Tapioca starch nanoparticles loaded with astaxanthin extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by activating DAF-16

BACKGROUND: Astaxanthin (ASTA) has anti-aging properties but is limited by poor oral bioavailability. Nanostarch has emerged as a promising carrier to enhance the delivery of bioactive compounds, attracting growing interest in functional food research. This study prepared ASTA-loaded tapioca starch nanoparticles and characterized their structure. Meanwhile, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as a model to study the anti-aging activity of nanostarch-astaxanthin (NS-ASTA). RESULTS: The resulting NS-ASTA exhibited an average particle size of 187.13 ± 10.24 nm with an improved polydispersity index of 0.398, compared to 0.559 for the carrier. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the successful formation of a composite via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, in the C. elegans model, NS-ASTA treatment significantly extended the maximum lifespan from 20 to 26 days under identical culture conditions. Compared with ASTA, NS-ASTA enhanced the worm's resistance to heat and ultraviolet stress, improved motility, and reduced intestinal lipofuscin accumulation. A 42.46% reduction in accumulation was observed in the NS-ASTA-treated (0.8 mg mL⁻¹) group compared to the ASTA group. The lifespan-extending effect of NS-ASTA was absent in the short-lived daf-16 mutant strain, and NS-ASTA promoted nuclear translocation of DAF-16 transcription factors. CONCLUSION: NS-ASTA exhibits superior anti-aging activity over free ASTA, and extends lifespan and improves health in C. elegans via the DAF-16 pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for developing novel ASTA formulations and anti-aging products. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.