Physicochemical properties of whey protein, lactoferrin and Tween 20 stabilised nanoemulsions: Effect of temperature, pH and salt

Abstract

Oil-in-water nanoemulsions were prepared by emulsification and solvent evaporation using whey protein isolate (WPI), lactoferrin and Tween 20 as emulsifiers. Protein-stabilised nanoemulsions showed a decrease in particle size with increasing protein concentration from 0.25% to 1% (w/w) level with Z-average diameter between 70 and 90 nm. However, larger droplets were produced by Tween 20 (120-450 nm) especially at concentration above 0.75% (w/w). The stability of nanoemulsions to temperature (30-90°C), pH (2-10) and ionic strength (0-500 mM NaCl or 0-90 mM CaCl2) was also tested. Tween 20 nanoemulsions were unstable to heat treatment at 90°C for 15 min. WPI-stabilised nanoemulsions exhibited droplet aggregation near the isoelectric point at pH 4.5 and 5 and they were also unstable at salt concentration above 30 mM CaCl2. These results indicated that stable nanoemulsions can be prepared by careful selection of emulsifiers.

Keywords: High pressure homogenisation; Lactoferrin; Nanoemulsions; Physicochemical properties; Solvent evaporation; Tween 20; Whey protein isolate (WPI).