Abstract
The objective of this study was to synthesize and characterize inclusion complexes of phenolic acids with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). The inclusion complexes were prepared by the freeze-drying method and characterized using a variety of analytical techniques, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffractometry. The results of all these approaches indicated that phenolic acids were able to form an inclusion complex with HP-β-CD, and the phenolic acids/HP-β-CD inclusion compounds exhibited different spectroscopic features and properties based on the phenolic acids employed. The use of the HP-β-CD matrix allowed for higher encapsulation efficiency and afforded capsules with distinct shapes.