Stability Mechanism of Two Soybean Protein-Phosphatidylcholine Nanoemulsion Preparation Methods from a Structural Perspective: A Raman Spectroscopy Analysis

Sci Rep. 2019 May 6;9(1):6985. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43439-5.

Abstract

Ultrasound treatment and high-pressure homogenization were used to prepare soybean protein (SP)-phosphatidylcholine (PC) nanoemulsions in this study. Nanoemulsions prepared by high-pressure homogenization were more stable. The structural changes of SP and PC under ultrasound treatment and high-pressure homogenization treatment were investigated by Raman spectroscopy. It could be concluded that ultrasound and high-pressure homogenization treatments increased both the content of α-helix and unordered structure but decreased that of β-structures of SP, while the interaction between SP and PC decreased α-helix content and also reduced unordered structure and β-sheet structure. Ultrasound treatment and high-pressure homogenization exposed more tryptophan and tyrosine residues to promote hydrophobic interaction between SP and PC, which was beneficial for stabilizing the nanoemulsion. The SP-PC interaction exerted a more significant effect on side chain structure than those observed under ultrasound treatment and high-pressure homogenization. The dominant g-g-t vibrational mode of the disulfide bond of soybean protein was not appreciably changed by the two preparations. High-pressure homogenization increased the disorder of lipid chains of PC, promoting SP-PC interaction and thereby increasing the stability of the nanoemulsion. The structural change provided a theoretical basis for preparation of two nanoemulsions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Emulsions
  • Glycine max / chemistry
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry*
  • Pressure
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical
  • Protein Conformation, beta-Strand
  • Sonication
  • Soybean Proteins / chemistry*
  • Soybean Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Soybean Proteins