No description available.

The focus of this research was to develop a plant-based microcapsule for flax oil by complex coacervation. Complex coacervation involves the electrostatic attraction between two polymers of opposing charges. Specifically, the research aimed to: a) identify the ideal biopolymer and solvent conditions required for complex coacervation involving pea protein isolate (PPI) and gum Arabic (GA); b) understand the functional behaviour of PPI-GA complexes as food and biomaterial ingredients; and c) develop methodologies for encapsulating flax oil within PPI-polysaccharide capsules. Complex coacervation between PPI-GA was found to be optimized at a biopolymer weight mixing ratio of 2:1 in the absence of salt. The functional behaviours of the optimized biopolymer mixture were then investigated as a function of pH (4.30-2.40) within a region dominated by complex coacervation. Emulsion stability was found to be greater for PPI-GA mixture systems relative to PPI alone at pH values between 3.10 and 4.00; emulsions produced under one-step emulsification exhibited higher stability compared to those of two-step emulsification at all pH values. Foam expansion was independent of both biopolymer content and pH, whereas foam stability improved for the mixed system between pH 3.10 and 4.00. The solubility minimum was broadened relative to PPI at more acidic pH values. These findings suggested that the admixture of PPI and GA under complexing conditions could represent a new food and/or biomaterial ingredient, and has potential as an encapsulating agent. Two encapsulation processes were employed in this research: high speed mixing (two-step emulsification) and low speed mixing (one-step emulsification). Flax oil capsules formed using the gelatin-GA mixture (as control) under high speed mixing exhibited low moisture content, water activity and surface oil, and afforded adequate protection against oxidation relative to free oil over a 25 d storage period. The PPI-GA mixture failed to produce acceptable capsules using either high or low speed mixing. In contrast, PPI-alginate capsules were produced and exhibited similar chemical properties as gelatin-GA capsules, except with lower encapsulated flax oil content (30% vs. 50% w/w). However, oxidative stability may adversely affected by the low speed mixing condition during encapsulation.

The focus of this research was to develop a plant-based microcapsule for flax oil by complex coacervation. Complex coacervation involves the electrostatic attraction between two polymers of opposing charges. Specifically, the research aimed to: a) identify the ideal biopolymer and solvent conditions required for complex coacervation involving pea protein isolate (PPI) and gum Arabic (GA); b) understand the functional behaviour of PPI-GA complexes as food and biomaterial ingredients; and c) develop methodologies for encapsulating flax oil within PPI-polysaccharide capsules. Complex coacervation between PPI-GA was found to be optimized at a biopolymer weight mixing ratio of 2:1 in the absence of salt. The functional behaviours of the optimized biopolymer mixture were then investigated as a function of pH (4.30-2.40) within a region dominated by complex coacervation. Emulsion stability was found to be greater for PPI-GA mixture systems relative to PPI alone at pH values between 3.10 and 4.00; emulsions produced under one-step emulsification exhibited higher stability compared to those of two-step emulsification at all pH values. Foam expansion was independent of both biopolymer content and pH, whereas foam stability improved for the mixed system between pH 3.10 and 4.00. The solubility minimum was broadened relative to PPI at more acidic pH values. These findings suggested that the admixture of PPI and GA under complexing conditions could represent a new food and/or biomaterial ingredient, and has potential as an encapsulating agent. Two encapsulation processes were employed in this research: high speed mixing (two-step emulsification) and low speed mixing (one-step emulsification). Flax oil capsules formed using the gelatin-GA mixture (as control) under high speed mixing exhibited low moisture content, water activity and surface oil, and afforded adequate protection against oxidation relative to free oil over a 25 d storage period. The PPI-GA mixture failed to produce acceptable capsules using either high or low speed mixing. In contrast, PPI-alginate capsules were produced and exhibited similar chemical properties as gelatin-GA capsules, except with lower encapsulated flax oil content (30% vs. 50% w/w). However, oxidative stability may adversely affected by the low speed mixing condition during encapsulation.

No description available.

