Potato protein particles and fibers were produced using electrohydrodynamic processing (electrospray and electrospinning). The effect of different solvents and protein concentration on the morphology of the potato protein particles and fibers was investigated. Electrosprayed particles with average diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.4 µm could be obtained using water and mixtures of water: ethanol (9:1) and water:glycerol (9:1). Electrosprayed particles were also obtained using the solvent hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) at a protein concentration of 5% wt/v. For protein concentrations above 10% wt/v, using HFIP, electrospun fibers were produced. The release of vitamin B12, as a model bioactive compound, from potato protein electrospun fibers, was also investigated, demonstrating their potential to be utilized as encapsulation and delivery systems.
Keywords: electrospinning; electrospray; encapsulation; fibers; particles; potato protein; vitamin release.