Fabrication of zein–tamarind seed polysaccharide–curcumin nanocomplexes: their characterization and impact on alleviating colitis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice

Abstract

In this work, a zein–tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) co-delivery system was fabricated using an anti-solvent precipitation method. The formation mechanism, characterization, and effect on alleviating colitis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice of zein–TSP–curcumin (Z/T-Cur) nanocomplexes were investigated. Hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic effect played a key role in the formation of Z/T-Cur nanocomplexes, and the interactions were spontaneous and driven by enthalpy. The encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, and bioavailability increased from 60.8% (Zein-Cur) to 91.7% (Z/T-Cur_1:1), from 6.1% (Zein-Cur) to 18.3% (Z/T-Cur_1:1), and from 4.7% (Zein-Cur) to 20.0% (Z/T-Cur_1:1), respectively. The Z/T-Cur significantly alleviated colitis symptoms in DSS-treated mice. Additionally, the prepared nanocomplexes rebalanced the gut microbiota composition of colitis mice by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia. Odoribacter and Monoglobus were rich in the Z-T-Cur treatment group, and Turicibacter and Bifidobacterium were rich in the zein–TSP treatment group. This study demonstrated that the TSP could be helpful in the targeted drug delivery system.