The overall objective of the study was to investigate different food ingredient conditions and ultrasound treatment on pea protein in terms of surface morphology and thermal characteristics. The motivation of this work was based on previous studies focusing on non-chemical physical modifications of plant proteins and the increasing demand for functional alternative proteins. Ultrasonication time and amplitude, pH, protein concentration, and salt concentration all influenced the thermal and interfacial properties of pea protein. Ultrasound treatment altered the quaternary and tertiary structure of the storage protein and disrupted non-covalent bonds. The structural altercations and a reduction in particle size led to improved functionality. For foams generated at pH 5.0 with 4% (w/v) ultrasound treated protein, the foams had acceptable capacity and stability even when high levels of sugar (5% sucrose) and salt (0.6 M) were incorporated. An acceptable angel food cake simulation can be achieved by replacing egg white with ultrasound treated pea protein. Color and loaf height were different, but similar texture profiles were achieved. Ultrasound treatment significant improved the emulsifying capacity (up to 1.4 fold), emulsion stability, and creaming index compared to control samples (no ultrasound) over two weeks. The ultrasound treated emulsion yielded lower TBARS values, likely due to the change in exposed protein reactive groups. These findings demonstrate that ultrasound processing is an effective nonchemical method to change the structural and physiochemical properties of pea protein. Pea protein processed with this method might allow for the functionality in a bakery, dressings, or beverage products, which is appealing to many consumers and manufacturers.

Probiotics and prebiotic are becoming increasingly important to consumers to alleviate issues surrounding gut health, despite the lack of definitive efficacy studies to support health claims. The addition of both probiotics and prebiotics to foods is challenging due to the harsh environmental conditions within the food itself and during transit through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To circumvent these challenges encapsulation technology is being explored to protect sensitive ingredients and to control their release within the lower intestines thereby maximizing the health benefiting effects. The overall goal of this research was to design a protein delivery capsule using phase separated pea protein isolate (PPI)-alginate (AL) mixtures for the entrapment of the synbiot which includes the probiotics, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and the prebiotic, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), such that the capsule design provides highly effective protection and release within the GI tract. Research was carried out in three studies.<p> In study 1, PPIn (native isolate) and AL interactions were studied in dilute aqueous solutions as a function of pH and biopolymer mixing ratio. Turbidimetric analysis and electrophoretic mobility during an acid titration was used to determine conditions where phase separation occurred. Critical structure forming events associated with the formation of soluble and insoluble complexes in a 1:1 PPIn-AL mixture were found to occur at pH 5.00 and 2.98, respectively, with optimal interactions occurring at pH 2.10. As the PPIn-AL ratio increased, critical pH values shifted towards higher pH until a mixing ratio between 4:1 and 8:1was reached, above which structure formation became independent of the ratios through to ratios of 20:1. Electrophoretic mobility measurements showed a similar trend, where the isoelectric point (pI) shifted from pH 4.00 (homogeneous PPIn) to pH 1.55 (1:1 PPIn-AL). As the ratio increased towards 8:1 PPIn-AL, net neutrality values shifted to higher pHs (~3.80) before becoming constant at higher ratios. Maximum coacervate formation occurred at a mixing ratio of 4:1. Based on these findings, capsule design by segregative phase separation was only used in future studies, due to the acidic nature associated with associative phase separation.<p> In study 2, capsule formation using a native and commercial PPI was studied, and showed no difference between the two formulations during challenge experiments in simulated gastric juice (SGJ). As a result study 3 focused on optimization and characterization of capsules prepared using the commercial PPI. Capsule designs were investigated as a function of protein concentration, prebiotic level, and extrusion conditions (20 vs. 27 G needle) in order to determine protective ability for B. adolescentis within SGJ. Capsule designs were also measured in terms of protein and prebiotic retention during the encapsulation process, geometric mean diameter and size distribution, swelling behaviour and release characteristics within simulated intestinal fluids (SIF). All capsules provided adequate protection over the 2 h duration within SGJ. Capsule breakdown and release was similar for all designs within SIF, with a release mechanism believed to be tied to enzymatic degradation of the PPI material within the wall matrix and/or the amount of excessive Na+ present in the SIF. Capsule size was found to be dependent only on the needle gauge used in the extrusion process. Swelling behaviour of the capsules with SGJ was also found to be dependent only on the protein concentration, where capsules shrank once immersed in SGJ.<p> A 2.0% PPI-0.5% AL capsule without FOS and extruded through a 20 G needle represents the best and most cost effective design for entrapping, protecting and delivering probiotic bacteria. Future work to establish the role FOS could play post-release as the entrapping probiotics colonize the GI tract, and the protective effect of the capsules wall on FOS structure during transit is recommended.

