Biopolymer complexes as carrier of natural antimicrobials

Biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides) have polyelectrolyte character due to which proteins interact with oppositely charged polysaccharides. Electrostatically joining of biopolymers may lead to formation of soluble complexes, coacervation or precipitation depending on ratio of biopolymers, pH, ionic strength and polysaccharide structure. The strengthen interaction between proteins and polysaccharide with side branches is found to be at the stage of complex coacervation in which colloidal system can be separated into two distinct phases: biopolymer-rich phase and solvent-rich phase. A potential application of coacervation is microencapsulation of bioactive components such as antimicrobial agents. Indeed, trapping the natural antimicrobials inside the biopolymers preserve their functionality against environmental stresses and decrease the negative impacts of direct addition of these agents into food matrices. The purpose of the present review is discussing the important factors in the formation of complex coacervation, the effect of crosslinking on stability of coacervates as well as utilization of the complexes in encapsulation of essential oils with capability of antimicrobial activity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Coacervation ، Encapsulation ، Antimicrobials ، Hydrocolloids ، Crosslinking