Transglutaminase catalyzed cross-linking of sodium caseinate improves oxidative stability of flaxseed oil emulsion

Casein-based conjugates and graft copolymers. Synthesis, properties, and applications

Biobased natural polymers, including polymers of natural origin such as casein, are growing rapidly in the light of the environmental pollution caused by many mass-produced commercial synthetic polymers. Although casein has interesting intrinsic properties, especially for the food industry, numerous chemical reactions have been carried out to broaden the range of its properties, most of them preserving casein's nontoxicity and biodegradability. New conjugates and graft copolymers have been developed especially by Maillard reaction of the amine functions of the casein backbone with the aldehyde functions of sugars, polysaccharides, or other molecules. Carried out with dialdehydes, these reactions lead to the cross-linking of casein giving three-dimensional polymers. Acylation and polymerization of various monomers initiated by amine functions are also described. Other reactions, far less numerous, involve alcohol and carboxylic acid functions in casein. This review provides an overview of casein-based conjugates and graft copolymers, their properties, and potential applications.

Effects of natural antioxidants and high-energy fabrication methods on physical properties and oxidative stability of flaxseed oil-in-water nanoemulsions

The effects of high-energy fabrication methods, namely high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and ultrasonication (US), on physicochemical properties of flaxseed oil-in-water nanoemulsions (FNEs) containing clove essential oil (CEO) and/or pomegranate peel extract (PPE) were studied during storage at 4 and 25 °C. Nanoemulsions with relatively similar average droplet size were prepared by HPH and/or US. An increase in droplet size was observed over time. Lower storage temperature and fabrication by US increased Ostwald ripening rate. Higher storage temperature and fabrication by US decreased the centrifugal stability of nanoemulsions. CEO revealed better antioxidant properties than PPE. The oxidative stability was evaluated by determining secondary oxidation products, and fatty acids profile. The absence of antioxidant, fabrication by US, and higher storage temperature decreased the oxidative stability of nanoemulsions. The results of this study might be helpful in controlling the oxidation of FNEs during long-term storage and in designing functional foods and beverages.

The impact of konjac glucomannan on the physical and chemical stability of walnut oil-in-water emulsions coated by whey proteins

BACKGROUND

Walnut oil, which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), can be incorporated into food emulsions to increase their nutritional value. However, these emulsions are highly susceptible to deterioration during storage due to lipid oxidation. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a neutral plant polysaccharide used as a stabilizer, thickener or gelling agent in foods. The goal of this study was to incorporate KGM into oil-in-water emulsions containing walnut oil droplets coated by whey protein isolate (WPI) and then determine its effects on their physical and oxidative stability.

RESULTS

At pH 3, inclusion of KGM (0.1-1 g kg^-1 ) reduced the positive surface potential on the droplets in the emulsions and modified the secondary structure of the adsorbed whey proteins, suggesting an interaction between KGM and WPI at the droplet surfaces. The physical stability of the emulsions was enhanced when 0.1-0.6 g kg^-1 KGM was added but reduced at higher levels. Lipid oxidation was inhibited in the emulsions in a dose-dependent manner when 0.2-0.6 g kg^-1 KGM was added but protein oxidation was promoted at higher KGM levels. The steric hindrance provided by the thick WPI-KGM interfaces, as well as the ability of the polysaccharides to modify the antioxidant properties of the adsorbed proteins, may account for these effects.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that KGM can be used to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsified foods containing protein-coated oil droplets. However, its level must be optimized because higher doses can result in droplet aggregation and protein oxidation. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancing the physicochemical stability and digestibility of DHA emulsions by encapsulation of DHA droplets in caseinate/alginate honeycomb-shaped microparticles

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was encapsulated in caseinate/alginate microparticles by adjusting the pH based on the electrostatic complexation, in order to improve the physicochemical stability and digestibility of single caseinate-stabilized DHA emulsions. In this study, relatively stable honeycomb-shaped DHA microparticles were formed by electrostatic complexation between positively charged caseinate-coated DHA droplets, caseinate and negatively charged alginate at pH 4.5. The zeta-potential, particle size, size distribution, physical stability, microstructure, DHA oxidation and free fatty acids (FFA) release rate in a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) model were determined. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) measurements indicated that DHA microparticles had a particle size (1521.00 ± 39.15 nm) significantly larger than that of caseinate-stabilized DHA emulsions (243.23 ± 4.51 nm). The microparticles were much more stable near the isoelectric point (pI) of the adsorbed proteins compared with the single emulsions according to the original transmissions of LUMiSizer. The cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) images also showed that the microparticles formed a specific honeycomb-shaped network structure with more uniform distribution and without aggregation. The incorporation of DHA droplets into caseinate/alginate microparticles significantly ameliorated their chemical stability. GIT studies showed that the digestion of DHA microparticles was enhanced which was due to more open loose structures compared with the large-scale close-knit aggregation of DHA emulsion droplets. This study may provide useful information for the stabilization of functional food components and rational design of nutraceutical delivery systems.

Physicochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Emulsions Containing Chemically Modified Fats and Different Hydrocolloids

The study aims to investigate the physicochemical properties and stability of the dispersion systems containing structured fats as a fatty base. In this work, calf tallow and pumpkin seed oil blends were chemically interesterified at various ratios (9:1, 3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 2:3, and 1:3) to produce structured lipids. Fatty acids composition, polar and nonpolar fraction content, and acid value were determined for the raw fats and interesterified blends. Afterwards, selected blends were applied in emulsion systems. Stability, microstructure, color and texture of emulsions were evaluated. The chemical interesterification had an effect on the modified blends properties, and caused an increase in polar fraction content and acid value, and a decrease in nonpolar fraction content. No effect on the fatty acids composition has been found. The evaluation of the prepared emulsions results allowed us to select two of the most stable and favorable samples—both containing chemically interesterified calf tallow and a pumpkin seed oil blend in a ratio of 1:3 as a fatty base, and xanthan gum or carboxymethylcellulose as a thickener. The obtained dispersions, containing fatty bases with improved physicochemical properties and desirable functionality, can be applied as food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical emulsions.

Interfacial Antioxidants: A Review of Natural and Synthetic Emulsifiers and Coemulsifiers That Can Inhibit Lipid Oxidation

There has been strong interest in developing effective strategies to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsified food products due to the need to incorporate oxidatively labile bioactive lipids, such as ω-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, or carotenoids. Emulsifiers or coemulsifiers can be utilized to inhibit lipid oxidation in emulsions. Both of these molecular types can adsorb to droplet surfaces and inhibit lipid oxidation, but emulsifiers can also stabilize droplets against aggregation whereas coemulsifiers cannot. There are a host of existing emulsifiers, covalent conjugates, or physical complexes that have the potential to inhibit lipid oxidation by a variety of mechanisms. Existing emulsifiers with antioxidant potential consist of surfactants, phospholipids, proteins, polysaccharides, and colloidal particles. Conjugates and complexes are typically formed by covalently or physically linking together a surface-active molecule with an antioxidant molecule. This article reviews the molecular and physicochemical basis for the surface and antioxidant activities of emulsifiers and coemulsifiers, highlights the important properties of interfacial layers that can be engineered to control lipid oxidation, and outlines different kinds of existing emulsifiers, conjugates, and complexes that can be used to inhibit oxidation.

Enzyme-Based Strategies for Structuring Foods for Improved Functionality

Enzyme technologies can be used to create food dispersions with novel functional attributes using structural design principles. Enzymes that utilize food-grade proteins and/or polysaccharides as substrates have gained recent interest among food scientists. The utilization of enzymes for structuring foods is an ecologically and economically viable alternative to the utilization of chemical cross-linking and depolymerization agents. This review highlights recent progress in the use of enzymes to modify food structures, particularly the interfacial and/or bulk properties of food dispersions with special emphasis on commercially available enzymes. Cross-linking enzymes such as transglutaminase and laccase promote the formation of intra- and intermolecular bonds between biopolymers to improve stability and functionality, whereas various degrading enzymes such as proteases alter the native conformation of proteins, leading to self-assembly of hierarchically ordered colloids. Results of this bio-inspired approach show that rational use of structure-affecting enzymes may enable food manufacturers to produce food dispersions with improved physical, functional, textural, and optical properties.

Subcritical Water Induced Complexation of Soy Protein and Rutin: Improved Interfacial Properties and Emulsion Stability

Rutin is a common dietary flavonoid with important antioxidant and pharmacological activities. However, its application in the food industry is limited mainly because of its poor water solubility. The subcritical water (SW) treatment provides an efficient technique to solubilize and achieve the enrichment of rutin in soy protein isolate (SPI) by inducing their complexation. The physicochemical, interfacial, and emulsifying properties of the complex were investigated and compared to the mixtures. SW treatment had much enhanced rutin-combined capacity of SPI than that of conventional method, ascribing to the well-contacted for higher water solubility of rutin with stronger collision-induced hydrophobic interactions. Compared to the mixtures of rutin with proteins, the complex exhibited an excellent surface activity and improved the physical and oxidative stability of its stabilized emulsions. This improving effect could be attributed to the targeted accumulation of rutin at the oil-water interface accompanied by the adsorption of SPI resulting in the thicker interfacial layer, as evidenced by higher interfacial protein and rutin concentrations. This study provides a novel strategy for the design and enrichment of nanovehicle providing water-insoluble hydrophobic polyphenols for interfacial delivery in food emulsified systems.

Inhibition of Lipid Oxidation in Oil-in-Water Emulsions by Interface-Adsorbed Myofibrillar Protein

This study investigated the role of interfacial myofibrillar protein (MFP) in the oxidative stabilization of meat emulsions. Emulsions with 10% oil were prepared using either 2% (w/v) Tween 20 or 0.25, 0.5, and 1% (w/v) MFP and then subjected to hydroxyl radical oxidation at 4 °C for 0, 2, and 24 h. MFP was more readily oxidized (intrinsic fluorescence quenching, sulfur losses, and carbonyl formation) than oil [conjugated dienes and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)]. However, oxidized MFP in the continuous phase stimulated lipid oxidation after 24 h, sharply contrasting with interface-adsorbed MFP that inhibited TBARS formation nearly 90% (p < 0.05). Interfacial MFP from 2 h oxidized samples exhibited greater losses of fluorescence and more extensive polymerization of myosin (detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) than MFP present in the continuous phase. Results indicated that, due to the physical localization, interface-adsorbed MFP in general and myosin in particular provided accentuated protection of emulsions against oxidation.

