This study addressed the extraction, enzymatic hydrolysis, and production of peptide fractions (PF) from defatted flaxseed meal and their loading into nanoliposomes. Enzymatic hydrolysis significantly increased the free hydrophobic (from 19 to 134 mg/g) and antioxidant (from 8 to 46 mg/g) amino acids. The PF with lower molecular weights (MW < 10 kDa) had the highest scavenging capacity of DPPH- free radicals (61.82%), ABTS+ (86.37%), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, TEAC (2.34 mM), hydroxyl (61.91%), reducing power (0.94 Abs700), total antioxidant activity (1.76 Abs695), nitric oxide (49.9%), iron (69.34%), and copper (24.58%) chelating activities compared with other fractions. The physical properties (such as particle size and polydispersity index), stability, and encapsulation efficiency of nanoliposomes were affected by temperature, stress type (freeze and thaw tension), MW, and in vitro conditions (release of PF in simulated biological fluids at different times). Besides, the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed the placement of peptides inside the polar regions and the bilayer membrane. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of nanocarriers indicated agglomerated and relatively spherical structures. Our findings revealed the efficiency of nanoliposomes as appropriate carriers for the delivery of peptide fractions with the highest antioxidant activity.
Keywords: antioxidants; bioactive peptides; fractionation; nanoencapsulation; nanoliposomes.