Folic acid-chitosan nanomaterials for delivery of dietary polyphenols

The encapsulation of antioxidant resveratrol, genistein, and curcumin by folic acid-chitosan nanoparticles was studied in aqueous solution, using multiple spectroscopic methods, TEM images and modeling. Structural analysis showed that polyphenol bindings are via hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and H-bonding contacts with resveratrol forming more stable conjugates. As chitosan size increased, the binding efficacy and stability of polyphenol-polymer adducts were increased. Polyphenol binding induced major alterations of chitosan morphology. Folic acid-chitosan nanoparticles are capable of delivering polyphenols in vitro.