Development of stable flaxseed oil emulsions as a potential delivery system of ω-3 fatty acids

The objective of the present study was to develop a stable flaxseed oil emulsion for the delivery of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids through food fortification. Oil-in-water emulsions containing 12.5 % flaxseed oil, 10 % lactose and whey protein concentrate (WPC)-80 ranging from 5 to 12.5 % were prepared at 1,500, 3,000 and 4,500 psi homogenization pressure. Flaxseed oil emulsions were studied for its physical stability, oxidative stability (peroxide value), particle size distribution, zeta (ζ)-potential and rheological properties. Emulsions homogenized at 1,500 and 4,500 psi pressure showed oil separation and curdling of WPC, respectively, during preparation or storage. All the combinations of emulsions (homogenized at 3,000 psi) were physically stable for 28 days at 4-7 ºC temperature and did not show separation of phases. Emulsion with 7.5 % WPC showed the narrowest particle size distribution (190 to 615 nm) and maximum zeta (ζ)-potential (-33.5 mV). There was a slight increase in peroxide value (~20.98 %) of all the emulsions (except 5 % WPC emulsion), as compared to that of free flaxseed oil (~44.26 %) after 4 weeks of storage. Emulsions showed flow behavior index (n) in the range of 0.206 to 0.591, indicating higher shear thinning behavior, which is a characteristic of food emulsions. Results indicated that the most stable emulsion of flaxseed oil (12.5 %) can be formulated with 7.5 % WPC-80 and 10 % lactose (filler), homogenized at 3,000 psi pressure. The formulated emulsion can be used as potential omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids delivery system in developing functional foods such as pastry, ice-creams, curd, milk, yogurt, cakes, etc.

Effect of cross-linking of interfacial sodium caseinate by natural processing on the oxidative stability of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions

This study investigated how enzymatic cross-linking of interfacial sodium caseinate and emulsification, via high-pressure homogenization, influenced the intrinsic oxidative stability of 4% (w/v) menhaden oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by 1% (w/v) caseinate at pH 7. Oil oxidation was monitored by the ferric thiocyanate perioxide value assay. Higher homogenization pressure resulted in improved intrinsic emulsion oxidative stability, which is attributed to increased interfacial cross-linking as indicated by higher weighted average sedimentation coefficients of interfacial protein species (from 11.2 S for 0 kpsi/0.1 MPa to 18 S for 20 kpsi/137.9 MPa). Moderate dosage of transglutaminase at 0.5-1.0 U/mL emulsion enhanced intrinsic emulsion oxidative stability further, despite a contradictory reduction in the antioxidant property of cross-linked caseinate as tested by the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. This implied the prominent role of cross-linked interfacial caseinate as a physical barrier for oxygen transfer, hence its efficacy in retarding oil oxidation.

Study of oxygen transfer across milk proteins at an air-water interface with scanning electrochemical microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) combined with a Langmuir trough was used for studying oxygen transfer across protein films at an air-water interface. The method allows the comparison of the oxygen permeability of different emulsifiers without any concerns of interference of atmospheric oxygen. Two milk proteins, β-lactoglobulin and β-casein, were compared, and the permeabilities obtained were for β-casein PD ≈ 2.2 × 10(-7) cm(2)/s and for β-lactoglobulin PD ≈ 0.6 × 10(-7) cm(2)/s, which correspond to the lowest limit of the diffusion coefficients and are 2 orders of magnitude lower than the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in water, yet several orders of magnitude higher than previously reported for milk protein films. The method allows characterization of the oxygen barrier properties of liquid interfacial films, which is of crucial importance for understanding the role of the interface in the inhibition of oxygen transport and developing modified interfaces with higher oxygen blocking efficacy.

Digestibility of transglutaminase cross-linked caseinate versus native caseinate in an in vitro multicompartmental model simulating young child and adult gastrointestinal conditions

Aim of this study was to investigate the digestion of transglutaminase cross-linked caseinate (XLC) versus native caseinate (NC) in solution and in cheese spread under digestive conditions for adults and children mimicked in a gastrointestinal model. Samples were collected for gel electrophoresis and nitrogen analysis. The results showed no relevant differences between XLC and NC for total and α-amino nitrogen in digested fraction under adult and child conditions. However, the rate of digestion was depending on the food matrix. Gel electrophoresis showed the gastric breakdown of XLC without formation of pepsin resistant peptides larger than 4 kDa. NC was slowly digested in the stomach with formation of pepsin resistant fragments and was still detectable in the stomach after 90 min. In the small intestine the proteins were rapidly digested. XLC was digested to small peptides, while NC was resistant against pepsin digestion under gastric conditions of adults and children.