Kelp nanocellulose combined with fucoxanthin achieves lipid-lowering function by reducing oxidative stress with activation of Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 pathway

This study innovatively utilized kelp-derived nanocellulose and sodium caseinate (SC) to prepare fucoxanthin (Fx)-loaded nanoparticles, exploring their efficacy in reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting lipid accumulation. 2, 2, 6, 6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation produced well-dispersed, kelp-derived nanocellulose. When these celluloses were mixed with SC at varying mass ratios, the composite nanoparticles showed excellent stability. Specifically, at a TEMPO-oxidized kelp nanocellulose (TKNC) to SC mass ratio of 1:3, the encapsulation efficiency for Fx reached 82.2 %, with a retention of 56.12 % after 14 days of storage. In vitro, the nanoparticles demonstrated good biocompatibility and were efficiently absorbed by cells, significantly enhancing Fx bioavailability. This enhanced delivery efficiency alleviates oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathways and effectively inhibits lipid droplet formation induced by excessive free fatty acids (FFAs). Moreover, distribution studies in mice revealed effective accumulation of nanoparticles in the intestines and liver, indicating their potential for targeted drug delivery. These findings provide strong experimental support for the use of TKNC and SC as biocompatible materials in nanoparticles for drug delivery and treatment applications.