Bivalves are fast-growing, nutrient-rich, and environmentally sustainable, making them ideal for large-scale aquaculture. The boiling effluent generated during the process of bivalves is often discarded, resulting in a loss of valuable nutrients. This study utilised the clam boiling effluent (CBE) of Corbicula fluminea to harvest a clam protein–polysaccharide extract (CPPE) for enhanced curcumin (Cur) delivery. Among several extraction methods tested, ultrafiltration (UF, 100 kDa MWCO) achieved the highest yield (67%) and produced a uniform extract with a relatively small polydispersity index (PDI) < 0.2, supporting UF as a suitable extraction method. Compositional analysis indicated that the UF-CPPE contained 80.2% polysaccharides and 9.7% proteins. A curcumin-loaded CPPE (CPPE@Cur) delivery system was then fabricated by the solvent displacement-induced self-assembly method, exhibiting concentration-dependent binding, with a maximum encapsulation efficiency exceeding 60% at a CPPE:Cur mass ratio of 35:1. FTIR spectroscopy and interaction analysis suggested that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main forces driving complex formation. Compared to free curcumin, CPPE@Cur exhibited increases of approximately 350% in photostability and 200% in thermal half-life under common food processing conditions. The system also maintained good colloidal stability after repeated freeze–thaw cycles. In the RAW 264.7 macrophage model, CPPE@Cur significantly enhanced intracellular delivery and antioxidant activity, outperforming both free curcumin and CPPE alone. The results show that bioactive protein–polysaccharide colloidal particles can be efficiently harvested from CBE, offering a sustainable and robust platform for curcumin stabilisation and delivery in functional food applications.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)