Obtenção de nanopartículas de óleo de babaçu (Attalea speciosa) utilizando matriz polimérica de goma xantana

Abstract

This work aimed to develop a methodology for obtaining babassu oil nanoparticles encapsulated in xanthan gum, with the goal of adding value to a resource of Brazilian biodiversity and exploring applications in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. The oil was extracted from babassu kernels using ultrasound-assisted extraction (40 kHz, 40 °C, 90 min), with ethanol as a green solvent at a 1:5 (w/w) ratio. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH method. For encapsulation, the simple coacervation technique was employed, using a xanthan gum solution (1% w/v) homogenized with Tween 80 (10-20% of oil mass), followed by oil emulsification. Coacervation was induced by the controlled addition of ethanol (35 mL/100 mL of solution), and capsule stabilization was achieved through ionic crosslinking with 0.1 M CaCl₂. The particles were purified by centrifugation, dried at 40 °C, and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and image analysis via ImageJ. The average extraction yield was 35.43% (range: 21.17-46.93%), consistent with literature data for ethanol-based extraction, while the average inhibition (antioxidant activity via DPPH) was 32.75% (8.92-46.75%), confirming the presence of bioactive compounds in the oil. SEM micrographs revealed particles with predominantly spherical or near-spherical morphology, featuring relatively smooth surfaces and some irregularities attributed to polymer contraction during drying. ImageJ analysis indicated an average Feret diameter of 0.69 ± 0.23 µm, demonstrating the successful production of submicrometric-scale particles. Moderate polydispersity and aggregate formation were observed - a common phenomenon in simple coacervation systems without refined interfacial control. The results demonstrated the technical feasibility of the ethanolinduced coacervation route followed by calcium crosslinking for encapsulating babassu oil within a xanthan gum matrix. Despite the successful production of nanoparticles, the observed variability in particle size and aggregation indicate opportunities for optimization, particularly in the emulsification steps, ethanol addition rate, and polymer concentration. The developed system shows potential for applying the encapsulated oil in active biofilms, sustained-release systems, and cosmetic formulations, aligning with growing demands for natural and sustainable ingredients.