RESUMO
The impacts of protein oxidation on the droplet size and microrheology properties of casein emulsions with 20% oil content were investigated. The degree of protein oxidation was indicated by carbonyl concentration. The droplets in the emulsions of different-oxidation-degree casein had bimodal distribution, but their size altered due to oxidation. The effects of protein oxidation on the morphology, motion type, viscoelasticity, and stability of droplets were also investigated by microrheology analysis. The droplet motion was blocked by protein oxidation due to mean square displacement slope results. Solid-liquid balance values provided the liquid behavior dominating these emulsions. Oxidation of carbonyl concentration 16.72 raised the primary droplets, increased the elasticity, decreased the viscosity, and promoted the droplet motion rate, resulting in better stability of emulsions. Further oxidation promoted the aggregation of droplets and resulted in poor stability.
RESUMO
Whey protein concentrate (WPC) was oxidized by peroxyl radicals derived from 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and the kinetics of droplet stability in O/W and W/O emulsions stabilized by oxidized WPC were evaluated by studying the micro-rheology. Degrees of protein oxidation were indicated by carbonyl concentration and emulsion types were distinguished by fluorescence microscopy. Oxidation resulted in free sulfhydryl groups degradation and surface hydrophobicity decrease. Moderate protein oxidation promoted to form diminutive droplets, which aggregated quickly to gel-network structure and decreased the motion rate of droplets, leading to the increased elasticity and viscosity, which led to better stability. Over-oxidation underwent severe droplet aggregation and sediment with increased motion rate, which resulted in instability of emulsions. The W/O emulsions of oxidized WPC were more inclined to block the motion of droplets and form a stable structure with higher viscosity, compared with the O/W emulsions.
