Bioinspired Yeast Exopolysaccharides–Soy Protein Amyloid Fibril Assemblies Enable pH-Triggered Release and Protection of Food-Derived Bioactives

With increasing attention on sustainable biomanufacturing, the stable delivery of natural molecular actives remains hindered by challenges, such as structural instability and low bioavailability. In this study, a stitching strategy based on intermolecular forces to efficiently assemble yeast exopolysaccharides (EPS) into plant-derived soybean isolate protein amyloid fibrils (AF) was proposed. The strategy utilizes hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions to achieve spontaneous association between EPS and AF. The system could dynamically regulate the release behavior of active ingredients through factors changing, such as pH triggering, thereby achieving an integrated function of loading-protection-delivery. The AF-EPS molecular stitching system significantly enhances the biological activity of polyphenols, provides a new strategy for the efficient delivery and application of natural bioactive ingredients, and is expected to promote the innovative development of functional molecular delivery systems in the field of food.