BACKGROUND:　Apple　polyphenols　(APs)　with　multiple　biological　effects　have　attracted　extensive　attention　due　to　their　broad　opportunities　for　application.　However,　the　use　of　APs　is　hampered　by　their　instability　in　the　face　of　environmental　changes.　Designing　efficient　carriers　to　improve　the　bioavailability　of　APs　is　the　key　to　solving　these　problems.　In　this　study,　gelatin-chitooligosaccharide　nanoparticles　produced　by　the　Maillard　reaction　(GCM)　were　fabricated　to　encapsulate　AP,　and　the　structure,　antioxidant　activity,　and　stability　of　the　GMM-AP　nanoparticle　system　were　evaluated.　RESULTS:　The　results　of　endogenous　fluorescence　spectrum,　Fourier-transform　infrared　(FTIR)　spectroscopy,　X-ray　diffraction,　and　simultaneous　thermal　analysis　confirmed　structural　changes　and　interactions　between　GCM　and　AP.　Combination　with　GCM　did　not　adversely　affect　the　antioxidant　properties　of　AP,　and　the　GCM-AP　nanoparticles　possessed　superior　temperature　and　storage　stability.　In　comparison　with　fish　gelatin-apple　polyphenol　nanoparticles,　the　GCM-AP　nanoparticles　were　more　stable　at　a　wider　pH　range,　and　were　more　resistant　to　the　electrostatic　shielding　effect　of　NaCl.　After　simulating　gastric　digestion,　the　particle　size　and　polydispersity　index　(PDI)　of　GCM-AP　nanoparticles　were　almost　unchanged.　CONCLUSION:　The　findings　suggest　that　GCM　nanoparticles　loaded　with　AP　could　be　used　as　good　carriers　with　good　antioxidant　activity　and　stability.　This　study　therefore　provides　a　theoretical　foundation　for　the　development　and　industrial　application　of　food　functional　factors.　©　2023　Society　of　Chemical　Industry.　©　2023　Society　of　Chemical　Industry.