Electrosprayed cashew gum microparticles for the encapsulation of highly sensitive bioactive materials

This study focuses on the production and characterization of electrosprayed cashew gum (CG) microparticles that encapsulate ?-carotene. CG is an inexpensive, non-toxic polysaccharide obtained from Anacardium occidentale trees. Encapsulation of ?-carotene in CG was performed by electrospraying from two emulsion formulations (water : oil ratios 80:20 and 90:10 (v/v)) in which the dispersed phase consisted of ?-carotene dissolved in castor oil, and the continuous phase was a CG aqueous solution. Spherical particles with smooth surface and medium size between 3 and 6 ?m were obtained. The particles produced from the 90:10 (v/v) emulsion showed a loading capacity of 0.075 ? 0.006 % and a minor amount of extractable ?-carotene, 10.75 ? 2.42 %. ATR-FTIR confirmed the absence of interaction between the particles? components. CG demonstrated to offer thermoprotection, and photoprotection for short periods of time. These results make CG a viable candidate to encapsulate bioactive compounds via electrospraying for agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications.