Fabrication of Pickering emulsion based on particles combining pectin and zein: Effects of pectin methylation

Although the stabilization of Pickering emulsions based on the interaction of pectin and zein is known to be effective, the effects of the degree of methylation (DM) of pectin on the stability of Pickering emulsions remains unclear. In the present study, pectin/zein particle dispersions (PZDs) were fabricated by anti-solvent precipitation based on different DM values of pectin (13.70 %-71.42 %). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) curves and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the methyl ester carbonyl and carbonyl groups significantly affected the formation of hydrogen bonds, which consequently resulting in the secondary conformation of PZDs as reflected by circular dichroism (CD). The PZDs fabricated by pectin with DM values higher than 35.50 % formation of the network between the barriers of the droplets, showed high stability against pH (3.0-9.0) and Ca²⁺ (60-300 mM) at an oil fraction (φ) of 0.60. Furthermore, the Pickering emulsions showed good lycopene protective effects.