Microencapsulation by spray drying of a lycopene-rich tomato concentrate: Characterization and stability

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different encapsulating agents (maltodextrin, whey protein isolate and the modified starch Capsul®) on the physicochemical properties and lycopene stability of a tomato concentrate microencapsulated by spray drying. Different formulations were produced according to an experimental mixture simplex-lattice design, where the independent variables were the concentrations of each encapsulating agent. Physical properties (moisture content, solubility and hygroscopicity), lycopene concentration and the antioxidant capacity of particles immediately after drying, as well as lycopene stability during storage, were analyzed as responses. Particles presented initial lycopene content between 333 and 494 μg/g. The powders produced with maltodextrin and modified starch presented the highest concentrations of this carotenoid and greater antioxidant capacity. These two responses showed high degree of correlation with each other. Maltodextrin and modified starch also led to lower lycopene degradation rates during storage and, therefore, these encapsulating agents were considered the most suitable for the tomato concentrate encapsulation.