Heat-induced homogeneous dispersion-cold setting assembly strategy to construct tea polyphenols-starch functionalized hydrogel for encapsulation and controlled release of curcumin.

In this study, guided by the enthalpy-entropy co-driven binding mechanism between amylose (AM) and tea polyphenols (TPs), a pH-enzyme dual-responsive controlled-release system, corn starch (CS)-TPs hydrogel-encapsulated curcumin (Cur@CS-TPs), was designed and constructed through a heat-induced homogeneous dispersion-cold setting assembly strategy. The direct use of gel precursor solution achieved a Cur embedding efficiency approaching 100% without organic solvents, ensuring operational simplicity and improved environmental sustainability. TPs and AM formed hydrophobic micro-regions through non-covalent interactions, inducing Cur self-assembly into an amorphous state, which significantly enhanced its encapsulation efficiency and solubility. In vitro release studies revealed minimal gastric release as well as sustained and targeted release in the small intestine, demonstrating pH-enzyme dual responsiveness. Furthermore, TPs endowed the hydrogel with antioxidant activity and retarded its digestion, contributing to a reduced glycemic index. The CS-TPs hydrogel represents a multifunctional delivery system that effectively stabilizes Cur and enhances its bioaccessibility.