Regulation of Microlocalization of Antioxidants by Surfactant Micelles in Oil-in-Water Emulsions

The mass transport effect of aqueous micelles on antioxidants and oxidation products in emulsions may alter the rate, degree, and pathway of lipid oxidation. In this study, the dynamic mass transport of oxidation products and endogenous tocopherol during storage at different micelle concentrations was monitored by UV–vis spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. Furthermore, the microlocalization of tocopherol in micelles was investigated using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy, fluorescence measurements, and molecular dynamics simulation. It was demonstrated that high-concentration micelles enhanced the emulsion stability by promoting the mass transport of hydroperoxides and endogenous antioxidants. The enhancement of micelles was a superposition effect of concentration, interaction sites, and binding force between tocopherols and Tween 20 molecules. Tween 20 concentration-induced favorable changes of microlocalization of tocopherol and dynamic mass transport demonstrated a new integrated perspective to control lipid oxidation.