Research was undertaken to examine different <i>in vitro</i> characteristics of probiotic bacteria, including <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> ATCC® 11975, <i>Bifidobacterium infantis</i> ATCC 15697D, <i>Bifidobacterium catenulatum</i> ATCC® 27675 and <i>Bifidobacterium adolescentis</i> ATCC® 15703 in order to identify suitable strain(s) for encapsulation. Under simulated gastric conditions (pH 2.0), <i>L. acidophilus</i> was the most acid-tolerant strain (D-value 10.2 ± 0.8 min), and was able to survive for 30 min; whereas, the other tested probiotics underwent a rapid (within the first 5 min at pH 2.0) 4-5 log colony forming units (cfu)/mL loss in viability. All probiotics tested were able to survive 5 h exposure to 0.3% Oxgall bile at pH 5.8. The relative ranking of probiotic adherence to Caco-2 cells was determined to be: <i>L. acidophilus</i> > <i>B. catenulatum</i> > <i>B. adolescentis</i> > <i>B. infantis</i>, which correlated with 4.5 104, 3.1 103, 2.6 101, and 1.5 101 cfu/mL associated with Caco-2 cell monolayers, respectively. The most hydrophobic probiotics included <i>L. acidophilus</i> (46.5 ± 6.1%) and B. catenulatum (65.5 ± 5.2%); their hydrophobicity were positively correlated with auto-aggregation ability. Addition of divalent cations, EDTA, and bile salts were found to affect hydrophobicity as well; for example, 0.5 mM MgCl2 resulted in a 20% increase in cell surface hydrophobicity of <i>L. acidophilus</i> from baseline levels; whereas, the addition of 0.1 and 0.5% bile salts decreased <i>L. acidophilus</i> hydrophobicity from control levels by 60 and 90%, respectively. Cell free culture supernatant of <i>L. acidophilus</i> effectively inhibited the growth of <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7, and <i>Clostridium sordelli</i>. Bactericidal activity of <i>L. acidophilus</i> cell-free supernatant (the lethal factor was determined to be both heat and trypsin-resistant) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and <i>Clostridium sordelli</i> ATCC 9714 over 24 h resulted in reductions of 5.5 and 3.5 log cfu/mL, respectively. Further examination of probiotics revealed varying degrees of resistance to the iv antimicrobial agents ciprofloxacin (4 ìg/mL), naladixic acid (32 ìg/mL), kanamycin (64 ìg/mL) and sulfisoxazone (256 ìg/mL). Determination of carbon source utilization patterns indicated that <i>B. catenulatum</i> utilized a number of carbohydrates including -methyl-D-glucoside, D-xylose, D-cellobiose, and -D-lactose; whereas,<i>L. acidophilus, B. infantis</i>, and <i>B. adolescentis</i> utilized D-xylose. <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> was ultimately selected for encapsulation in a 3 mm diameter pea protein-alginate matrix followed by <i>in vitro</i> challenge to simulated gastric conditions (pH 2.0). Encapsulation of <i>L. acidophilus</i> demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) protective effect during the 2 h exposure to simulated acidic stomach conditions; within capsules, there was approximately 1 log cfu/mL loss in cell viability, whereas unprotected cells experienced > 6 log/mL loss in cell viability over the same period.

