Characteristics of naringinase nano-encapsulated forms on
different carrier materials (chitosan and alginate polymers)
were investigated in this study. Screening of twelve fungal isolates
for naringinase production indicated that Trichoderma
longibrachiatum was the most promising. Grapefruit rind was
used as a substrate containing naringin for naringinase production.
TEM micrographs showed that chitosan nano-capsules
were applied for the production of morphologically homogeneous
enzymatic nano-particles with high enzyme encapsulation
efficiency, small asymmetric sizes (from 15.09 to
27.07 nm with the mean of 21.8 nm) and rough surfaces compared
to nano-encapsulated naringinase in alginate which
showed nano-particle size (from 33.37 to 51.01 nm with the
mean of 43.03 nm). It was revealed that the highest naringinase
activity was found in case of chitosan nano-capsule naringinase
compared to alginate nano-capsule one. Thermogram
analysis (TGA) showed that the free enzyme loses about
92% of its weight at approximately 110°C, while the nanoencapsulated
ones show more stability at higher temperatures.
Conclusively, the nano-capsulation process improves the kinetics
and operational stability so could be useful as a debittering
agent for various thermal processing applications in
citrus juices industries which makes the fruit juice more acceptable
and cost-effective to the consumer.