Stéphane Desobry

Milk Proteins for Edible Films and Coatings

Due to the recent increase in ecological consciousness, research has turned toward finding edible materials. Viable edible films and coatings have been produced using milk proteins. These films and coatings may retard moisture loss, are good oxygen barriers, show good tensile strength and moderate elongation, are flexible, and generally have no flavor or taste. Incorporation of lipids in protein films, either in an emulsion or as a coating, improve their properties as barriers to moisture vapor. Interactions between chemical, structural properties, as well as film-forming conditions and functional properties of edible milk films are elucidated. Some potential uses of milk protein packaging, which are hinged on film properties, are described with examples.

Milk Powders Ageing: Effect on Physical and Functional Properties

Milk powders are now considered as food ingredients, mainly because of the functional properties of milk proteins. During the storage of milk powders, many physicochemical damages, mainly dependent on lactose glass transition occur. They have important consequences on physical (flowability) and functional properties (solubility, emulsifying, and foaming properties) of milk powders. First, lactose crystallization modifies the microstructure and chemical composition of the surface of powder particles. Thus, milk powders flowability is decreased. Since the structure of milk proteins is destabilized, its solubility is damaged. Moreover, particle collapse and caking occur and mainly decrease the physical properties of milk powders (density and flowability). The mechanical stresses involved may also enhance proteins unfolding, which is detrimental to solubility. Finally, molecular mobility is favored upon ageing, and both chemical (Maillard reaction) and enzymatic reactions occur. Maillard reaction and oxidation enhance protein interactions and aggregations, which mainly lessen milk powders solubility. Maillard reaction also decreases emulsifying and foaming properties. Storage temperature and relative humidity have been considered as the predominant factors involved, but time, milk components, and their physical state also have been implied.

Antioxidant capacity and light-aging study of HPMC films functionalized with natural plant extract

The aims of this work were to functionalize edible hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) films with natural coloring biomolecules having antioxidant capacity and to study their photo-aging stability in the films. HPMC films containing a natural red color compound (NRC) at the level of 1, 2, 3 or 4% (v/v) were prepared by a casting method. A slight degradation of films color was observed after 20 days of continuous light exposure. The antioxidant activity of NRC incorporated films was stable during different steps of film formation and 20 days of dark storage. On the other hand, antioxidant activity of samples stored under light was significantly affected after 20 days. FTIR (Fourier Transformed Infrared) spectroscopy was used to characterize the new phenolic polymeric structures and to study the photo-degradation of films. The results showed a good polymerization phenomenon between NRC and HPMC in polymer matrix giving a natural color to the films. NRC showed an ability to protect pure HPMC films against photo-degradation. This phenomenon was directly proportional to the concentration of NRC.

Emulsification by high frequency ultrasound using piezoelectric transducer: Formation and stability of emulsifier free emulsion

Emulsifier free emulsion was developed with a new patented technique for food and cosmetic applications. This emulsification process dispersed oil droplets in water without any emulsifier. Emulsions were prepared with different vegetable oil ratios 5%, 10% and 15% (v/v) using high frequency ultrasounds generated by piezoelectric ceramic transducer vibrating at 1.7 MHz. The emulsion was prepared with various emulsification times between 0 and 10h. Oil droplets size was measured by laser granulometry. The pH variation was monitored; electrophoretic mobility and conductivity variation were measured using Zêtasizer equipment during emulsification process. The results revealed that oil droplets average size decreased significantly (p<0.05) during the first 6h of emulsification process and that from 160 to 1 μm for emulsions with 5%, 10% and from 400 to 29 μm for emulsion with 15% of initial oil ratio. For all tested oil ratios, pH measurement showed significant decrease and negative electrophoretic mobility showed the accumulation of OH(-) at oil/water interface leading to droplets stability in the emulsion. The conductivity of emulsions showed a decrease of the ions quantity in solution, which indicated formation of positive charge layer around OH(-) structure. They constitute a double ionic layer around oil particles providing emulsion stability. This study showed a strong correlation between turbidity measurement and proportion of emulsified oil.

Emulsifying Properties of Angum Gum (Amygdalus scoparia Spach) Conjugated to β-Lactoglobulin through Maillard-Type Reaction

In this study, emulsifying properties of Angum gum were improved by covalent bonding with β-lactoglobulin (BLG). Angum gum is a natural gum exudate from mountain almond trees (Amygdalus scoparia Spach). Covalent linkage of β-lactoglobulin-Angum gum conjugate was confirmed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Emulsifying properties of emulsions containing β-lactoglobulin:Angum gum (1:1) conjugates were studied with the advancement of Maillard reaction. Dry-heating time showed no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the emulsion activity index; however, emulsion stability index were significantly increased over time and emulsion stability index of two weeks incubated β-lactoglobulin-Angum gum conjugate was significantly different (p < 0.05) from others (β-lactoglobulin-Angum gum mixture, 0, 2, 6 days, and 2 weeks). Moreover, the creaming index decreased with advancement of Maillard-type conjugation of β-lactoglobulin:Angum gum (1:1). β-lactoglobulin-Angum gum conjugates (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1) exhibited much better emulsification performance than Angum gum and gum Arabic alone at the same emulsifier/oil ratio (1.5 wt. % total biopolymer/ 40% v/v oil). In addition, assessing droplet size distribution during storage and freeze-thaw treatment revealed that β-lactoglobulin:Angum gum (1:1) conjugate had finer droplet size compared to other β-lactoglobulin/Angum gum mixing ratios (1:2 and 2:1), Angum gum and gum Arabic.

