This research underlines the potential of employing emulsion/internal gelation encapsulation in alginate
and pectin hydrogels for the simultaneous delivery of hydrophilic (polyphenols from dandelion (Taraxacum
officinalis L.) extract) and lypophilic (b-carotene) compounds. The approach of reinforcing alginate
and pectin hydrogels by whey proteins and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the carriers
for the design of microencapsulated delivery systems was also evaluated. Comprehensive characterization
of the morphological properties, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, interactions and release in
gastrointestinal conditions was achieved. A simple and effective procedure based on the ionic gelation of
emulsions for microencapsulation of polyphenols and b-carotene was developed, allowing formulation
of micro-sized particles ranging 800 mm, which retained their spherical morphological properties upon
drying. Incorporation of whey proteins and HPMC in the alginate gel contributed to better encapsulation
parameters i.e. the morphological properties and encapsulation efficiency in relation to plain alginate
particles. The combination of alginate with whey proteins as the carrier matrix arised as the optimal
delivery system, owing to its regular, spherical shape, high encapsulation efficiency of total polyphenols
(77,35%) and very good retention of hydroxycinnamic acids (89,14%), while the binary mixture of alginate
and HPMC as the carrier enabled the best (prolongued) release profile of these compounds from the
formulated microparticles in simulated gastrointestinal fluids.