Engineered Biopolymer Delivery Platforms for Space Nutrition: Food Encapsulation, Stability and Controlled Nutrient Release Strategies - A Review

Abstract

Long duration space missions pose a special problem of ensuring the quality of nutritional value, safety, and stability of food systems because radiation, micro-gravity, and prolonged storage conditions are exposed. As a developing area of food, this review seeks to evaluate the promise of food grade biopolymers like proteins, polysaccharides (chitosan, alginate, pectin, cellulose) and pseudocereals as enhanced carriers of sensitive Nutrients like vitamins, probiotics and unsaturated fatty acids in harsh conditions of space nutrition systems. Current developments in food encapsulation technologies including nano-encapsulation technology, complex coacervation technology, hydrogel-based delivery systems and others are presented in terms of improvements in shelf life, oxidation prevention, and bioavailability enhancement. Also, the controlled release systems, such as pH-responsive and enzyme trigger responsive delivery systems, are discussed as the possible ways to enhance the efficiency of nutrient intake during the altered physiological conditions. Present due to food safety and scaling, material constraints issues are also brought into the limelight. The end of the review represents the future opportunities of developing functional and stable food systems to aid in feeding humanity during space exploration in the long-duration.