Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems

The study of the effect of protein-polysaccharide interactions on the properties of air-water and oil-water interfaces has special relevance in the development of processed dispersions, such as foams or emulsions. Specifically, the analysis of the interfacial behaviour of mixtures that exhibit assoc...

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Main Authors: María Vela-Albarrán, Luis A. Trujillo-Cayado, Francisco Carrillo, Jenifer Santos, Nuria Calero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325006313
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author María Vela-Albarrán
Luis A. Trujillo-Cayado
Francisco Carrillo
Jenifer Santos
Nuria Calero
author_facet María Vela-Albarrán
Luis A. Trujillo-Cayado
Francisco Carrillo
Jenifer Santos
Nuria Calero
author_sort María Vela-Albarrán
collection DOAJ
description The study of the effect of protein-polysaccharide interactions on the properties of air-water and oil-water interfaces has special relevance in the development of processed dispersions, such as foams or emulsions. Specifically, the analysis of the interfacial behaviour of mixtures that exhibit associative interactions. A surface characterization of a system consisted of a 1:1 mixture of phycocyanin and chia mucilage was studied by comparison with both unitary aqueous systems. Surface activity was assessed through surface tension measurements, revealing that the mixture achieved a surface tension of approximately 52 mN/m at 0.1 wt%, like pure phycocyanin, despite its lower protein content. Interfacial rheology showed a significant enhancement in viscoelastic properties for the mixture, with elastic and viscous moduli (G′ and G″) approximately two orders of magnitude higher than those of phycocyanin alone, indicating a reinforced gel-like behaviour. In contrast, chia mucilage alone formed a fluid-like film with G″ > G′. Zeta potential measurements confirmed that the mixture retained a high negative surface charge (like phycocyanin), ensuring colloidal stability. The foaming capacity increased with concentration for phycocyanin, which produced the greatest volume expansion. In the 1:1 phycocyanin–chia mucilage blend, overrun was intermediate but protein-efficient up to a concentration of 0.25 wt%, beyond which the increasing bulk viscosity curtailed further aeration. Chia mucilage alone consistently displayed the lowest foaming capacity. These findings demonstrate a cooperative interaction between phycocyanin and chia mucilage, resulting in improved surface structuring and mechanical strength, making the blend a promising candidate for sustainable, bio-based stabilizers in dispersed systems.
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spelling doaj-art-447af43357d74718be9e8601fb7cedfd2025-08-20T03:46:47ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-10-012310226010.1016/j.jafr.2025.102260Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systemsMaría Vela-Albarrán0Luis A. Trujillo-Cayado1Francisco Carrillo2Jenifer Santos3Nuria Calero4Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Virgen de África, 7, 41011, Sevilla, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Virgen de África, 7, 41011, Sevilla, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Virgen de África, 7, 41011, Sevilla, SpainDepartamento de Ciencias de la Salud y Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Avda. de las Universidades s/n, Dos Hermanas, 41704, Sevilla, SpainDepartamento de Ingeniería Química, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Sevilla, c/Virgen de África, 7, 41011, Sevilla, Spain; Corresponding author.The study of the effect of protein-polysaccharide interactions on the properties of air-water and oil-water interfaces has special relevance in the development of processed dispersions, such as foams or emulsions. Specifically, the analysis of the interfacial behaviour of mixtures that exhibit associative interactions. A surface characterization of a system consisted of a 1:1 mixture of phycocyanin and chia mucilage was studied by comparison with both unitary aqueous systems. Surface activity was assessed through surface tension measurements, revealing that the mixture achieved a surface tension of approximately 52 mN/m at 0.1 wt%, like pure phycocyanin, despite its lower protein content. Interfacial rheology showed a significant enhancement in viscoelastic properties for the mixture, with elastic and viscous moduli (G′ and G″) approximately two orders of magnitude higher than those of phycocyanin alone, indicating a reinforced gel-like behaviour. In contrast, chia mucilage alone formed a fluid-like film with G″ > G′. Zeta potential measurements confirmed that the mixture retained a high negative surface charge (like phycocyanin), ensuring colloidal stability. The foaming capacity increased with concentration for phycocyanin, which produced the greatest volume expansion. In the 1:1 phycocyanin–chia mucilage blend, overrun was intermediate but protein-efficient up to a concentration of 0.25 wt%, beyond which the increasing bulk viscosity curtailed further aeration. Chia mucilage alone consistently displayed the lowest foaming capacity. These findings demonstrate a cooperative interaction between phycocyanin and chia mucilage, resulting in improved surface structuring and mechanical strength, making the blend a promising candidate for sustainable, bio-based stabilizers in dispersed systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325006313FoamSurface propertiesSurface rheologyPhycocyaninChia mucilage
spellingShingle María Vela-Albarrán
Luis A. Trujillo-Cayado
Francisco Carrillo
Jenifer Santos
Nuria Calero
Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Foam
Surface properties
Surface rheology
Phycocyanin
Chia mucilage
title Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
title_full Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
title_fullStr Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
title_full_unstemmed Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
title_short Investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
title_sort investigating surface properties of a blend of phycocyanin and chia mucilage for its possible applications in dispersed systems
topic Foam
Surface properties
Surface rheology
Phycocyanin
Chia mucilage
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325006313
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