Effect of glycosylation with gum Arabic by Maillard reaction in a liquid system on the emulsifying properties of canola protein isolate

In this research, the improvement of emulsifying properties of chemically modified canola protein isolate (CPI) with gum Arabic (GA) through Maillard reaction under natural pH at 90°C was investigated. The stability, rheology and morphology of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by conjugate of two biopolymers were evaluated by determination of droplet size, emulsifying activity (EAI), emulsifying stability (ESI) and creaming indices. The conjugate-stabilized emulsion showed smaller mean droplet size and lower creaming index values which were more effective to stabilize the emulsion compared to CPI and mixture of two biopolymers especially if pH was near the isoelectric point of CPI or when emulsions heated from 30 to 90°C. Moreover, our results demonstrated that EAI, ESI and viscosity of emulsion for CPI-GA conjugate were significantly more than those of CPI-GA mixture and CPI. These results suggested that Maillard reaction could be one of the most promising approaches to improve emulsifying properties of CPI for food applications.

Physico-chemical properties of alginate/shellac aqueous-core capsules: Influence of membrane architecture on riboflavin release.

To enhance physico-chemical properties of alginate liquid-core capsules, shellac was incorporated into the membrane (composite capsules) or as an additional external layer (coated capsules). The influence of pH, coating time, shellac concentration and preparation mechanism (acid or calcium precipitation) were investigated. Results showed that shellac significantly influenced the capsules properties. The feasibility of shellac incorporation was closely related to the preparation conditions as confirmed by Infrared spectroscopy. Optical, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, highlighted different capsules and membranes architectures. In contrast to simple and composite capsules, coated capsules showed a pH-dependent release of the entrapped vitamin especially after shellac crosslinking with calcium. Heating of coated capsules above the glass transition temperature investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry, led to irreversible structural change due to thermoplastic behavior of shellac and enhanced riboflavin retention under acidic conditions. This global approach is useful to control release mechanism of low molecular weight molecules from macro and micro-capsules.

Efficiency of emulsifier-free emulsions and emulsions containing rapeseed lecithin as delivery systems for vectorization and release of coenzyme Q10: physico-chemical properties and in vitro evaluation.

To improve the encapsulation and release of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), emulsifier-free-emulsions were developed with a new emulsification process using high-frequency ultrasound (HFU) at 1.7MHz. Nano-emulsions containing CoQ10 were prepared with or without rapeseed lecithin as an emulsifier. The emulsions prepared with HFU were compared with an emulsion of CoQ10 containing emulsifier prepared with the same emulsification technique as well as with emulsions prepared with low-frequency ultrasound coupled with high-pressure homogenization (LFU+HPH). The physico-chemical properties of the emulsions were determined by average droplet size measurement with nano-droplet tracking analysis, droplet surface charge with ζ potential measurement, surface tension and rheological behaviour. Emulsions made by LFU+HPH with an emulsifier showed lower droplet sizes due to cavitation generated by the HFU process. Surface tension results showed that there was no significant difference between emulsions containing lecithin emulsifier regardless of the preparation process or the inclusion of CoQ10. In vitro biocompatibility tests were performed on human mesenchymal stem cells in order to show the cytotoxicity of various formulations and the efficiency of CoQ10-loaded emulsions. In vitro tests proved that the vectors were not toxic. Furthermore, CoQ10 facilitated a high rate of cell proliferation and metabolic activity especially when in an emulsifier-free formulation.

Enzymatic production of bioactive docosahexaenoic acid phenolic ester

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is increasingly considered for its health benefits. However, its use as functional food ingredient is still limited by its instability. In this work, we developed an efficient and solvent-free bioprocess for the synthesis of a phenolic ester of DHA. A fed-batch process catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B was optimised, leading to the production of 440 g/L vanillyl ester (DHA-VE). Structural characterisation of the purified product indicated acylation of the primary OH group of vanillyl alcohol. DHA-VE exhibited a high radical scavenging activity in acellular systems. In vivo experiments showed increased DHA levels in erythrocytes and brain tissues of mice fed DHA-VE-supplemented diet. Moreover, in vitro neuroprotective properties of DHA-VE were demonstrated in rat primary neurons exposed to amyloid-β oligomers. In conclusion, DHA-VE synergized the main beneficial effects of two common natural biomolecules and therefore appears a promising functional ingredient for food applications.

Antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility of phenols-enriched edible casein/caseinate coatings during in vitro digestion

Active films were developed for food coating applications. Entrapped phenol susceptibility to digestion was studied. Sodium caseinate (Na-CN) coatings were formulated with 0, 10, 20% Casein (CN) incorporating selected phenols as model antioxidants. This study investigated phenol/CN/Na-CN interactions, in vitro bioaccessibility of phenols and CN role in phenols retention during in vitro gastric and pancreatic digestion. The antioxidant activity of catechin (CAT), rutin (RUT), chlorogenic acid (CHL), gallic acid (GAL), and tannic acid (TA) in coatings varied with the phenolic compound type and CN concentration and was related to phenol hydrophobic binding to CN. ABTS method gave activities ranged from 412 down to 213, and DPPH method gave values from 291·7 to 190·9. An inverse relationship was found with CN content due to CN/phenol interaction. During digestion, a part of phenols was degraded by alkaline pH of pancreatic fluid. Simultaneously, CN proteolysis led to release of phenols and the bioaccessibility index remained above 80% for all phenols. The results suggested the possibility of protecting phenols against oxidation and digestive alteration by entrapment in CN and Na-CN coating films. These positive results showed the ability to produce antioxidant-enriched edible coatings to increase food protection and phenol nutritional intake.