Immobilized enzyme-catalyzed preparation and characterization of artificial Antarctic krill oil analogs from egg yolk lecithin.

Antarctic krill oil (AKO) serves as a vital natural source of phospholipid-bound EPA/DHA, but its large-scale industrial application is limited by unstable supply chains, poor oxidative stability, and potential food safety risks. This work established an enzymatic strategy for the synthesis of artificial AKO analogs (AAKOs). A dual-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica carrier (HMSP-N3/C8) was engineered to immobilize phospholipase B (PLB). Synergistic hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions significantly enhanced the catalyst's stability and reusability. The transesterification reaction between EPA/DHA-rich oils and egg yolk lecithin was optimized under solvent-free conditions, achieving high incorporation efficiency. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the prepared AAKOs possessed physicochemical features and oxidative stability comparable to natural AKO. This work provides a sustainable, controllable, and cost-effective platform for the enzymatic production of AKO analogs, offering a promising solution to overcome the current limitations associated with the utilization of natural AKO.