Composite Encapsulating Agent for NaFeEDTA Microencapsulation Using Spray Drying Method

Abstract

Iron microencapsulation is a solution to protect the iron from reacting with other substances that can cause changes in the quality of fortified food. The coating material used should be appropriate to support the encapsulation process. This study combined glucomannan and maltodextrin as coating materials, and added HPMC as an additional one, to encapsulate NaFeEDTA. The results showed that such a combination could increase the encapsulation efficiency. The morphologies of the microparticles on the four formulations applied in this study were almost the same; there were wrinkles on the surfaces of the particles caused by the presence of HPMC. The four formulations had a homogeneous (narrow) size distribution with an average particle size between 105-111 µm, had a thermal resistance up to a temperature of ± 200 °C, and had the same functional groups but with different intensities. The NaFeEDTA used in the four formulations had a bioavailability value of 2.3-2.9%. The best formulation, based on the gastrointestinal digestion simulation, was shown by the formulation with a glucomannan:maltodextrin ratio of 2:3 (in 1% w/v coating material) with a release percentage of 64.28% in SGF solution and an increase of 2.27% in SIF solution. To prevent anemia, ±400 mg of iron microparticles belonging to the best formulation in this study are needed to meet 75% of the daily need.