Zein/β-cyclodextrin nanocarriers for dual delivery of resveratrol and piperine: a synergistic approach for enhanced nutraceutical stability and function.

This study presents zein/β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) core-shell nanoparticles for the co-encapsulation of resveratrol and piperine to enhance their stability, bioactivity, and oral delivery performance. Nanoparticles were fabricated via antisolvent precipitation method followed by β-CD coating, yielding particle sizes of ∼95 nm (zein) and ∼112 nm (zein/β-CD) with zeta potentials of +34.5 ± 1.5 mV and + 25.5 ± 0.8 mV, respectively. At a 1:1 mass ratio, encapsulation efficiency reaches 85.9 ± 1.1% for resveratrol and 83.7 ± 1.8% for piperine. β-CD coating improved thermal, pH, ionic, and storage stability, and enabled sustained gastrointestinal release. Co-encapsulation also boosted antioxidant activity with zein/β-CD nanoparticles showing highest radical-scavenging efficiency. Cytotoxicity studies on Caco-2 cells confirmed biocompatibility and reduced toxicity compared to free compounds. Overall, the zein/β-CD system provides an effective strategy to improve physicochemical stability, functional performance and controlled delivery of hydrophobic bioactive compounds with potential applications in nutraceuticals and biomedicine.