Chapter 3: Materials for Bioactive Compound Delivery Systems

A significant number of processes focused on obtaining and stabilizing nutraceuticals have been developed due to the increased consumer awareness about the consumption of products with naturally-derived active ingredients. However, the potential health benefits of many nutraceuticals are not fully realized for many different reasons. For instance, some nutraceuticals may present instabilities when subjected to variations in temperature, pH and ionic strength, presence of light, and oxygen. Therefore, different strategies and notable advances have been achieved in designing delivery systems to protect and increase the bioavailability of nutraceuticals. An essential step in this process is the appropriate selection of the carrier material to compose the delivery system since it will strongly influence the encapsulation efficiency and stability of the nutraceuticals. Thus, this chapter focuses on the different types of carrier materials, namely proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and surfactants, presenting their main properties and most recent applications in stabilizing lipophilic nutraceuticals. Additionally, the existing challenges and prospects of the development of carrier materials and systems are discussed.