Effects of long chain fatty acid unsaturation on the structure and controlled release properties of amylose complexes

The addition of functional long chain (LC) unsaturated fatty acids to foods is often hampered by their instability. This study aimed to probe the possibility of using molecular inclusion complexes formed by amylose, termed V-amylose, as a possible solution for the delivery of long chain (LC) fatty acids to the consumer. X-ray diffraction, light scattering and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to study the micro- and nano-structure of V-amylose hosting LC fatty acids with different degrees of unsaturation. Additionally, enzymatic digestion tests were conducted to assess the release of the fatty acids from the complexes. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of V-amylose while light scattering measurements, and the AFM images revealed that increased fatty acid unsaturation lead to the formation of bigger and more disperse particle populations. Enzymatic digestion tests with mammalian pancreatin illustrated the control over guest release which is induced by enzymatic hydrolysis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that guest chemistry affects some of the functional properties of V-amylose for the delivery of LC fatty acids.