The microcapsule core solution was prepared by dissolving sodium alginate (0.02 g/mL) in solution of 10% b-carotene (0.005 g/mL) and deionized water. Microcapsules were formed by extruding the core solution in 30 mL syringes through a 22 gauge needle into a calcium chloride solution (0.1 g/mL) from a height of 5 cm at rate of 30 mL/h
using a Harvard Apparatus Dual Syringe pump , followed by a hardening time of 30 min. For coating with chitosan, the beads were vacuum filtered using Whatman 42 Ashless filter paper, rinsed with deionized water, and added to a solution of chitosan (0.005 g/mL) and glacial acetic acid (diluted with deionized water to a final concentration of 0.01 mL glacial acetic acid/mL solution) and gently stirred for 1 h, after which they were transferred
to Whatman 42 Ashless filter paper to dry overnight. Due to the insolubility of b-carotene in alginate solutions and to achieve a homogenous solution, water-dispersible b-carotene was used.