RT Journal Article
T1 Precipitation and encapsulation of β-sitosterol using supercritical antisolvent (SAS) method for controlled nutraceutical release
A1 Cabañas Poveda, Albertina
A1 Cerro, Daniela
A1 Torres, Alejandra
A1 Zahran, Fouad
A1 Sepúlveda, Luisa
A1 Rivera, Patricia
A1 Romero, Julio
AB β-sitosterol (βsit) is a plant-derived phytosterol with recognized health-promoting properties, but its low aqueous solubility and limited bioavailability constrain its use in nutraceuticals and functional foods. This study aimed to precipitate and encapsulate βsit within polycaprolactone (PCL) using the Supercritical AntiSolvent (SAS) process in order to develop a controlled delivery system for nutraceutical bioactives. First, βsit was precipitated from a 2% ethyl acetate solution at 40 ºC and pressures ranging from 9 to 13 MPa to identify suitable operating conditions; 9 MPa was selected as optimal due to its lower βsit solubility in the CO2/solvent mixture. These conditions were then applied for the precipitation of βsit with PCL. The SAS mechanism relied on the anti-solvent action of supercritical CO₂, promoting rapid precipitation and the formation of βsit:PCL microparticles. The inclusion of Tween 80 (T80) enhanced incorporation efficiency, promoted uniform microparticle morphology, and increased overall process yield. Formulation variables modulated both the release kinetics and underlying mechanisms. Incorporation within PCL slowed βsit release, while T80 accelerated it, likely due to reduced matrix crystallinity. Overall, βsit was successfully micronized along with PCL using SAS-based precipitation, highlighting its potential for the combination of bioactive compounds in functional foods and nutraceutical applications.
PB Elsevier
YR 2026
FD 2026-01-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130273
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130273
LA eng
NO Daniela Cerro, Albertina Cabañas, Alejandra Torres, Fouad Zahran, Luisa Sepúlveda, Patricia Rivera, Julio Romero, Precipitation and encapsulation of β-sitosterol using supercritical antisolvent (SAS) method for controlled nutraceutical release., Food Research International, Volume 228, 2026, 118378, ISSN 0963-9969, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2026.118378. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996926000529)
NO Technology Center for Packaging Innovation ANID CTI 250002 (Chile)
NO Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology ANID Project CIA250002 (Chile)
NO Ministry of Science, Innovation & Universities (Spain)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 23 mar 2026