Formulation of alginate/carrageenan microgels to encapsulate, protect and release immunoglobulins: Egg Yolk IgY

In this study, alginate/κ-carrageenan hydrogel beads were developed to encapsulate and release egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The effects of κ-carrageenan concentration on the encapsulation and loading efficiency of the hydrogel beads was assessed, as well as on their swelling and release behavior in a simulated human gut. An κ-carrageenan concentration of 0.30% gave the optimum encapsulation and loading efficiency. After incubation in simulated gastric fluids, there was no loss in IgY activity when it was encapsulated within alginate/carrageenan beads but around 35% loss when it was encapsulated in pure alginate beads. This effect was attributed to a stronger electrostatic attraction and a more closely packed biopolymer network formed within the composite beads, based on measurements of their electrical and microstructural properties. The composite beads were resistant to swelling in the stomach phase, but not in the intestine phase. The kinetics of swelling under simulated gastric conditions was found to follow Schott's second-order model. The gastrointestinal digestion of the IgY was slower in the composite beads than in the pure alginate beads. The release kinetics of IgY from the composite beads was fitted by an irregular release model. Our results suggest that alginate/κ-carrageenan composite beads are efficient carriers for the delivery systems of hydrophilic immunoglobins.