Interactions between whey protein or polymerized whey protein and soybean lecithin in model system

Soybean lecithin is often used as a surfactant in food formulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between soybean lecithin (SL, 0-3%, wt/vol) and whey protein (WP, 10%, wt/vol) or polymerized whey protein (PWP, 10%, wt/vol) induced by heating WP solutions at 85°C for 0 to 20 min at pH 7.0. The samples were evaluated for zeta potential, particle size, morphology, rheological properties, thermal properties, secondary structure, and surface hydrophobicity. Zeta potential of WP increased linearly as SL level increased from 0 to 3%, whereas that of PWP changed with plateau at SL level of 1%, which may be due to the aggregation of SL. The addition of SL increased the particle size and apparent viscosity of both WP and PWP. All the samples exhibited different morphology depending on SL level and heating time according to transmission electron microscopy images. Whey protein showed obviously decreased gelation time and increased storage modulus in the presence of SL. Differential scanning calorimetry curves confirmed the effects of SL on the thermal properties of both WP and PWP. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that SL had effects on the secondary structure of both WP and PWP. The changes in surface hydrophobicity indicated the hydrophobic interactions between WP/PWP and SL. Data indicate that the physicochemical and functional properties of WP and PWP can be altered by adding soybean lecithin.