Crosslinked γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks for black soybean seed coat anthocyanins delivery: Enhanced storage stability, loading behavior, and mechanistic insights

Black soybean seed coat anthocyanins (BBSACN) have garnered considerable attention for their strong antioxidant and health-promoting properties, yet their inherent instability severely hinders practical applications. Cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) are commonly utilized for safeguarding and delivering active compounds. However, their susceptibility to damage in aqueous environments restricts the efficient loading of hydrophilic active ingredients. This study aimed to create a cross-linked CD-MOF (CLCD-MOF) system to enhance the stability of BBSACN under diverse conditions. Diphenyl carbonate was used as the crosslinker to generate a CLCD-MOF that maintained structural stability in water for 7 days. Thorough physicochemical characterization, including SEM, FTIR, XRD, and TGA, and molecular dynamics simulations verified the successful encapsulation of anthocyanins. The findings indicated that non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic forces notably enhanced the stability of anthocyanins during extended storage, heating, and light exposure. In comparison to free anthocyanins, those encapsulated in CLCD-MOF showed about 35 % higher retention under light exposure and even greater improvements during storage and heating. In conclusion, this study presents promising opportunities for utilizing CD-MOF carriers to tackle the increasingly intricate challenges in the food industry.