Tailoring liposome composition for enhanced anthocyanin loading: Characterization, release kinetics, and interaction mechanisms

Liposomes have a great potential application in anthocyanin delivery, with lipid composition significantly influencing their properties. This study aimed to compare black wolfberry anthocyanin (BW-ACNs) liposomes prepared with different phospholipids or glycolipids, in order to elucidate the effects of lipid type on structural characteristics, thermal stability, release behavior under simulated digestion, and the underlying interaction mechanisms. Results indicated that all liposomes were stable and homogeneous, with average particle sizes ranging from 118 to 140 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) values below 0.2. The liposomes containing the negatively charged 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (DOPG) and cholesterol (Chol) (L DOPG/Chol/ACNs ) achieved the highest anthocyanin encapsulation efficiency (EE = 63.4 ± 0.2 %), followed by the cholesterol-free formulations with soybean lecithin (SL) and mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL-A) (L SL/MEL-A/ACNs , EE = 60.8 ± 0.1 %). Incorporation of BW-ACNs increased the bilayer hydrophobicity and thermal stability of liposomes. The release of anthocyanin from cholesterol-containing liposomes under simulated digestion followed non-Fickian kinetics, with L DOPG/Chol/ACNs identified as the most effective formulation for sustained release of anthocyanins. Interaction studies elucidated the binding of BW-ACNs to liposomes was driven by multiple forces, including electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions, which in turn influenced both encapsulation efficiency and release behavior of anthocyanin from different formulations. • Black wolfberry anthocyanin (BW-ACNs) liposomes follow non-Fickian release kinetics. • Negatively charged DOPG enhances BW-ACNs loading in liposomes. • BW-ACNs increases the hydrophobicity of the liposomal bilayer microenvironment. • Cholesterol-free glycolipid-based liposomes are potential as anthocyanin carriers.