Evaluation of ovalbumin nanocarriers to promote the vehiculization and antifungal properties of cinnamaldehyde in aqueous media

Abstract

This paper is aimed to evaluate the vehiculization of trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN) through the formation of complexes with ovalbumin (OVA) and heat-induced OVA nanoparticles (OVAn) to promote its application in aqueous media. OVAn production variables (pH and protein concentration) and some physicochemical features (size, surface hydrophobicity, and molecular weight) were explored. Complex formation was examined in terms of stoichiometric and thermodynamic (ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG°) parameters by applying fluorescence spectroscopy. Results revealed the strong influence of the OVA conformational state (native or aggregated) on CIN vehiculization. However, all systems showed similar encapsulation efficiencies (~62%). Besides, nanosized complexes were colloidally stable at pH 3.0 and 7.0. Finally, their antifungal properties against the Aspergillus niger species (as a microbial model) were determined, being the OVA-CIN complex the most efficient. The preservation of the conformational structure of OVA as a nanocarrier was relevant to promote the CIN antifungal properties in aqueous media.