Research was undertaken to examine different <i>in vitro</i> characteristics of probiotic bacteria, including <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> ATCC® 11975, <i>Bifidobacterium infantis</i> ATCC 15697D, <i>Bifidobacterium catenulatum</i> ATCC® 27675 and <i>Bifidobacterium adolescentis</i> ATCC® 15703 in order to identify suitable strain(s) for encapsulation. Under simulated gastric conditions (pH 2.0), <i>L. acidophilus</i> was the most acid-tolerant strain (D-value 10.2 ± 0.8 min), and was able to survive for 30 min; whereas, the other tested probiotics underwent a rapid (within the first 5 min at pH 2.0) 4-5 log colony forming units (cfu)/mL loss in viability. All probiotics tested were able to survive 5 h exposure to 0.3% Oxgall bile at pH 5.8. The relative ranking of probiotic adherence to Caco-2 cells was determined to be: <i>L. acidophilus</i> > <i>B. catenulatum</i> > <i>B. adolescentis</i> > <i>B. infantis</i>, which correlated with 4.5 104, 3.1 103, 2.6 101, and 1.5 101 cfu/mL associated with Caco-2 cell monolayers, respectively. The most hydrophobic probiotics included <i>L. acidophilus</i> (46.5 ± 6.1%) and B. catenulatum (65.5 ± 5.2%); their hydrophobicity were positively correlated with auto-aggregation ability. Addition of divalent cations, EDTA, and bile salts were found to affect hydrophobicity as well; for example, 0.5 mM MgCl2 resulted in a 20% increase in cell surface hydrophobicity of <i>L. acidophilus</i> from baseline levels; whereas, the addition of 0.1 and 0.5% bile salts decreased <i>L. acidophilus</i> hydrophobicity from control levels by 60 and 90%, respectively. Cell free culture supernatant of <i>L. acidophilus</i> effectively inhibited the growth of <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7, and <i>Clostridium sordelli</i>. Bactericidal activity of <i>L. acidophilus</i> cell-free supernatant (the lethal factor was determined to be both heat and trypsin-resistant) against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and <i>Clostridium sordelli</i> ATCC 9714 over 24 h resulted in reductions of 5.5 and 3.5 log cfu/mL, respectively. Further examination of probiotics revealed varying degrees of resistance to the iv antimicrobial agents ciprofloxacin (4 ìg/mL), naladixic acid (32 ìg/mL), kanamycin (64 ìg/mL) and sulfisoxazone (256 ìg/mL). Determination of carbon source utilization patterns indicated that <i>B. catenulatum</i> utilized a number of carbohydrates including -methyl-D-glucoside, D-xylose, D-cellobiose, and -D-lactose; whereas,<i>L. acidophilus, B. infantis</i>, and <i>B. adolescentis</i> utilized D-xylose. <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> was ultimately selected for encapsulation in a 3 mm diameter pea protein-alginate matrix followed by <i>in vitro</i> challenge to simulated gastric conditions (pH 2.0). Encapsulation of <i>L. acidophilus</i> demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) protective effect during the 2 h exposure to simulated acidic stomach conditions; within capsules, there was approximately 1 log cfu/mL loss in cell viability, whereas unprotected cells experienced > 6 log/mL loss in cell viability over the same period.

