Recent Trends in Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) Encapsulation, Controlled Release, and Mathematical Modelling

ABSTRACT

Folic acid (FA), a water-soluble vitamin (B9), is crucial for metabolic activities and regulatory processes of cells. Mammalian cells cannot synthesize any form of folate, thereby necessitating their exogenous supply. Further, FA is degraded by light, heat, oxidation, and external conditions. Therefore, the need for micro- and nano-encapsulation techniques for FA arises. The present work deals primarily with various encapsulation techniques for FA, including coacervation, electrospraying, electrospinning, nanoemulsions, biopolymer nanoparticles, nanohydrogels, and mesoporous silica particles from research studies, elaborately described with relevant justifications and other novel techniques. An overview of FA is provided and its structural aspects and factors affecting its degradation are discussed. The review also comprehensively discusses the controlled release mechanisms and factors affecting FA release from encapsulation systems. Pharmacokinetic studies conducted to assess the bioavailability of FA post oral administration are mentioned. The novel techniques with the highest encapsulation efficiency of FA were proliposomes, electrospinning, and double emulsification. Additionally, the highest FA serum concentration obtained in oral bioavailability studies was found in a novel desolvation process cum ultrafiltration encapsulation method using zein as the encapsulant. The positive impact of specific techniques and the future scope along with suggestions for FA encapsulation systems are examined.

KEYWORDS:

• coacervation
• controlled release mechanisms
• electrospinning/electrospraying
• mesoporous silica particles
• nanoemulsions
• pharmacokinetic studies

Acknowledgments

The first author acknowledges and thanks the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for the support provided through the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (No. DST/INSPIRE Fellowship/2018/IF180047). The valuable insights and suggestions provided by Ms Anjali Khuntia (Research Scholar, IIT Kharagpur) are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology [DST/INSPIRE Fellowship/2018/IF180047]