Solid self-microemulsifying system (S-SMECS) for enhanced bioavailability and pigmentation of highly lipophilic bioactive carotenoid

• Beadlets containing reduced pigment size were obtained by microemulsion/spraying method.
• The type of microemulsion determined the solubilization, size and stability of the S-SMECS.
• The microemulsion process was suitable for conversion of SMECS to S-SMECS.
• Improved pigment absorption and pigmentation were achieved with S-SMECS.

The application of carotenoids as natural additives in various water-based or water-compatible formulations for the pigmentation of food and feed is seriously hampered by their insolubility in aqueous systems, resulting in low bioavailability. One way to develop the full potential of color strength and achieve a high degree of bioavailability during the gastrointestinal passage is to transform the coarse crystalline material into a nanodispersed state. Exemplified with natural carotenoid (Paprika Oleoresin), the objectives of this study were to prepare solid self-microemulsifying carotenoid system (S-SMECS) containing bicontinuous microemulsion of polyethoxylated sorbitan ester (Tween 80), water, R-(+)-limonene, ethanol, and glycerol with excellent in vivo solubilization capacity, for the delivery of bioactive carotenoid, by spraying the self-microemulsifying carotenoid system (liquid system) using colloidal silica/wheat pollard (as the inert solid carrier), and to evaluate the enhanced bioavailability and pigmentation efficacy of carotenoid from the S-SMECS. Results showed that the carotenoid solubilized better in the microemulsion and the self-microemulsifying carotenoid microemulsion is characterized by an average particle size of approximately 0.25 μm. The bioavailability study performed in layers resulted in enhanced values for the S-SMECS. The enhancement for S-SMECS was 17% above the level of carotenoid absorbed in the serum and the relative color score was 20–30% enhancement over feeding compared with the commercial product, respectively. These results demonstrated the excellent ability of S-SMECS containing bicontinuous microemulsion to enhance the bioavailability of carotenoid in vivo.

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