ABSTRACT To enhance the stability and bioavailability of lutein (LUT), we developed a novel LUT nanoparticle system (GCPT‐LUT) by encapsulating LUT in corn polypeptide glycosylated with chitosan oligosaccharide. The resulting nanoparticles (NPs) exhibited a relatively small size (396 ± 5.18 nm) and good dispersibility (PDI = 0.149). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analyses confirmed that LUT was successfully encapsulated in glycosylated corn peptide, thus forming a stable NP‐embedded delivery system. The stability of LUT in GCPT‐LUT NPs was markedly improved under various thermal and light stress conditions. Moreover, GCPT‐LUT exerted potent antiproliferative activity against MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells. At a concentration of 128 µg/mL with 72 h of treatment, GCPT‐LUT inhibited cell proliferation by 77.86%, which was significantly higher than the inhibition rate of free LUT alone. Flow cytometry analysis, combined with reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, revealed that GCPT‐LUT inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis, and this apoptotic mechanism appears to be associated with ROS generation. In conclusion, glycosylated corn peptide is a promising candidate for development as an efficient delivery carrier for LUT, with potential applications in both the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Chang et al. (2026) studied this question.