This selective behavior is crucial to ensure that the bioactive compounds reach the area of maximum absorption intact," she added. This development has significant potential for the nutraceutical and functional food industries. It could be used to create next-generation oral supplements for the prevention of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or to enrich foods that preserve the bioactivity of their healthy components until consumption. More information Sabina Lachowicz-Wiśniewska et al, Pectin–chitosan multilayer films for controlled anthocyanin release: Experimental structure–property relationships supported by complementary principal component analysis (PCA), International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.152335 Provided by IMDEA Materials