Anthocyanin-loaded CNC–whey protein complexes: Interfacial stabilization and oxidative challenges in Pickering emulsions


YILDIZ E., Altintas Z.

Food Hydrocolloids, cilt.175, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 175
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2026.112526
  • Dergi Adı: Food Hydrocolloids
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Cellulose nanocrystals, Cherry waste valorization, Emulsion stability, Oxidative stability, Pickering emulsions, Protein–polyphenol interaction
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A novel stabilizer comprising anthocyanin (AN)-incorporated cherry stalk cellulose nanocrystals (CS-CNCs)/whey protein (WP) complex was developed to stabilize O/W Pickering emulsions (PEs) with improved physical and lipid oxidation stability during storage. Preparing CS-CNC/WP complexes with three mass ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:4) at different pH levels showed that pH 4 was optimal for complex formation. Compared to native CS-CNCs, the CS-CNC/WP complexes had significantly larger particle sizes and lower zeta potential. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed characteristic shifts in amide I and II bands, while fluorescence quenching of tryptophan residues indicated strong non-covalent interactions, confirming the complexation between CS-CNC and WP. Although all CS-CNC/WP complexes showed higher contact angles (CAs) than CS-CNCs alone, the CS-CNC/WP (1:4) complex (CA = 50.9°) was selected for its enhanced hydrophobicity and potential interfacial activity. Incorporation of AN from cherry pomace waste significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of the optimal complex, slightly reduced its contact angle (45.85°), and reinforced complex formation through stronger non-covalent interactions as indicated by amide band shifts and enhanced tryptophan quenching. Unlike the unstable PEs prepared using CS-CNC or WP alone, those stabilized with CS-CNC/WP and AN-loaded CS-CNC/WP complexes showed remarkable physical stability, with smaller, more uniformly distributed droplets. The chemical stability analysis by monitoring primary lipid oxidation products revealed that AN unexpectedly acted as a pro-oxidant in CS-CNC/WP/AN-stabilized emulsions, accelerating lipid oxidation over 28 days.