Self-assembly and characterization of Ca–Al–LDH nanohybrids containing casein proteins as guest anions

Casein, a natural biopolymer contained in milk, has been successfully intercalated into a Ca–Al–LDH host structure. Synthesis was performed by rehydration of tricalcium aluminate in the presence of casein. The resulting nanohybrids were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Further experiments revealed that the single protein strains intercalate instead of the entire casein sub micelles, which are present in milk. Additionally, the pure phospho protein fractions α- and β-casein, which make up ∼80 wt% of total casein were isolated and intercalated into the Ca–Al–LDH host structure, yielding a biopolymer–inorganic hybrid material.