Acidicity-sensitive mucosal adhesive particles enhance sweetness

Rebaudioside A (RA) is a natural high-intensity sweetener; however, its subsequent bitterness and astringency limit its application. In this study, a pH-sensitive mucosal adhesion delivery system was developed to deliver RA. Zein and chitosan (CS) were used as raw materials to synthesize Submicron-composites for delivering RA using anti solvent precipitation method. The results indicated that the Submicron-composites’ hydrodynamic diameter was less than 180 nm and could be suspended in aqueous solution. These Submicron-composites exhibited pH sensitivity, remained stable in acidic environments, and released over 70 % of RA under neutral conditions. They possessed mucosal adhesion properties and could interact with mucins. They also demonstrated thermal stability, remaining intact after heat treatment at 60 °C and 100 °C. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the formation of these Submicron-composites primarily depended on hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. This approach provides a novel method for enhancing the sweetness of RA and can be applied to acidic liquid foods.