Double-crosslinked hydrogels and hydrogel beads formed by garlic protein hydrolysates for bioactive encapsulation and gastrointestinal delivery.

Background: Garlic protein is one of the main components of garlic. It has several beneficial characteristics. This study aimed to characterize a double crosslinked hydrogel formed with alginate, calcium ions (Ca²⁺), and garlic protein hydrolysates (GPH), and to develop hydrogel beads for targeted delivery of bioactive constituents to the gastrointestinal tract.

Results: The results indicated that the degree of GPH hydrolysis was approximately 3% following trypsin treatment. The inner structure of the double crosslinked hydrogel showed a honeycomb pattern, with solid-like gel rheology and improved texture properties at a 4% (w/v) GPH concentration. The GPH-based hydrogel beads demonstrated pH sensitivity, swelling in near-neutral and alkaline environments, and the encapsulated paclitaxel (PTX) exhibited an amorphous phase with preferential release in intestinal conditions. The GPH group also achieved greater drug encapsulation efficiency than a soy protein hydrolysate (SPH) group, and proteomic analysis suggested that lower molecular weight and peptide charge favored the formation of peptide-integrated double crosslinking hydrogels.

Conclusion: This work indicated that GPH was helpful and could inspire the development of drug delivery systems involving GPH with the required mechanical strength and target-release properties. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.