Mechanistic insight into the sensory acceptance of coconut water drinks fortified with α-tocopherol/tocotrienol in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) in an immersive beach-like setting

Vitamin E, comprising α-tocopherol and tocotrienol, is a potent antioxidant that cannot be synthesized by the human body and is highly susceptible to oxidation. To address this limitation, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were employed as a delivery system to encapsulate these compounds for food applications. This study evaluates the sensory acceptance of coconut water fortified with α-tocopherol and tocotrienols encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), assessed in an immersive virtual reality (VR) beach-like setting to determine consumer acceptance. NLC was prepared via ultrasonication and analyzed for physicochemical stability over 28 days of storage. Coconut water was formulated with varying NLC concentrations (0 , 0.5 , 1 , and 2 ) and evaluated for sensory differences and consumer acceptance. The results demonstrated that stable pH of approximately 5 and free fatty acid (FFA) content below 0.2 throughout the storage period, ensuring product stability. Sensory evaluation using a 9-point hedonic scale showed that coconut water fortified with 0.5 NLCs achieved a consumer acceptance score of (6.88 ± 0.19), comparable to the control, with minimal sensory differences. The VR-based beach setting significantly enhanced the sensory experience, as reflected by a willingness-to-buy score of 1.9 ± 0.7 on a 5-point scale (1 = definitely would buy, 5 = definitely would not buy), indicating a high purchase intention among consumers. This study demonstrates the novel application of NLCs for fortifying beverages with α-tocopherol and tocotrienol while leveraging immersive sensory environments to enhance consumer perception. These findings provide insights into nanostructured food systems sensory science and technological potential for functional beverage development. © 2025 The Author(s).