Application of the molecular combing technique to starch granules

Molecules. 2009 Oct 12;14(10):4079-86. doi: 10.3390/molecules14104079.

Abstract

The molecular combing technique was used to dissociate the nanostructural units of starch granules from the starch fragments after a gelatinization process. With the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM), we observed that some nanostructural chains were just flowing out of the granules. It proves that there are substantive nanostructural units in the starch granules, a phenomenon not previously observed, so these nanostructural units were defined as suspected intermediates. Furthermore, we conclude that blocklets of starch granules are formed through twisting or distortion of nanochains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Starch / chemistry*
  • Starch / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Starch