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영어

L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), a representative water soluble vitamin, has a variety of biological, pharmaceutical and dermatological functions; it promotes collagen biosynthesis, provides photoprotection, causes melanin reduction, scavenges free radical, and enhances the immunity (anti-virus effect), etc. These functions are closely related to the well-known antioxidant properties of this compound. Vitamin C, however, is very unstable to air, moisture, light, heat, metal ions, oxygen, and base. Therefore, the applications of vitamin C in the fields of cosmetics, dermatologicals, and pharmaceuticals are limited despite of its useful functions. Therefore in this
experimental study, we determined the effects of polyhydric alcohols, chelating agents, the ionic shielding effects and the various water-soluble polymers on L-ascorbic acid stability. Then we prepared polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microcapsules using a polyol in oil in polyol (P/O/P) emulsion solvent evaporation method as a means of stabilization of L-ascorbic acid. Furthermore, in order to enhance the encapsulation efficiencies of L-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid pretreated with cationic polymer to form an ionic complex, and the ionic complex was applied to PMMA microcapsules. The morphology of the microcapsule was evaluated using a microscope, which showed a spherical shape with several sub-micron microstructures inside of the microcapsule.
The pretreatment of L-ascorbic acid to form an ionic complex in inner polyol phase resulted in a slight increase in the encapsulation efficiencies. In order to determine influence of encapsulation to the L-ascorbic acid stability in aqueous solution, free Lascorbic acid and the encapsulated L-ascorbic acid were incubated at 42°C. When the L-ascorbic acid encapsulated by PMMA microcapsule, the residual contents showed 70% or more retention at 42°C 42 days after. However, the free L-ascorbic acid stored at 42°C, residual contents of the quercetin gradually decreased to about 3% during 42 days. In conclusion, this study suggests that the polyol in oil in polyol (P/O/P) emulsion solvent evaporation method can be applied to the encapsulation of L-ascorbic acid. And the PMMA microcapsule system was devised to achieve improvement of Lascorbic acid stability thus holding a potential for future applications.