Preparation and characterisation of a novel hydrogel based on Auricularia polytricha β‐glucan and its bio‐release property for vitamin B12 delivery

This study investigates a novel hydrogel synthesis method and its bio-release property. This hydrogel, with a three-dimensional network structure based on Auricularia polytricha β-glucan, was characterised by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H NMR and scanning electron microscopy. Vitamin B12 (VB12 , cobalamin) as a hydrophilic functional food component was entrapped into these hydrogels. The in vitro release profile of VB12 was established in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF).The results showed that the hydrogel had medium pore size from 30 to 300 µm, and the swelling ratio increased with the degree of substitution. The hydrogel demonstrated good stability in SGF and bio-release capability in SIF for VB12 . The accumulated release rate is about 80% in SIF and below 20% in SGF, which indicated the significant different release property in stomach and intestine.The Auricularia polytricha β-glucan-based hydrogel has a good swelling ratio, pepsin stability and pancrelipase-catalysed biodegradation property. The bio-release rate is significantly different in SIF and SGF, which indicated that this hydrogel could be a good intestinal target carrier of VB12 . © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.