Self-assembled Abietic acid encapsulated nanoparticles to improve the stability of Proanthocyanin B2

Procyanidin B2 ( Pac B2 ) has attracted much attention due to its strong antioxidant activity , but poor in vivo stability limits its wide application in food and medicine. In this paper, composite nanoparticles ( NPs ) were constructed using abietic acid ( AA ) as a carrier, which significantly enhanced Pac B2 stability. A spherical morphology and average diameter of 396.05 nm were observed in AA-Pac B2 NPs synthesized by solvent co-precipitation. Pac B2 encapsulation was 11.28 %, and thermal stability is improved. Infrared, Ultraviolet spectrum, and MD (molecular dynamics) spectroscopy revealed hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction between AA and Pac B2 . For up to 2 h at 37 °C, Pac B2 can be sustainably released in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. In vitro , AA-Pac B2 NPs at the same concentration exhibited higher bioavailability and uptake efficiency than free Pac B2 . The data demonstrate the potential of AA NPs for improving polyphenol thermal stability and bioavailability.