Development and Characterization of Spray-Dried Curcumin–Lecithin Complexes with Improved Solubility and In Vitro Digestive and Thermal Stability

Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol from turmeric, faces significant challenges in food and pharmaceutical applications due to its poor water solubility, low stability, and limited bioavailability. In this study, curcumin–lecithin complexes (phytosomes) were spray-dried using maltodextrin as the carrier polymer to produce free-flowing powders with improved physicochemical properties. The powders were characterized based on moisture con- tent, particle size, morphology, curcumin loading, thermal...