Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems

Health benefits associated with hyaluronic acid, along with its properties such as water-binding capacity and antimicrobial activity, suggest that incorporating it into meat systems could provide a basis for formulating functional meat products. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of myofibr...

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Main Authors: Marzena Zając, Lei Zhou, Magdalena Mika, Ziyi Yang, Jingyu Wang, Ye Tao, Wangang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/10/2230
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author Marzena Zając
Lei Zhou
Magdalena Mika
Ziyi Yang
Jingyu Wang
Ye Tao
Wangang Zhang
author_facet Marzena Zając
Lei Zhou
Magdalena Mika
Ziyi Yang
Jingyu Wang
Ye Tao
Wangang Zhang
author_sort Marzena Zając
collection DOAJ
description Health benefits associated with hyaluronic acid, along with its properties such as water-binding capacity and antimicrobial activity, suggest that incorporating it into meat systems could provide a basis for formulating functional meat products. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of myofibrillar protein gels and emulsions with varying concentrations of hyaluronic acid. The results indicate that increasing the hyaluronic acid concentration (0.008% to 0.04%) does not significantly affect the cooking loss, while a concentration of 0.08% enhances cooking loss. This, in turn, increased gel hardness, while the water-holding capacity remains unaffected. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) images revealed a partial disruption of the gel structure, with rising hyaluronic concentrations. In pork myofibrillar protein emulsions, smaller droplets and higher stability were observed after HA incorporation. Samples containing hyaluronic acid were more viscous and exhibited shear-thinning properties. Overall, the hyaluronic acid used in this study improved emulsion properties, whereas the gel structure was compromised.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f9d071f14114ff8a8a9721f9230ce5e
institution Kabale University
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-5f9d071f14114ff8a8a9721f9230ce5e2025-08-20T03:48:02ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-05-013010223010.3390/molecules30102230Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type SystemsMarzena Zając0Lei Zhou1Magdalena Mika2Ziyi Yang3Jingyu Wang4Ye Tao5Wangang Zhang6Department of Animal Product Technology, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture, 31-120 Kraków, PolandState Key Laboratory of Meat Quality Control and Cultured Meat Development, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDepartment of Biotechnology and General Food Technology, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture, 31-120 Kraków, PolandState Key Laboratory of Meat Quality Control and Cultured Meat Development, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Meat Quality Control and Cultured Meat Development, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Meat Quality Control and Cultured Meat Development, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Meat Quality Control and Cultured Meat Development, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing 210095, ChinaHealth benefits associated with hyaluronic acid, along with its properties such as water-binding capacity and antimicrobial activity, suggest that incorporating it into meat systems could provide a basis for formulating functional meat products. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of myofibrillar protein gels and emulsions with varying concentrations of hyaluronic acid. The results indicate that increasing the hyaluronic acid concentration (0.008% to 0.04%) does not significantly affect the cooking loss, while a concentration of 0.08% enhances cooking loss. This, in turn, increased gel hardness, while the water-holding capacity remains unaffected. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) images revealed a partial disruption of the gel structure, with rising hyaluronic concentrations. In pork myofibrillar protein emulsions, smaller droplets and higher stability were observed after HA incorporation. Samples containing hyaluronic acid were more viscous and exhibited shear-thinning properties. Overall, the hyaluronic acid used in this study improved emulsion properties, whereas the gel structure was compromised.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/10/2230myofibrillar proteinshyaluronic acidgelemulsiontexture
spellingShingle Marzena Zając
Lei Zhou
Magdalena Mika
Ziyi Yang
Jingyu Wang
Ye Tao
Wangang Zhang
Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
Molecules
myofibrillar proteins
hyaluronic acid
gel
emulsion
texture
title Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
title_full Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
title_fullStr Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
title_full_unstemmed Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
title_short Hyaluronic Acid Interactions with Pork Myofibrillar Proteins in Emulsion Gel-Type Systems
title_sort hyaluronic acid interactions with pork myofibrillar proteins in emulsion gel type systems
topic myofibrillar proteins
hyaluronic acid
gel
emulsion
texture
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/10/2230
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AT ziyiyang hyaluronicacidinteractionswithporkmyofibrillarproteinsinemulsiongeltypesystems
AT jingyuwang hyaluronicacidinteractionswithporkmyofibrillarproteinsinemulsiongeltypesystems
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