Chitosan-coated double-loaded liposomes as a promising delivery system for clove essential oil

To improve the stability and bioavailability of double-loaded clove essential oil (CEO) liposomes (DLCL), chitosan was used to coat DLCL (CS-DLCL) as a promising delivery system for CEO. Considering the vesicle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency, 3.5 mg/mL chitosan was selected as the optimum concentration. Electrostatic interactions between chitosan and DLCL were confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Stability analysis revealed that the physical barrier formed by chitosan improved the stability of DLCL under high-temperature, high-salt, and long-term storage at 4°C and reduced the interaction of CEO with chemicals in the digestive fluids, providing a foundation for the sustained release of CEO in the intestine. Finally, chitosan exhibited an obvious inhibitory effect on lipid oxidation secondary products and enhanced the antioxidant activity of DLCL. Thus, chitosan is a promising coating material for improving the stability of DLCL, and CS-DLCL have a good potential for application in foods.