Development of fish oil microcapsules by spray drying using mesquite gum and chitosan as wall materials: physicochemical properties, microstructure, and lipid hydroperoxide concentration

In this study, we prepared fish oil microcapsules by spray-drying using mesquite gum and chitosan as wall materials, and the encapsulation efficiency, microstructure, and lipid hydroperoxide concentration were evaluated. First, stable mesquite gum (216 nm and −22.3 mV) and mesquite gum/chitosan emulsions (333 nm and +47.9 mV) were produced. The fish oil emulsions were spray-dried, and the mesquite gum microcapsules displayed an encapsulation efficiency of 67.18% while mesquite gum/chitosan microcapsules exhibited an efficiency of 92.92%. The lipid hydroperoxide content of the fish oil microcapsules depended on the composition of the wall material, storage time, and storage temperature.