Identification of α-Tocopherol and Its Oxidation Products by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

This study aimed to determine α-tocopherol (α-T) and its thermal oxidation products simultaneously. A novel method based on an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was developed. This approach was achieved by means of a BEH C18 analytical column under gradient elution conditions with eluents of acetonitrile/isopropanol (1:9, v/v) and acetonitrile/water (4:6, v/v). Compounds were elucidated through exact molecular mass and fragmentation ions obtained from the Q-TOF-MS detector. Two oxidation products, α-tocopheryl quinone and 5-formyl-γ-tocopherol, were identified, and one new compound was determined. This approach offered a simple, precise, and reliable method to determine oxidation products of α-T, which may give a way to understand the mechanism of the thermal oxidative process of α-T.

Prebiotic carbohydrates: Effect on physicochemical stability and solubility of algal oil nanoparticles.

This study aimed at providing a novel approach for improving the physicochemical stability and solubility of algal oil nanocapsules through formation of electrostatic interactions and prebiotic carbohydrates systems composed of: octenyl-succinic anhydride (OSA) starch, OSA/inulin (IN), OSA/maltodextrin (MD), OSA/chitosan (CS), OSA/MD/IN, and OSA/CS/IN. IN, a functional prebiotic modifier, was found to significantly (p < 0.05) decrease emulsion viscosity and particle size, with OSA/CS/IN particles having significantly (p < 0.05) improved water solubility (4.96%) and wettability (749 s) compared to OSA/CS particles. Interestingly, OSA/CS/IN particles had the highest oxidative stability (three times that of bulk oil) and encapsulation efficiency (98.57%). OSA/CS/IN particles were also more hygroscopic than pure OSA particles. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed OSA/CS/IN particles had less wrinkled, smoother surfaces, providing lower air permeability and better protection. Therefore, OSA/CS/IN, as a prebiotic encapsulation system, may lead to the value addition of algal oil.