Abstract

A novel optimized bioactive lipid (OBL) rich in long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) was synthesized through enzymatic acidolysis using concentrated belly oil from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (CB) and tocopherols obtained from cold-pressed maqui seed oil (Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz) (MSO) under supercritical CO2 conditions. The reaction was catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) and optimized using a 3(2) response surface design with 12 experimental runs and three central points, considering pressure (100-300 bar) and temperature (50-80 degrees C) as independent variables. The response variables included the concentrations of EPA, DHA, alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols, as well as beta- and gamma-tocotrienols. MSO contained 10.63, 25.62, and 53.55 g100 g(-1) total fatty acids (TFAs) of alpha-linolenic, oleic, and linoleic acids, respectively, together with 280.95 mg alpha-tocopherolkg(-1) and 89.75 mg beta-tocotrienolkg(-1). The CB contained 49.57 g EPA + DHA100 g(-1) TFAs. Optimal conditions (72.7 degrees C and 248.9 bar), experimentally validated at the RSM-predicted point, yielded an OBL containing 41.28 g EPA + DHA100 g(-1) TFAs, 0.39 mg alpha-tocopherolkg(-1), 3.54 mg beta-tocopherolkg(-1), 18.48 mg beta-tocotrienolkg(-1), 6.92 mg gamma-tocopherolkg(-1), and 16.36 mg gamma-tocotrienolkg(-1). Oil quality evaluation using official AOCS methods showed that the OBL exhibited an acceptable oxidative status within international regulatory limits while retaining a measurable phenolic content and intermediate antioxidant capacity derived from MSO. This study demonstrates the successful synthesis of a stable OBL from agro-industrial by-products as a sustainable source of functional ingredients for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications.