Clean-Label and Food-Grade Preparation of Nutraceutical Nanoparticles Using Facilitated Self-Assembling Technology (FAST) for Functional Beverages

Nutraceuticals such as curcumin, resveratrol, lycopene, lutein, and coenzyme Q10 pos-sess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities but their practical use is hin-dered by poor solubility and bioavailability. Traditional nanocarriers like liposomes, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles often rely on surfactants and synthetic or-ganic solvents that limit safety, scalability, and regulatory acceptance. The present study evaluated the Facilitated Self-Assembling Technology (FAST) platform as a clean-label al-ternative for generating bioavailable nutraceutical nanoparticles. Using only food-grade facilitating medium, FAST enabled spontaneous formation of stable, amorphous nano-particles with strong negative surface charge and high colloidal stability. Hybrid nano-particles combining epigallocatechin-3-gallate-palmitates (EC16), curcumin, and resvera-trol further improved surface charge, reduced size range, and exhibited enhanced stability under simulated gastric conditions. All formulations demonstrated excellent biocompati-bility in XTT assays, with no reduction in viability compared to control. Fluorescent im-aging of EC16/Cy5 fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles confirmed nanoparticle–cell surface interactions without cytotoxicity. Compared with chemical conjugation and lipid-based nanoencapsulation, FAST offered faster, surfactant-free, and energy-efficient production, fully compliant with FDA generally recognized as safe (GRAS) standards. These results support the FAST platform as an efficient, economical, and scalable nanotechnology for next-generation functional beverages and oral nutraceutical delivery systems that meet both regulatory and consumer demands for natural, sustainable innovation.