ABSTRACT
Nutraceutical delivery through oral route is considered to be the most acceptable and preferred route as it follows the same natural process of food and nutrient consumption in the body, is non-invasive, and involves neither special technique nor complex instructions. Effectiveness of nutraceutical products in preventing diseases depends on preserving the bioavailability of the active ingredients. As a vital macronutrient in food, protein possesses unique functional properties which allow them to be an ideal material for encapsulation of nutraceutical compounds. Biodegradable hydrogels have been widely researched to carry, protect and modify the delivery of a wide variety of pharmaceutical compounds including nutraceuticals. Protein-based Microparticles have found wide and rapidly increasing applications in the food industry because they can be precisely designed for use in many food formulations and virtually any ingredient can be encapsulated, whether hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or even microbial. Delivery of nutraceuticals through oral route is considered to be the most acceptable and preferred route.