Probiotics and prebiotic are becoming increasingly important to consumers to alleviate issues surrounding gut health, despite the lack of definitive efficacy studies to support health claims. The addition of both probiotics and prebiotics to foods is challenging due to the harsh environmental conditions within the food itself and during transit through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To circumvent these challenges encapsulation technology is being explored to protect sensitive ingredients and to control their release within the lower intestines thereby maximizing the health benefiting effects. The overall goal of this research was to design a protein delivery capsule using phase separated pea protein isolate (PPI)-alginate (AL) mixtures for the entrapment of the synbiot which includes the probiotics, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and the prebiotic, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), such that the capsule design provides highly effective protection and release within the GI tract. Research was carried out in three studies.<p> In study 1, PPIn (native isolate) and AL interactions were studied in dilute aqueous solutions as a function of pH and biopolymer mixing ratio. Turbidimetric analysis and electrophoretic mobility during an acid titration was used to determine conditions where phase separation occurred. Critical structure forming events associated with the formation of soluble and insoluble complexes in a 1:1 PPIn-AL mixture were found to occur at pH 5.00 and 2.98, respectively, with optimal interactions occurring at pH 2.10. As the PPIn-AL ratio increased, critical pH values shifted towards higher pH until a mixing ratio between 4:1 and 8:1was reached, above which structure formation became independent of the ratios through to ratios of 20:1. Electrophoretic mobility measurements showed a similar trend, where the isoelectric point (pI) shifted from pH 4.00 (homogeneous PPIn) to pH 1.55 (1:1 PPIn-AL). As the ratio increased towards 8:1 PPIn-AL, net neutrality values shifted to higher pHs (~3.80) before becoming constant at higher ratios. Maximum coacervate formation occurred at a mixing ratio of 4:1. Based on these findings, capsule design by segregative phase separation was only used in future studies, due to the acidic nature associated with associative phase separation.<p> In study 2, capsule formation using a native and commercial PPI was studied, and showed no difference between the two formulations during challenge experiments in simulated gastric juice (SGJ). As a result study 3 focused on optimization and characterization of capsules prepared using the commercial PPI. Capsule designs were investigated as a function of protein concentration, prebiotic level, and extrusion conditions (20 vs. 27 G needle) in order to determine protective ability for B. adolescentis within SGJ. Capsule designs were also measured in terms of protein and prebiotic retention during the encapsulation process, geometric mean diameter and size distribution, swelling behaviour and release characteristics within simulated intestinal fluids (SIF). All capsules provided adequate protection over the 2 h duration within SGJ. Capsule breakdown and release was similar for all designs within SIF, with a release mechanism believed to be tied to enzymatic degradation of the PPI material within the wall matrix and/or the amount of excessive Na+ present in the SIF. Capsule size was found to be dependent only on the needle gauge used in the extrusion process. Swelling behaviour of the capsules with SGJ was also found to be dependent only on the protein concentration, where capsules shrank once immersed in SGJ.<p> A 2.0% PPI-0.5% AL capsule without FOS and extruded through a 20 G needle represents the best and most cost effective design for entrapping, protecting and delivering probiotic bacteria. Future work to establish the role FOS could play post-release as the entrapping probiotics colonize the GI tract, and the protective effect of the capsules wall on FOS structure during transit is recommended.

Gelation properties of a salt extracted pea (Pisum sativum) protein isolate (PPIs) were evaluated with a goal of using this isolate as a meat extender. Microbial transglutaminase (MTG) was used to improve gelation of PPIs, muscle protein isolate (MPI) from chicken breast and the two combined. Gelation properties were evaluated using small amplitude oscillatory rheology and texture analysis. SDS-PAGE and differential scanning calorimetry were used to examine protein structure. Minimum gelation concentration for PPIs was 5%, lower than the 14% obtained for a commercial pea protein isolate (PPIc), possibly because the PPIc undergone denaturation whereas PPIs had not. Storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G") increased with protein concentration and maximum gel strength for PPIs occurred at pH 4.0 in 0.3M NaCl. Higher or lower pH values affected protein charge and the potential for network formation. Higher salt concentrations resulted in increased denaturation temperatures, to a point where the proteins did not denature at the 95ºC temperature used for gel formation. When both heating and cooling rate were increased, gel strength decreased, though the cooling rate had a greater impact. Chaotropic salts enhanced gel strength, whereas non-chaotropic salts stabilized protein structure and decreased gel formation. Based on effects of guanidine hydrochloride, urea, propylene glycol, β-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol and N-ethylmaleimide, hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds were involved in pea protein gel formation but disulfide bond contribution was minimal. Gels formed with MPI at concentrations as low as 0.5% and were strongest at 95ºC, higher than the ~ 65ºC normally used in meat processing. Good gels were formed at pH 6 with 0.6 to 1.2 M NaCl. Addition of MTG increased gel strength for PPIs, MPI, and a combination of the two. SDS-PAGE showed that bands in the 35~100kDa range became fainter with higher MTG levels but no new bands were found to provide direct evidence of interaction between muscle and pea proteins. Improved gel strength for the MPI/PPI mixture (3:1) containing MTG suggested that some crosslinking occurred. Higher heating temperatures and MTG addition led to the formation of MPI/PPI gel and demonstrated the potential for utilization of pea protein in muscle foods.