Influence of non-ionic surfactant on electrostatic complexation of protein-coated oil droplets and ionic biopolymers (alginate and chitosan)

• Globular proteins are ineffective producing small droplets by membrane homogenizer.
• Tween 20 as cosurfactant promotes producing smaller droplets with mixed surfactant.
• Several complexes might be formed due to biopolymers addition.
• Addition of cosurfactant modulates the properties of electrostatic complexes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a non-ionic cosurfactant (Tween 20) on the formation and properties of electrostatic complexes consisting of charged oil droplets and charged biopolymers. The mean droplet diameters in oil-in-water emulsions prepared using a membrane homogenizer were considerably larger when β-lactoglobulin (BLG) was used alone (≈8 μm), than when it was used in combination with Tween 20 (≈2 μm). The cationic oil droplets formed by membrane homogenization (4.0 μm pore size) were mixed with either alginate (anionic) solution (1% oil: 0–0.5% alginate: pH 3.5) or with alginate (anionic) and then chitosan (cationic) solutions (0.4% oil: 0.1% alginate; 0–0.2% chitosan: pH 4.5). The electrical characteristics, microstructure, and physical stability of the electrostatic complexes formed were determined. Under certain conditions multilayer emulsions consisting of oil droplets coated by alginate or alginate/chitosan layers were formed, whereas under other conditions microclusters consisting of aggregated oil droplets embedded within alginate or alginate/chitosan complexes were formed. The presence of the cosurfactant had a major impact on the electrical charge and dimensions of the electrostatic complexes formed. This study shows that various kinds of electrostatic complexes can be formed from charged oil droplets and charged biopolymers, and that their functional characteristics can be controlled using non-ionic cosurfactants.

Schematic representation for lipid droplets with mixed surfactants and formation of electrostatic complexes.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide