Synthesis of Chitosan–Alginate–Gelatin Aerogel Using Freeze Drying and Dehydrator Techniques as a Matrix for Virgin Fish Oil-Based Oleogel

Omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential components that play a crucial role in maintaining cardiovascular health, brain function, and neurological development; however, their consumption through fish oil faces challenges such as low solubility in aqueous matrices, oxidative instability, and an undesirable odor. Oleogelation using porous aerogels is considered a promising approach to enhance the stability and bioavailability of fish oil. This study aims to develop and evaluate dried aerogels based on chitosan, alginate, and gelatin as templates for the synthesis of fish oil oleogels, as well as to compare the effects of two drying methods on the structure and oil absorption capacity of the resulting aerogels. The methods focused on the preparation and characterization of chitosan–alginate–gelatin aerogels using freeze drying and dehydrator drying, as well as their ability to absorb virgin fish oil. Freeze-dried aerogels exhibited an open three-dimensional porous structure with an average pore size of 4.701 nm, whereas dehydrator-dried aerogels displayed a denser (closed-pore) structure with an average pore size of 4.450 nm. The freeze-dried aerogels demonstrated a high oil absorption capacity of 4.48±0.21 g/g and an oil-binding capacity of 85.59±3.73%, while the dehydrator-dried aerogels showed no detectable oil absorption and an oil-binding capacity that was negligible or close to zero.