Encapsulating tributyrin during enzymatic cyclodextrin synthesis improves the solubility and bioavailability of tributyrin

Abstract Although tributyrin has great benefits for intestinal health, it suffers from unpleasant sensory qualities, low solubility, and low bioavailability. Microencapsulation may provide a way to avoid these limitations. Our previous study reported a new method for encapsulating tributyrin during enzymatic cyclodextrin synthesis, and this study compared the performance of tributyrin microcapsules prepared using this method (CGT) with those prepared using other common microcapsule wall materials. The results showed that CGT were slightly inferior to those prepared using maltodextrin in tests of tributyrin retention and microcapsule morphology, but significantly superior to those prepared using β-cyclodextrin, perhaps due to greater inclusion space. More importantly, CGT had the highest emulsion stability (93.21%) and showed superior controlled release of their tributyrin content in a model of the mammalian intestine (65.50%). These findings demonstrate the utility of CGT and its preparation method, and further illuminate the relationship between wall material type and microcapsule performance.