In this work, tri-layered nanofibers including zein (30% w/v) in top/bottom layers and the optimal volume ratio of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, 10% w/v)/basil seed gum (BSG, 1% w/v) with lycopene in the middle layer was used to enhance the bioaccessibility of lycopene. Viscosity, electrical conductivity, and surface tension of BSG/PVA solutions in different volume ratios were measured. According to SEM images, it was found that the solution with BSG to PVA ratio of 70:30 ratio was the best nanofiber for trapping lycopene. The encapsulation efficiency of lycopene in tri-layered nanofibers was in the range of 81.7–92.26%. According to the DSC diagram, lycopene was successfully encapsulated in tri-layered nanofibers. DSC diagrams confirmed the improvement of lycopene thermal resistance in tri-layered nanofibers. The FTIR analysis showed no chemical interaction between the tri-layered nanofiber components. The bioaccessibility of lycopene in the small intestine using tri-layered nanofiber was 16.18%. The release behavior of lycopene was studied by Kopcha, Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Peppas-Sahlin models, which showed that the diffusion and erosion mechanisms were involved in the release of lycopene from tri-layered nanofibers in simulated gastrointestinal media.

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