Membrane-anchoring engineering mediated the self-assembly of multifunctional nanocarriers: An efficient platform for astaxanthin delivery.

To overcome the instability of astaxanthin (AST) during processing and gastrointestinal delivery, this study developed a multifunctional nanocarrier through the precise self-assembly of lipid bilayers that incorporated d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, a widely used biocompatible surfactant known as TPGS. Multidimensional characterization results demonstrated that the incorporation of TPGS formed a stable hydration layer, contributing to the distinctive mushroom-cloud-like architecture on the liposome surface. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed that the hydrophobic segment of TPGS was effectively embedded into the lipid membrane through intermolecular forces, while the hydrophilic segment formed an orderly arranged structure at the interface. Interfacial analysis revealed that low-concentration TPGS formed an ordered monolayer through a membrane-anchoring strategy, thereby assembling into a three-dimensional protective architecture on the liposome interface. This structure significantly enhanced transepithelial transport and antioxidant activity, while also demonstrating excellent biosafety in subsequent in vitro assays. This study presents an innovative and robust delivery system for AST through molecular-level interface engineering, advancing the application of functional amphiphilic polymers in the field of precision nutrient delivery.